What's in a name? Well, if you were born in the 1950s, a name meant more than you probably think. The 1950s were a banner decade for many Americans, as post-World War II optimism surrounding the economy helped create what is now known as the Baby Boomer generation.
Today, I'll focus on the most popular baby names in the 1950s. Thanks to a healthy dose of an invaluable resource known as Babynames.com, I'll bring some perspective to these iconic names parents gave their kids over 70 years ago. Let's dive in!
Robert
A traditional English name that means “Bright Fame,” it should come as no surprise that Robert was one of the most popular baby names in the 1950s. In fact, it's still one of the most common names today.
The beauty of naming your child Robert was that you had a built-in nickname of Bobby (or even Bob) at your disposal as a parent. While many names are easily adaptable into nicknames, Robert stands the test of time as one of the most flexible names a parent could give their baby.
James
I wish the internet existed back in the 1950s because I would love to know how many parents named their child James in honor of James Dean, arguably the coolest human being on the planet at the time. I bet many people would confess to doing precisely that.
Giving your kid the name James also had the obvious added benefit of allowing you to call him Jim whenever you felt like it.
Sharon
You can argue that no baby name has dropped off the map in popularity since the 1950s more than Sharon. Sharon Stone was born in 1958, but since then, fewer parents have chosen to give their children the same name as the Hollywood megastar.
With origins in Hebrew culture, the name Sharon means “Of the Fertile Plain,” which perfectly aligns with the fact that people were far more religious in the 1950s than in 2024.
Charles
Some baby names genuinely stand the test of time. When I think of the name Charles, I think of someone who grows up to be dependable, financially successful, and classically handsome, don't you?
Charles is another traditional baby name that lends itself to nicknames, namely, Chuck, though I've always been partial to the whimsical-sounding Charlie.
Mary
There's always something about Mary; blame it on its biblical origin if you must, but it's arguably the most classic girl's name of the entire Baby Boomer generation.
I was surprised to discover that Mary was a (somewhat) popular name for boys born in the 1950s. This naming trend has obviously disappeared in the modern day. Still, a part of me wants to witness society's collective breakdown of babies being named Mary in 2024.
Mark
If there's one thing about the 1950s we can all agree on, it's that baby names were straightforward and unpretentious. Nothing's more American than naming your firstborn Mark. There's no room for ambiguity when you name your baby Mark.
If you were a parent in the 1950s, you named your son Mark because it reflected the culture at the time.
Karen
Let's face it: nobody wants to be called “a Karen” in 2024, but in the 1950s, Karen was one of the most popular girl names out there. My wonderful mother's name is Karen, and she is one of the best people ever to live.
Imagine living in a world where the name Karen didn't conjure mental images of women furiously asking to speak to a supervisor. The 1950s seemed great.
Michael
Some baby names have staying power; Michael is one of those names. Naming your child Michael is just as popular in 2024 as it was in the 1950s, and it's because the name itself is strong, assertive, and masculine.
Like other names on this list, Michael can easily be shortened to Mike, giving your child a less formal-sounding name if they choose. Many of my parents' friends are named Michael, and they're all delightful people, so the name is OK in my book.
Elizabeth
The name Elizabeth exudes class; I don't know about you, but I immediately think of the late Queen Elizabeth whenever I hear this name. In the 1950s, the name was overwhelmingly popular for newborn girls. Like many male names on this list, it has the advantage of quickly transitioning into a nickname.
I know many people named Liz in my life: they're all effortlessly cool and fun and love sports and movies. If that's not the perfect woman's name, I don't know what is.
Gary
In 2024, you don't hear many parents naming their kids Gary. However, the name Gary was commonplace in the 1950s. Let's all raise our glasses to a dying breed; as The Guardian wrote almost a decade ago, “We were [once] awash with Garys. There they were, throughout the 80s and 90s, driving Ford Escorts, buying shell suits, and drinking pints of lager with Wayne and Darren in the snooker club.”
Perhaps one day, the Garys will rise again and reclaim their position as one of the most popular baby names.
One can only dream.
Susan
If you're anything like me, the name Susan lives rent-free in your head as the name of George Constanza's wife inSeinfeld. However, long before one of the most hilarious deaths in television history, Susan was one of the most popular baby names of the 1950s.
While Susan may have met her untimely demise due to George's infamous envelope mishap inSeinfeld, the name Susan in the 1950s signified nothing but parents wanting to name their child something sensible and popular.
John
John is about as timeless a name as it gets, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that it was overwhelmingly popular in the 1950s. However, I have a theory about why naming a child John was so trendy in the 1950s: everybody loved John F. Kennedy.
Like James Dean, JFK gave off a vibe of being cool, calm, and collected; many still consider him the “coolest” U.S. president ever. Who wouldn't want to name their son after the president back then?
Linda
Don't judge me, but whenever I hear the name Linda I immediately think of Linda Hamilton (of Terminator fame). As it turns out, the famed actress was born in 1956. It's undeniably incredible that one of the best examples of a powerful woman in modern cinema is someone born in the 1950s.
The name Linda has Spanish origins and means “Pretty One,” which makes perfect sense: every Linda I've ever met has been beautiful inside and out.
William
I'm enamored with the official British meaning of the name William. It means desire and helmet (what?), and protection (oh, OK). Sure, it's a little confusing, but the needlessly complicated meaning didn't stop millions of parents from naming their song William in the 1950s.
William is one of the all-time great names; fortunately, it still maintains its popularity today.
David
As one of the most popular baby names in the 1950s, parents clearly had no qualms about naming their children after biblical figures. I've never met a David I didn't like, which is a testament to the character that is instilled in a child when they are given that name in the first place.
David Hasselhoff was born in the 1950s – need I say more? If a more iconic and beloved person were born in the 1950s, I'd love to hear about it.
