Most Popular Girl Names In The 1950s

Mary

The name Mary is still going strong today. Everyone pretty much knows at least two or three Marys because the name is so prevalent.

The name has always been popular because of its religious origin. In fact, it was the most popular girl name from 1880 to 1961! Nowadays, however, it is not even in the top 100 most popular names.

Linda

The name Linda is also still very prevalent, but it is not even remotely as popular as it used to be. For some reason, its popularity boomed during the 1950s, and this is evidenced by how many famous Lindas were born around that time.

Some famous Lindas born in the '50s include Linda Hamilton, Linda Evangelista, and Linda Blair. Much like Mary, Linda is not a top choice for modern parents.

Karen

Karen is sort of an infamous name nowadays, as it is associated with the stereotypical middle-aged woman who is always complaining and wanting to talk to the manager. While stereotypes often generalize too much, you can find a factual explanation for it in history.

Karen was a wildly popular name in the '50s, which is the age group the infamous Karens are associated with. In fact, the name increased 117% in usage in 1956.