Top 1950s Baby Names
Updated Mon Apr 01 2024
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Baby names from the 1950s epitomize the Baby Boom. Denise and Dennis, Donna and Donald are the names of today's grandmas and grandpas, not quite baby-ready for another generation.
Along with Dennis and Donald, other 1950s baby names that remain in the US Top 1000 include Barbara, Cynthia, George, Gloria, Joyce, Judith, Randy, and Terry. The 1950s names with the steepest decline in popularity since their peaks include Gail, Peggy, Cheryl, and Kathy. Sourced from the 1950s' Top 100, here is a list of popular baby names from that decade which are relatively rare today.
If you really want to buck current fashions, you might choose one of these 1950s baby names for your 21st-century child, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Alan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"handsome, cheerful"
- Ann
Origin:
English variation of Hebrew HannahMeaning:
"grace"
- Arthur
Origin:
CelticMeaning:
" bear"
- Barbara
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"foreign woman"
- Betty
Origin:
Diminutive of ElizabethMeaning:
"pledged to God"
- Beverly
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller near the beaver stream"
- Bonnie
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"beautiful, cheerful"
- Brenda
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"blade of a sword"
- Brian
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"strong, virtuous, and honorable"
- Bruce
Origin:
Scottish and English from FrenchMeaning:
"from the brushwood thicket"
- Carl
Origin:
German variation of CharlesMeaning:
"free man"
- Carol
Origin:
English, feminine variation of CharlesMeaning:
"free man"
- Carolyn
Origin:
Variation of CarolineMeaning:
"free man"
- Cathy
Origin:
Diminutive of CatherineMeaning:
"pure"
- Cheryl
Origin:
Modern invented name, variation of Cherie, FrenchMeaning:
"darling"
- Christine
Origin:
French variation of ChristinaMeaning:
"Christian"
- Cindy
Origin:
Diminutive of Cynthia or Lucinda
- Connie
Origin:
Diminutive of ConstanceMeaning:
"steadfastness"
- Craig
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"from the rocks"
- Cynthia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"moon goddess or, woman from Kynthos"
- Dale
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"valley"
- Danny
- Deborah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"bee"
- Debra
Origin:
Spelling variation of DeborahMeaning:
"bee"
- Denise
Origin:
French, feminine variation of DenisMeaning:
"god of Nysa"
- Dennis
Origin:
French from Greek, vernacular form of DionysiusMeaning:
"god of Nysa"
- Diane
Origin:
French variation of DianaMeaning:
"divine"
- Donald
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"proud chief"
- Donna
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"lady"
- Douglas
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"black water"
- Edward
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wealthy guardian"
- Frank
Origin:
Diminutive of Francis or FranklinMeaning:
"Frenchman or free man"
- Gail
Origin:
Hebrew, short form of AbigailMeaning:
"my father rejoices"
- Gary
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"spearman"
- George
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"farmer"
- Gerald
Origin:
English and Irish from GermanMeaning:
"ruler with the spear"
- Gloria
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"glory"
- Gregory
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"vigilant, a watchman"
- Harold
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"army ruler"
- Jane
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"God is gracious"
- Janet
Origin:
Diminutive of JaneMeaning:
"God's gracious gift"
- Janice
Origin:
Variation of JaneMeaning:
"God's gracious gift"
- Jeffrey
Origin:
Spelling variation of GeoffreyMeaning:
"pledge of peace"
- Jerry
Origin:
Diminutive of Gerald or Jerome, German or GreekMeaning:
"ruler with the spear or sacred name"
- Joan
Origin:
English variation of JohannaMeaning:
"God is gracious"
- Johnny
Origin:
Diminutive of JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"
- Joyce
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"merry, joyous"
- Judith
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"woman from Judea"
- Judy
Origin:
Diminutive of Judith
- Julie
Origin:
French from LatinMeaning:
"youthful, sky father"
- Karen
Origin:
Danish variation of KatherineMeaning:
"pure"
- Kathleen
Origin:
Anglicized form of Irish CaitlinMeaning:
"pure"
- Kathy
Origin:
Diminutive of Katherine and KathleenMeaning:
"pure"
- Keith
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"wood"
- Kenneth
Origin:
Scottish and IrishMeaning:
"born of fire, handsome"
- Kevin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"handsome"
- Larry
Origin:
Diminutive of Lawrence, English from LatinMeaning:
"from Laurentium or bay laurel"
- Laura
Origin:
English from LatinMeaning:
"from Laurentum or bay laurel"
- Lawrence
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"from Laurentium or bay laurel"
- Linda
Origin:
Spanish, Portuguese and Italian word name meaning "pretty"Meaning:
"pretty"
- Lisa
Origin:
English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, ItalianMeaning:
"pledged to God"
- Mark
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"warlike"
- Martha
Origin:
AramaicMeaning:
"lady"
- Mary
Origin:
Hebrew or EgyptianMeaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
- Nancy
Origin:
English diminutive of AnnMeaning:
"grace"
- Pamela
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"all honey"
- Patricia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"noble, patrician"
- Patrick
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"noble, patrician"
- Paul
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"small"
- Paula
Origin:
Feminine variation of PaulMeaning:
"small"
- Peggy
Origin:
Diminutive of Margaret, GreekMeaning:
"pearl"
- Peter
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"rock, stone"
- Ralph
Origin:
English from GermanMeaning:
"wolf-counsel"
- Randall
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"shield-wolf"
- Randy
Origin:
Diminutive of Randall, Randolph
- Raymond
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"wise protector"
- Rebecca
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"to tie, bind"
- Richard
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"dominant ruler"
- Ricky
Origin:
Diminutive of Richard or FrederickMeaning:
"dominant or peaceful ruler"
- Robin
Origin:
Bird name, or English, diminutive of RobertMeaning:
"bright fame"
- Roger
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"famous warrior"
- Ronald
Origin:
NorseMeaning:
"ruler's counselor"
- Roy
Origin:
French or CelticMeaning:
"king or red-haired"
- Russell
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"redhead, fox-colored"
- Sandra
Origin:
Diminutive of Alessandra, Italian from GreekMeaning:
"defending men"
- Scott
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from Scotland"
- Sharon
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"a plain"
- Shirley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"bright meadow"
- Stephen
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"garland, crown"
- Steve
Origin:
Diminutive of Stephen or StevenMeaning:
"garland, crown"
- Steven
Origin:
English variation of StephenMeaning:
"garland, crown"
- Susan
Origin:
English diminutive of Susannah, HebrewMeaning:
"lily"
- Teresa
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"to harvest"
- Terry
Origin:
Diminutive of Terence
- Theresa
Origin:
English form of the Spanish TeresaMeaning:
"to harvest"
- Thomas
Origin:
AramaicMeaning:
"twin"
- Timothy
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"honoring God"
- Walter
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"army ruler"
- Wayne
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"maker of wagons"
- Willie
Origin:
Diminutive of William