While the 1950s remained a decade for traditional baby name choices, there were also some new kids on the block.
Popular names of the decades drew inspiration from the music and movie culture so in amongst solid name choices like Debra, Thomas and Jane there were also Audrey, Grace and Vivian. These new popular names added a touch of glamour to austere 1950s Britain.
It was the decade that brought us rock n roll, the teenager and beamed the Queen's Coronation into homes across the country (and with an audience of 20 million outnumbered radio listeners for the first time). Rationing was still in place until 1954 and streets still bore the scars of the previous decade's war efforts. Vacant bomb sites stood next to garden allotments and temporary prefabs and military bases dotted the landscape. But you could pick up a loaf of bread, pint of milk and half a dozen eggs and still have change from 20 pence, though dinner might have more likely been spam fritters followed by tinned fruit with evaporated milk.
It was also a decade where TV was king: with just five million TV owners at the start of the decade, 1959 drew to a close with a TV audience of 55 million. This emerging technology was responsible for beaming '50s celebrities and icons into our homes and so introducing a new generation of Avas, Rexs and Sophias to the world. The '50s are generally referred to as 'The Golden Age' of television for a very good reason.
When it came to names popular in the 1950s it was a mix of the traditional (think James, Thomas, Nancy and Mary) with some new adventurous names based on popular culture. Ava (Gardner), Rex (Harrison), Grace (Kelly) and of course Elvis were all huge 1950s stars and so influenced baby name trends, popular for that decade.
When it comes to popular '50s baby names we've rounded up a selection of favourites – and we're sure there's one that will make the top of your list. Not feeling suitably inspired? Why not check out these baby name ideas from the 1930s and 1940s.
Robin (English origin). Means "bright fame".
Virginia (Latin origin). Means "virginal" or "pure".
Enid (Welsh origin). Means "life" or "spirit".
Nancy (Hebrew, French origin). Means "grace".
Audrey (English origin). Means "noble strength".
Grace (Latin origin). Means "grace".
Stanley (English origin). Means "near the stony clearing".
Pamela (English origin). Means "all honey".
Elizabeth (Hebrew origin). Means "pledged to God".
Marjorie (Scottish origin). Means "pearl".
Barbara (Latin origin). Means "foreign woman".
Carol (English origin). Means "free man".
Sandra (Italian, Greek origin). Means "defending men".
Freddie (German origin). Means "peaceful ruler".
Robert (German, English origin). Means "bright fame".
Ava (Hebrew, Latin, German origin). Means "life", "water" or "island".
George (Greek origin). Means "farmer".
Joseph (Hebrew origin). Means "Jehovah increases".
Daniel (Hebrew origin). Means "God is my judge".
Russell (French origin). Means "redheaded".
Perry (English origin). Means "dweller near a pear tree".
Henry (German origin). Means "estate ruler".
Marilyn (English origin). Means "drop of the sea" or "beloved".
Donna (Italian origin). Means "lady".
Sharon (Hebrew origin). Means "a plain".
Gerald (English, Irish, German origin). Means "ruler with the spear".
Gary (English origin). Means "spearman".
Gail (Hebrew origin). Means "my father rejoices".
Theodore (Greek origin). Means "gift of God".
Douglas (Scottish origin), Means "black water".
James (English origin). Means "supplanter".
Lillian (English, Latin origin). Means "lily".
Patricia (Latin origin). Means "noble" or "patrician".
Mark (Latin origin). Means "warlike".
Ian (Scottish origin). Means "the Lord is gracious".
Paul (Latin origin). Means "small".
Jane (English origin). Means God is gracious".
Dawn (English origin). Means "daybreak".
Carl (German origin). Means "free man".
Presley (English origin). Means "priest's meadow".
Timothy (Greek origin). Means "honouring God".
Beverly (English origin). Means "dweller near the beaver stream".
Rebecca (Hebrew origin). Means "servant of God".
Brenda (Scottish origin). Means "blade of a sword".
Scott (English origin). Means :"from Scotland".
Virginia (Latin origin). Means "virginal" or "pure".
Rosemary (Latin origin). Means "dew of the sea".
Ralph (English origin), Means "wolf counsel".
Katherine (Greek origin). Means "pure".
Ruby (Latin origin). Means "deep red precious stone".
Vivian (Latin origin). Means "life".
June (Latin origin). Named for the goddess Juno and the month.
Craig (Scottish origin). Means "from the rocks".
John (Hebrew origin). Means "God is gracious".
Walter (German origin). Means "army ruler".
Lucille (French origin). Means "light".
Lee (English origin). Means "pasture" or "meadow".
Dylan (Welsh origin). Means "son of the sea".
Rosa (Latin origin). Means "a rose".
Wesley (English origin). Means "western meadow".
Yvonne (French origin). Means "yew wood".
Philip (Greek origin). Means "lover of horses".
Gloria (Latin origin). Means "glory".
Peter (Greek origin), Means "rock".
Josephine (French origin). Means "Jehovah increases".
Linda (Spanish, Portuguese, Italian origin). Means "pretty".
Edward (English origin). Means "wealthy guardian".
Margaret (Greek origin). Means "pearl".
Warren (French, English origin). Means "park keeper".
Bonnie (Scottish origin). Means "beautiful" or "cheerful".
Mary (Hebrew, Egyptian origin). Means "drop of the sea" or "beloved".
Cary (Irish, English origin). Means "dark" or "free man".
Charles (German, French origin). Means "free man".
Diane (French origin). Means "divine".
Janet (English origin). Means "God's gracious gift".
Marlon (English origin). Associated with Marlon Brando, meaning unknown.
Karen (Danish origin). Means "pure".
Ella (German, English origin). Means "completely" or "fairy maiden".
Jill (English origin). Means "youthful".
Vivian (Latin origin). Means "life".
Leo (Latin origin). Means "lion".
Christopher (Greek origin). Means "bearer of Christ".
Cynthia (Greek origin). Means "moon goddess".
Wayne (English origin). Means "maker of wagons".
David (Hebrew origin). Means "beloved".
Thomas (Aramaic origin). Means "twin".
Patrick (Latin origin). Means "noble" or "patrician".
Keith (Scottish origin). Means "wood".
Billy (English origin). Means "resolute protection".
Rex (Latin origin). Means "king".
Richard (German origin). Means "dominant ruler".
Alan (Irish origin). Means "handsome" or "cheerful".
Sophia (Greek origin). Means "wisdom".
Michael (Hebrew origin). Means "who is like God?".
