Uncommon 1950s Names for Baby Girls

Are you on the hunt for the perfect name for your soon-to-be born daughter? If you love all things retro and vintage, including throwback baby names, our list of unusual girl names from the 1950s has a ton of interesting appellations to get you thinking.

To earn a spot on this list, names had to fulfill the following criteria: they had to have more entries in the U.S. Social Security Administration's (SSA) baby name database for the 1950s than any other decade since the beginning of recorded baby name history; they had to have at least 1,000 entries in total from 1950 through 1959; and finally, they had to be outside the 1950s' Top 100 Most Popular Girls' Names (bye bye, Brenda and Debra).

So, without further ado, here's our list of fifties' hidden gems.

• Aleta. The 1920s' charmer Althea with a mid-century spin.
• Alfreda. This retro girls' name has a touch of magic and mystery courtesy of the "alf" prefix, which can be traced back to the Old English word ælf or the Old Norse word alfr, both meaning "elf".
• Althea. A variation of the Greek Althaea, this charming girls' name is thought to come from the Greek word althos, meaning "healing". Added attraction: the beautiful nickname Thea.
• Betsy. The punchy Betsy has a definite mid-century feel that may or may not appeal.
• Bonita. This retro name means "pretty" or "cute" in Spanish and Portuguese, which makes it an apt title for any and every girl.
• Bonny. Another name with a beautiful meaning: Bonny means "pretty" in Scottish. One caveat, though: While Bonny with a "Y" remained an under-the-radar option, the spelling variant Bonnie was all over the charts in mid-century America.
• Caren. Karen, whether spelled with a K or C, is best left in the past.
• Carleen
• Carlene. Carl with the feminine suffix -lene. Carleen is an alternative spelling.
• Carlotta. If you're looking for a path to the vintage nickname Lottie, this could be one option.
• Caron
• Cathey
• Cathie
• Cathleen
• Cathrine
• Cathryn
• Celestine. A long and elegant appellation with heavenly overtones.
• Charlene. A feminine version of Charles, Charlene was relatively popular in the 1950s but didn't quite make it to the Top 100. Princess Charlene of Monaco gives the name a contemporary royal vibe.
• Charmaine. A little too close to the toilet paper brand for our liking.
• Cherry. A mid-century rarity with fruity overtones.
• Cheryle. A spelling variation of the fifties' favorite Cheryl.
• Cheryll
• Cinda. Can't decide between Cindy and Linda? Try Cinda!
• Claudia. This understated classic has deep roots that go back all the way to the Roman Empire, as well as an international sound that works whether you're in New York or Rome.
• Constance. A strong, long name with history to spare.
• Corliss. A surname and a unisex given name. The most famous historical female bearer has got to be the silent film actress Corliss Palmer.
• Dale. This nature-inspired name meaning 'valley' was given to thousands of baby girls and boys in the 1950s, but today, no one seems to be interested in naming their baby girl Dale.
• Daryl. Actress and environmental activist Daryl Hannah puts this name on the map for girls, too.
• Debbi. Deborah short form occasionally used as the formal name back in the 1950s.
• Debbra
• Debby
• Debi
• Debora
• Debrah
• Delia. Vintage and modern? Delia somehow manages to hit both seemingly contradictory targets.
• Denice. A variation of the more popular Denise.
• Diann. Given to more than 4,000 baby girls during the 1950s, this version of Diane has virtually vanished from the modern baby naming lexicon.
• Dianna. Ranked #55, Diana reached its pinnacle in the 1950s, but Dianna with two N's also had its fans: the name popped up on nearly 15,000 birth certificates from 1950 through 1959.
• Dianne. Diane, at #17, was even more popular than Diana, so it's hardly surprising that the double N version was also en vogue. In fact, more than 34,000 baby girls were given the name Dianne during the decade, enough to put this spelling variation at #123 in the rankings.
• Dinah. An underused biblical name that reached its apex in the 50s.
• Dona. A lesser-used variation of the quintessential fifties' name Donna.
• Donita
• Doreen. A mid-century relic best left buried with Maureen and Noreen, or a retro-cool name worth a look? You decide.
• Dorene. A variant of Doreen.
• Doretha. If Dorothy feels too common, swap the Y for an A!
• Eileen. A beautiful mid-century name that still feels wearable.
• Evonne. If you go with this unusual variation of Yvonne, be prepared to correct people on the spelling.
• Fran. Fran may be a common nickname for names like Frances and Francine, but it was also occasionally used as a standalone name in the 50s.
• Francine. Francine combines midcentury style with French roots.
• Gale
• Gay. An old name that's out of question today.
• Gaye. Adding an E won't make it baby-appropriate, either.
• Gayla
• Gayle. An outdated Abigail diminutive probably best left to nostalgia.
• Georgette. This relatively unusual mid-century name somehow manages to be feisty and feminine at the same time.
• Geralyn. The frilly Geraldine had a pretty long run of popularity from the 1920s through the 40s, but the more unusual Geralyn only experienced a brief and modest stint at the top in the middle of the century.
• Glenda. Cut from the same old cloth as Linda and Wanda.
• Glinda. A variation of Glenda.
• Gwen. Clocking in at just one syllable and four little letters, this mini moniker gets right to the point.
• Gwendolyn. Considered too outdated not too long ago, Gwendolyn is now back in the game.
• Ilene. A variation of Eileen.
• Jacalyn
• Jacque
• Jacquelyn. A spelling variant of the more common version Jacqueline.
• Jan. A pint-sized possibility for the minimalist baby namer.
• Janette. Janet, with extra frills and lace.
• Janie. An intriguing blend of clunky and sweet.
• Janis. Ranked #181 in the 1950s, Janis today teeters on the edge of extinction.
• Jann
• Jayne. An elaboration of Jane that gained some popularity in the mid-twentieth century.
• Jeanie. All the mid-century appeal of Jean, with the endearing -ie ending!
• Jeanne. A variation of Jean that almost made it to the Top 100 (it came in at a respectable #114).
• Jeannie
• Jeri. A familiar but not overly popular mid-century name with diminutive appeal.
• Joanie
• Joni
• Joy. A short yet complete name with feel-good vibes and proven staying power.
• Joycelyn. The mid-century favorite Joyce spiffed up with the beloved -lyn suffix.
• Karan
• Karol. Carol with a slight Kardashian vibe.
• Karon
• Kathaleen
• Kathi
• Kathie. Kathleen, Kathy, Kathryn, and Katherine all ranked in the Top 100 in the 1950s. Parents who liked the Kath- prefix but preferred something more unusual had a handful of other options to choose from, with Kathie being one of the top 'unusual' choices.
• Kathrine
• Kitty. An endearing mid-century name with a nicknamey vibe and an animal twist—not everyone's cup of tea, though.
• Laurel. A nature-inspired girl's name with a fifties vibe.
• Laurene
• Lavern. Technically, Lavern belongs on this list because it fulfills the criteria of an unusual name that peaked in the 1950s. However, to many people, it may have more of a 20s' vibe because the standard spelling, Laverne, had its heyday in the 1920s.
• Lee. A short but strong unisex name that was bestowed on nearly 14,000 baby girls (and even more boys) during the 50s. Today, you might still meet a baby boy called Lee, but the chances of you meeting a little Lee are slim at best.
• Leslee. A spelling variation of Leslie.
• Lise
• Lizabeth. More streamlined than the classic Elizabeth—but only slightly so.
• Lorna. A mid-century relic that few of us have the guts to use—yet. 
• Lou
• Louann
• Lu. If you tend toward short and sweet baby names, it doesn't get much shorter than this.
• Luann. Part Louise, part Ann, Luann was perfectly on-trend but not overused in the 1950s and 60s.
• Luanne. As mid-century as Luann, with an extra E at the end to make it feel more...complete?
• Lucinda. This gem of a name has a lot to offer: a beautiful meaning ('light'), place name panache (it's a town in Australia), literary cachet (it's a character in Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote), and the cute built-in nickname Lucy.
• Lyn
• Lynne. The streamlined Lynn came in at #67; Lynne with an E was nearly 100 spots behind, ranking #160.
• Madonna. This one would be a pretty iconic name to pull off!
• Margarita. Perhaps best left in the bar.
• Margo. In the 1950s, both Margo and Margot had their fans, but the former was much more popular. Today, by contrast, Margot is the go-to version.
• Mari
• Mariann
• Marianne. Ranked at #183, Marianne stood out as a solid but not overly popular choice in the 1950s.
• Maribeth
• Marilee
• Marita
• Marla. Simple, beautiful and feminine, Marla is one to watch.
• Marsha. Likely too time-stamped for the average parent, but might work for some audacious parents looking for a distinctly mid-century girl's name that's not Linda or Patricia or Deborah.
• Marta. A pared-down version of the biblical Martha.
• Marty
• Maryanne
• Maureen. Ranked #101 in the 1940s, Maureen carries a definite mid-century vibe but was never chart-toppingly popular.
• Melodie. A music-inspired mid-century moniker that wouldn't sound completely out of place on a baby girl born in 2024.
• Merry. Expecting a Christmas baby?
• Meryl. Actress Meryl (born Mary Louise) Streep is the best known bearer of this mid-century sensation.
• Mickey. A masculine-leaning unisex name with Disney bona fides.
• Mickie
• Minerva. Parents who are into Roman mythology might want to take a look at Minerva, the name of a Roman goddess associated with wisdom, medicine, commerce, handicrafts, strategic warfare, poetry and the arts in general.
• Mona. This girl's name had a long run of popularity in the 20th century but has since faded from use. Time to bring back baby Monas?
• Myra. To some ears, Myra is an old lady sitting in a rocking chair, knitting a scarf. To others, it's cool retro name perfect for a modern girl.
• Nadine. Here's a name that might appeal if you're looking for a culture-spanning option that wears well in many different languages.
• Nan. Perhaps lost to history for good.
• Nanci. An uncommon spelling variation of the fifties' favorite Nancy.
• Nita. Nita is heading for extinction if parents don't start giving it to their babies again.
• Noreen. A mid-century name that only a few modern parents have had the courage to use.
• Oralia. A variation of the comeback hit Aurelia, Oralia seems a bit too close to the word "oral" to stand a chance today.
• Pamala. Looks like Kamala, sounds like Pamela. If you like the sound of it, better go with the standard spelling Pamela.
• Pamella
• Patrice. Along with the other Patricia variations and diminutives, Patrice remains stuck in a time capsule waiting for some audacious parents to do something about it.
• Patti. If you wonder where Patty is, it didn't make this list because more girls were given the name Patty in the 60s than 50s.
• Pattie
• Polly. The only 'P' name on this list that's not a spelling variation or a short form of a more common name—kudos to Polly!
• Rae. The perfect name for a little ray of a sunshine!
• Ramona. This one straddles linguistic borders with ease and could be a great option for a little globe-trotter. Ramona also has literary underpinnings via the 1884 novel Ramona written by Helen Hunt Jackson.
• Randy. During the 50s, a small but not insignificant number of parents chose this overwhelmingly masculine name for their baby girls.
• Robbie. Another 'R' name that has been used for both girls and boys.
• Rosalyn. This pretty rose-inspired name seems to appeal to today's parents, too, but it still counts as a rare name.
• Rosanne
• Roseann
• Roseanne
• Rosita. Any fans of The Walking Dead here? This one's for you.
• Roslyn. A slimmed-down version of Rosalind.
• Roxann
• Roxanne. This X-powered name has strong cultural cred, being the title of a 70s' hit by the English rock band The Police as well as the name of a beautiful fictional character created by French playwright Edmond Rostand (though technically the latter was a Roxane with one 'N').
• Sharlene
• Sheree. An unusual, but not unheard-of version of of Sherry.
• Sherryl
• Sheryl. Cheryl was among the top 20 girl names of the decade, but Sheryl—ranked #137—was a perfectly reasonable choice, too.
• Shirlene. Shirley? Charlene? Your kiddo will be constantly correcting people if you name her Shirlene.
• Susanne. A dressed-up version of Susan.
• Suzan. Susan was #4 in the 1950s, while Suzan barely cracked the Top 500.
• Suzann. Even more unusual than Suzan—then and now.
• Sylvia. With its roots in the Latin word 'silva', meaning 'forest', this name could be for you if you hope to foster a love of nature in your little girl. Saint Sylvia adds a religious dimension.
• Teena
• Terese
• Therese. Today, few parents seem to be interested in using the name Therese. That's a shame, though, because Therese has a lot going for it: deep roots, a saintly image, a possible link to the Greek word theros, meaning "summer".
• Trudy. Naming your child Trudy in 2024 would be something of a high-wire act.
• Twila. Despite its appealing aural association with the word "twilight", this beautiful name has never been hugely popular in the U.S., though it did achieve some currency in the 1950s.
• Valorie
• Venita
• Vickey. A spelling variation of Vicky (see below).
• Vicky. The long form Victoria has stood the test of time and continues to have a strong presence on American baby name charts, but for Vicky, fame was fickle.
• Yvonne. French roots and the rare Y-initial wrapped up in one sleek package.