21 vintage girl names from the 1950s that are making a comeback

Meaning: "bee"

You can call it a comeback: Deborah peaked in 1955 and has been on the decline ever since — until last year, when it jumped more than 100 places in rank between last year and the year before in US top baby names. And while Deborah, as in An Affair to Remember actress Deborah Kerr, is on the upswing, its variant Debra, the third most popular name of the 1950s, has not yet seen a boost.

Meaning: "drop of the sea," "bitter," "beloved"

You may think that Marilyn Monroe would have propelled the name Marilyn to meteoric heights in the 1950s, but the name actually peaked much earlier, in 1937. It remained extremely popular through the '50s but it stopped only decreasing in popularity in 2022 and has been all over the map since.

Meaning: "praised" or "woman of Judea"

Both Judith — as in Judith Balaban, actress and bride of film producer Jay Kanter — and Judy were big names in the '50s.

Meaning: "garden of holly"

It's possible that the name Leslie, as in Gigi actress Leslie Caron, is experiencing a bump in popularity because the name sits at the intersection of two current trends. The first is a rise in gender-neutral names, which Leslie has been for decades. The second, and more recent trend, is an increase in girls' names ending with -ie: Marjorie, Scottie, Elodie and Lettie are all current fast risers.

Meaning: "beautiful"

Speaking of -ie names, Bonnie, as in fashion designer Bonnie Cashin, is another '50s throwback making a resurgence. The name had its peak right in 1950 and dropped off most popular baby names lists in 2004. But, after a brief interlude, it made its reappearance in 2014 and has been slowly climbing ever since — could it be all the kids who grew up with Toy Story, and the character of Bonnie who took over Andy's toys, are now parents themselves?

Meaning: "pure"

It's a surprise that Virginia, as in High Noon actress Virginia Christine, isn't more popular today, given the current fad of -ia names like Olivia, Sophia and Mia. But parents may be catching on, since it's a good name for parents who want something that sounds both vintage and contemporary, and isn't too overdone.

Meaning: "from Mount Kynthos"

Another -ia name, Cynthia — as in Cynthia Bell, one half of the singing Bell Sisters — had its peak in 1957. But for the past three years, it's been growing again, so it's possible that the name's best days are ahead of it.

Meaning: "gift of God"

In 2007, Dorothy, like singer Dorothy Dandridge, didn't make the SSA list at all. My, how things have changed! It re-entered the list in 2011 at No. 927, and has climbed a whopping 496 places in 15 years. The only question remains: Does it have what it takes to get all the way to the top?

Meaning: "from France" or "Free man"

Frances, like actress Frances Farmer, is another good choice for parents looking for a versatile name. A unisex moniker, Frances can also go by trendy-sounding nicknames like Francie or Frankie. It's no wonder the name is steadily climbing again.

Meaning: "grace"

Nancy, as in jazz singer Nancy Wilson, was a top-10 name from 1935 to 1955. Now, it's barely hanging on to the bottom of the SSA list — but that could be changing, since it took a big, 21-place jump in rank between last year and the year before. This is a good choice for parents who are looking for a name that's not too common, but not at all obscure.

Meaning: "glory"

Gloria, the name made glamorous by designer Gloria Vanderbilt, peaked way before the '50s, in 1926. Not even a popular song by Patti Smith in the '70s could boost its popularity, and the name slowly declined ever since. That is, until last year, where it rose in popularity for the first time in decades. Is it just a blip, or are things turning around for Gloria?

Meaning: "stranger"

Barbara, as in singer Barbara McNair, is on a three-year streak of climbing the ranks, so there's no question that the name is on the come up. The name hit its peak popularity in 1944, but even then it only made it to the No. 2 spot. Does it have a chance to become a No. 1 name?

Meaning: "friend"

Biblical names are having a moment (though possibly for boys more than girls), so it's no surprise that Ruth, as in singer Ruth Brown, is climbing in popularity. The name could also be trending because parent are looking to strong leaders, like the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, for name inspiration.

Meaning: "pearl"

From Princess Margaret of England to little sister Margaret on Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, the name Margaret is always in the spotlight. It's no surprise that, for the past century, it's a name that stays in the top 200 on the SSA list. It's also a good name for parents who like choice, since there are plenty of nicknames, including Maggie, Margie and even Peggy.

Meaning: "God is gracious"

"Plain Jane" no more — parents have been flocking to the classic, timeless Jane more or less since 2006, so there's no question that the name is on the rise. (Good Housekeeping's Editor-in-Chief is also a Jane, and actress Jane Russell was certainly no "plain Jane" either.) Though the name peaked in 1946, last year was Jane's best showing on the SSA list since 1973!

Meaning: "shining light"

Millennial parents might think of Seinfeld's Elaine Benes before '50s actress Elaine Shepard, but they are thinking of the name Elaine, since it jumped more than 12 places between last year and the year before — and is up more than 400 places since 2010.

Meaning: "pure"

Catherine, as in Umbrellas of Cherbourg star Catherine Deneuve, is a name that's as timeless as they come, and you can find Catherines in stories, myths and history stretching back centuries. Today, the spelling Katherine has overtaken Catherine, and ranks at No. 175 on the SSA list to Catherine's No. 320. Either way, there are plenty of nicknames to use, including Cate/Kate and Cathy/Kathy.

Meaning: "rose flower"

Rose, as in Rose Kennedy, is another name that has been trending up for a while; it cracked the SSA top 100 for the first time this century in 2014, and has been generally rising ever since (give or take a year or two). Now, at No. 115, it's almost as popular as it was in the '50s, when it hovered between No. 54 and No. 88.

Meaning: "drop of the sea," "bitter," "beloved"

Maria, on the other hand, is almost exactly as popular now as it was in the '50s — it was No. 70 then, and it's No. 74 now. Maria, as in opera singer Maria Callas, was rising in the '50s, and it didn't hit its peak until 1975, when it was No. 30. It's unclear whether the name can reach that high again during this climb.

Meaning: "lady"

Today's parents may think of Martha Stewart when they hear the name Martha, but in the '50s it was all about singer Martha Carson, actress Martha Hyer and Broadway performer Martha Wright — a name that seems destined for stardom. No wonder it remained a top-100 name throughout the '50s.