Most popular girl names in the 50s in South Carolina
Perhaps no decade in US history conjures up more imagery of all-American idealism than the 1950s. A politically conservative era, the '50s introduced the world to some of the most enduring cultural touchstones of the USA: milkshakes, Elvis Presley, "I Love Lucy," and sock-hops. One might imagine classic American kids named Jimmy and Susie splitting a hot-fudge sundae at a local soda shop-and you'd actually be historically accurate. James and Susan were in fact two of the most popular names of the decade.
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 50s in South Carolina using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.
Keep reading to see if your name made the list.
#30. Sarah
Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,964
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 526 (#68 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 39,916 (#98 most common name)
#29. Teresa
Teresa is a name of Greek origin meaning "huntress".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,265
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,275 (#30 most common name)
#28. Joyce
Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,465
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 114,976 (#29 most common name)
#27. Martha
Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,508
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#775 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,175 (#47 most common name)
#26. Judy
Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,610
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#775 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)
#25. Dorothy
Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,627
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 88 (#503 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 74,470 (#56 most common name)
#24. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,718
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)
#23. Janice
Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,723
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 133,619 (#24 most common name)
#22. Pamela
Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,767
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)
#21. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,792
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,103 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)
#20. Margaret
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,823
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 572 (#59 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 149,583 (#23 most common name)
#19. Wanda
Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,835
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 572 (#59 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,415 (#57 most common name)
#18. Gloria
Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,900
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#750 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,696 (#41 most common name)
#17. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,062
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,498 (#8 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 165,658 (#21 most common name)
#16. Kathy
Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,093
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,498 (#8 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)
#15. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,237
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#908 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)
#14. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,291
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#908 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)
#13. Carolyn
Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,719
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#716 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 124,063 (#25 most common name)
#12. Shirley
Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,123
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#716 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,807 (#33 most common name)
#11. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,172
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#979 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)
#10. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,227
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#963 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)
#9. Cynthia
Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,257
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#850 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)
#8. Betty
Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,257 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 103,196 (#35 most common name)
#7. Debra
Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,561
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,257 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)
#6. Brenda
Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,218
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,396 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)
#5. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,091
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,162 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)
#4. Deborah
Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,216
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,563 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)
#3. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,126
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,328 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)
#2. Linda
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,046
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,057 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)
#1. Mary
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,979
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 716 (#37 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)
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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 5:13 AM.