1. Home
  2. Topics

Top 1950s Baby Names

Baby names from the 1950s epitomize the Baby Boom. Denise and Dennis, Donna and Donald — these 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, Carolyn, George, Gloria, Joyce, Judith, Randy, and Terry. The 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.

Rebecca

Meaning: to tie, bind

Origin:Hebrew
350
Bonnie

Meaning: beautiful, cheerful

Origin:Scottish
143
Laura

Meaning: from Laurentum or bay laurel

Origin:English from Latin
113
Peggy

Meaning: pearl

Origin:Diminutive of Margaret, Greek
892
Cynthia

Meaning: moon goddess or, woman from Kynthos

Origin:Greek
197
Arthur

Meaning: bear

Origin:Celtic
32
Kenneth

Meaning: born of fire, handsome

Origin:Scottish and Irish
113
Edward

Meaning: wealthy guardian

Origin:English
235
Alan

Meaning: handsome, cheerful

Origin:Irish
471
Brian

Meaning: strong, virtuous, and honorable

Origin:Irish
417
Joan

Meaning: God is gracious

Origin:English variation of Johanna
804
Janet

Meaning: God's gracious gift

Origin:Diminutive of Jane
873
Nancy The meaning of Nancy is 'grace'. Nancy was o...
Origin:English diminutive of Ann
268
Betty

Meaning: pledged to God

Origin:Diminutive of Elizabeth
505
Lisa

Meaning: pledged to God

Origin:English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Italian
928
Kathleen

Meaning: pure

Origin:Anglicized form of Irish Caitlin
720
Martha

Meaning: lady

Origin:Aramaic
433
Timothy

Meaning: honoring God

Origin:Greek
558
Barbara

Meaning: foreign woman

Origin:Latin
693
Judith

Meaning: woman from Judea

Origin:Hebrew
896