Every few years, new trends in baby names start to appear. More recently, parents have been opting for "unique" names so their children can stand out.
But, do you ever wonder what names reigned supreme in the 1950s?
Here are the top 10 names for male and female babies born between 1950 and 1959, see if yours made the cut:
10. Charles & Donna
The name Charles comes from the Old English world "ceorl" meaning man.
As for Donna, it's derived from the Italian title of respect given to women meaning "lady of the home."
9. Mark & Nancy
Mark is another form of Marcus, a Latin name for the Roman god of war, Mars. The name can also be found in the Bible.
No matter how you spell the ending, Nancy stems from 13th century Britain and it means "grace."
8. Thomas & Karen
In the New Testament, Thomas is the name of one of the apostles. The name was derived from the Aramaic word for "twin." Even in 2017, Thomas is till in the top 100 of popular baby names.
Karen, a short form of Katherine, has its roots in Danish. The name gained popularity in the 1950s, and still remains so. It means "pure."
7. Richard & Debra
Richard means "strong ruler" in German. There was a spike in babies being named Richard in the years following the Second World War, but today it ranks at 233rd on the popularity list.
Debra is a Biblical name meaning "Bee," but it has also seen a drop in popularity since the 50s. In 2017, it holds the 7,792nd position.
6. William & Barbara
William means "strong-willed warrior," and this explains why it such a popular name even today. It's from Old German, but made its way to England in 1066. Many well-known personalities including U.S. presidents and members of the British Royal family have had this name. It currently sits at number 24 on the popularity list.
Barbara is borrowed from the Greek barbaros meaning "traveler from a foreign land." The name first became extremely popular in medieval Britain thanks to martyr St. Barbara before making its way to America.
5. David & Deborah
Another Hebrew name that can be found in the Bible is David. Meaning "beloved," David was one of the greatest rulers of Israel, and has been immortalized in the Old Testament story involving him and Goliath.
Deborah is the original form of Debra (see above).
4. John & Susan
Derived from Hebrew, John means "Jehovah is gracious." The classic name has been popular since the Bible came into existence, and although it is no longer in the top 5, it still made it in the top 50.
Meaning "lily," Susan is also taken from Hebrew. There have been many different forms of the name, but it didn't boost its popularity once the 50s ended.
3. Robert & Patricia
We all know a Robert, even if they choose to go by one of the shorter forms of the name. It stems from Old English and means "bright flame."
Patricia was the third most popular female name in the 1950s, and once you hear its meaning you'll understand why. It's the feminine form of Patrick, and it means "noble." Up until the 1990s, Patricia ranked high on the popularity list, but we don't really hear it much anymore.
2. Michael & Linda
Whatever you call them be it Mike, Mikey, or Mickey, you likely know a few people with variations of the name Michael. The Hebrew name means "who is like God?" or "Gift from God." In the Bible, Michael is the only one called an archangel.
Linda comes from the German words for "soft" or "tender." It also means "beautiful" in Spanish and Portuguese. It was recently reported that Linda is the trendiest name in U.S. history, even though is no longer as popular as it once was.
1. James & Mary
From 1950 to 1959, James was the top name for baby boys. Derived from the Hebrew name Jacob, it means "one who follows." The name gained popularity after King James VI became the first ruler of Britain. The spike in babies named James could also be attributed to the untimely death of the iconic James Dean in 1955.
Mary does not really need an explanation, but in case you weren't aware, it means "bitter" in Hebrew. However, most people pick the moniker because of the Biblical figure Mary, Jesus' mother.
