The 1950s ushered in a period of remarkable economic growth, fueled by the post World War II optimism that blossomed after the war’s conclusion in 1945. This era was marked by a widespread hope for lasting peace and prosperity.
Television became a major source of entertainment and information, alongside movies and radio, bringing cultural icons directly into homes like never before.
Popular names during the 1950s reflected both a respect for tradition and a fascination with popular culture. The top ten baby names for both boys and girls were largely unchanged from the previous decade, with James and Mary remaining the most popular baby names.
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1950s Girl Names
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Down at number 98 sits the quiet beginning of a new era. Jennifer made its appearance on the list of most common 1950s girl names. The name’s surge in popularity can be attributed to Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Jones, who became the reason so many girls received this name at the time. Jennifer continued to grow in popularity and became the most favored name of the 1970s.
Deborah, a name with Biblical roots, gained tremendous popularity in this decade. The traditional spelling rose from number 68 to number five on the list. Additionally, an alternate spelling, Debra, made an astonishing entrance to the list at number seven. Notably, Debra Kerr, a popular actress during this era contributed to the rise in popularity of this name with her roles in films like “From Here to Eternity” and “The King and I.”
Leslie, which had traditionally been a common name for boys, was now becoming a popular name for girls and entered the list at 99.
While some names went out of fashion in this decade, such as Phyllis (falling from 38 to 75), Doris (falling from 44 to 100), and Judith (falling from number nine to number 34), others disappeared completely from the list. Evelyn, for instance, was at 64 in the 1940s but fell completely off the list in the 1950s.
Kids Playing Jacksonville 1950s
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1950s Boy Names
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When it comes to popular boys’ names in the 1950s, most made less dramatic movements on the list. One exception is George, which had sat at number 15 during the 1940s, and fell to number 25 in the 1950s.
Randall made an entrance to the list at number 58. This name was even more popular than such traditional favorites as Jack, Henry, and Andrew.
Kevin, a name with Irish origins, entered the list at number 27. Actor Kevin McCarthy’s appearances in the film adaptations of “Death of a Salesman” and the science-fiction movie “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” contributed to this popularity.
Actor Tony Randall rose to popularity and appeared in the popular TV show “Mr. Peepers.” His Emmy-winning performance may have been part of the reason parents favored this name.
Finally, Vincent entered the list at number 100. Vincent Price was a popular and well-respected movie and radio actor of this era.
