50 totally hip baby names from the 1950s
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Some are more conventional (like Danny and Kathleen) while others are a bit more distinctive (Dinah and various forms of Rock).
- By Laura Woods
- Updated
Known as the baby boom era, the 1950s marked the rise of suburbia, the popularity of poodle skirts and the birth of rock 'n' roll. Elvis Presley was America's "King," James Dean graced the silver screen and sock hops were all the rage. Whether you want to pay homage to the unique culture of the time or the movie "Grease," your little one is sure to be a cool cat with a name rooted in this era.
MooseRoots, a genealogy data site, found the most popular baby names for boys and girls born in the 1950s. Using 2015 data from the Social Security Administration, the data team computed the average annual frequency of names for all decades, creating an inter-decade average.
Next, the standard deviation and averages of those values were calculated. Names that were two standard deviations above the inter-decade average during the 1950s were considered to have rocked the decade.
In total, the list contains 100 names – 50 each for boys and girls — that are anything but square. Some are more conventional (like Danny and Kathleen) while others are a bit more distinctive (Dinah and various forms of Rock), giving you a variety of options.
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Cathie
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Vickey
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Jacalyn
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 130.24
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 27.8
Ezzard
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 16.4
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 4.3
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Dinah
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 142.67
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 52.8
Mickael
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 16.72
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 8.1
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Roxann
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Cathryn
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Suzan
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Denice
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Gayla
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 192.38
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 58.6
Gill
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 18.75
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 6.9
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Luanne
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 201.7
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 46.1
Michial
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 20.57
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 7
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Marta
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 205.96
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 91.1
Randolf
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 21.03
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 6.5
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Debby
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 215.81
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 49.6
Mickel
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 21.89
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 10.9
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Kathi
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Sheree
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 258.65
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 71.3
Kimball
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 23.19
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 10.6
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Rosanne
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 290.27
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 80.3
Rudolfo
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 24.97
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 12.8
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Kathie
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 350.76
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 80.5
Wayde
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 26.38
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 11.2
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Jeri
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 358.2
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 121.2
Tab
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 28.34
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 6.9
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Luann
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 417.73
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 79.6
Debra
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 28.62
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 6.4
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Dale
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 430.13
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 119.6
Robbin
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 30.78
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 10.7
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Lucinda
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Laurel
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Cathleen
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Gale
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Jayne
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 476.4
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 151.4
Rand
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 48.67
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 15.7
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Debora
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Doreen
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Janis
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Patti
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Vicky
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Gayle
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 1,178.72
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 342.5
Butch
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 58.72
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 19
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Jan
Sex: FemaleFrequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 1,285.22
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 289.2
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Sheryl
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Gwendolyn
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Marsha
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Terry
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Vickie
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 2,786.91
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 565.1
Robin
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 743.49
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 234.8
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Lynn
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Vicki
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Cathy
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Gail
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Kathy
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 7,702.03
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 1,709
Rickey
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 1,361.35
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 314.6
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Cheryl
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Brenda
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 10,345.06
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 3,229.7
Randall
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 3,070.7
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 1,040.7
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Diane
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 10,391.1
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 2,824.2
Ricky
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 3,825.08
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 1,132
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Kathleen
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 11,162.91
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 3,854.3
Alan
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 4,149.5
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 1,896.4
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Pamela
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 11,663.08
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 3,108.5
Danny
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 4,276.81
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 1,527.4
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Cynthia
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Debra
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Deborah
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Susan
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 21,593.25
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 5,917.7
Gary
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 16,394.24
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 4,992.8
More like this...
- By Laura Woods
Known as the baby boom era, the 1950s marked the rise of suburbia, the popularity of poodle skirts and the birth of rock 'n' roll. Elvis Presley was America's "King," James Dean graced the silver screen and sock hops were all the rage. Whether you want to pay homage to the unique culture of the time or the movie "Grease," your little one is sure to be a cool cat with a name rooted in this era.
MooseRoots, a genealogy data site, found the most popular baby names for boys and girls born in the 1950s. Using 2015 data from the Social Security Administration, the data team computed the average annual frequency of names for all decades, creating an inter-decade average.
Next, the standard deviation and averages of those values were calculated. Names that were two standard deviations above the inter-decade average during the 1950s were considered to have rocked the decade.
In total, the list contains 100 names – 50 each for boys and girls — that are anything but square. Some are more conventional (like Danny and Kathleen) while others are a bit more distinctive (Dinah and various forms of Rock), giving you a variety of options.
Cathie
Vickey
Jacalyn
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 130.24
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 27.8
Ezzard
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 16.4
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 4.3
Dinah
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 142.67
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 52.8
Mickael
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 16.72
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 8.1
Roxann
Cathryn
Suzan
Denice
Gayla
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 192.38
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 58.6
Gill
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 18.75
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 6.9
Luanne
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 201.7
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 46.1
Michial
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 20.57
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 7
Marta
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 205.96
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 91.1
Randolf
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 21.03
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 6.5
Debby
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 215.81
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 49.6
Mickel
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 21.89
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 10.9
Kathi
Sheree
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 258.65
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 71.3
Kimball
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 23.19
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 10.6
Rosanne
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 290.27
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 80.3
Rudolfo
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 24.97
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 12.8
Kathie
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 350.76
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 80.5
Wayde
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 26.38
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 11.2
Jeri
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 358.2
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 121.2
Tab
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 28.34
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 6.9
Luann
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 417.73
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 79.6
Debra
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 28.62
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 6.4
Dale
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 430.13
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 119.6
Robbin
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 30.78
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 10.7
Lucinda
Laurel
Cathleen
Gale
Jayne
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 476.4
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 151.4
Rand
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 48.67
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 15.7
Debora
Doreen
Janis
Patti
Vicky
Gayle
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 1,178.72
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 342.5
Butch
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 58.72
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 19
Jan
Sex: FemaleFrequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 1,285.22
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 289.2
Sheryl
Gwendolyn
Marsha
Terry
Vickie
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 2,786.91
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 565.1
Robin
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 743.49
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 234.8
Lynn
Vicki
Cathy
Gail
Kathy
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 7,702.03
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 1,709
Rickey
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 1,361.35
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 314.6
Cheryl
Brenda
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 10,345.06
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 3,229.7
Randall
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 3,070.7
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 1,040.7
Diane
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 10,391.1
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 2,824.2
Ricky
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 3,825.08
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 1,132
Kathleen
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 11,162.91
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 3,854.3
Alan
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 4,149.5
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 1,896.4
Pamela
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 11,663.08
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 3,108.5
Danny
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 4,276.81
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 1,527.4
Cynthia
Debra
Deborah
Susan
Sex: Female
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 21,593.25
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 5,917.7
Gary
Sex: Male
Frequency in the 1950s (per 1 million babies): 16,394.24
Inter-decade average frequency (per 1 million babies): 4,992.8
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