Names that peaked in the 1950s

Names whose highest recorded position in an official list falls in the 1950s, with at least 3 recorded years on each side of that year.

A peak only means something against the years around it. Requiring record on both sides of the peak year keeps out names that merely start high — England and Wales publishes from 1996, so a name ranked highest in its first recorded year has not peaked, it has simply been observed.

54 names, selected from the 2,573 names in the catalogue with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon). Based on official statistics from national registrars. Data sources · Methodology

• Jennifer

  Highest recorded position #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1956, across a record running 1952–2003.

• Karen

  Highest recorded position #1 among girls in New Zealand in 1957, across a record running 1954–1986.

• Bente

  Highest recorded position #2 among girls in Norway in 1955, across a record running 1945–2011.

• Bjørn

  Highest recorded position #2 among boys in Norway in 1952, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Deborah

  Highest recorded position #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957, across a record running 1952–1980.

• Julie

  Highest recorded position #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1956, across a record running 1952–1987.

• Stephen

  Highest recorded position #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1955, across a record running 1952–1997.

• Svein

  Highest recorded position #4 among boys in Norway in 1950, across a record running 1945–2023.

• Debra

  Highest recorded position #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1958, across a record running 1953–1973.

• Eva

  Highest recorded position #6 among girls in Norway in 1952, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Kim

  Highest recorded position #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1959, across a record running 1952–1984.

• Tove

  Highest recorded position #6 among girls in Norway in 1957, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Linda

  Highest recorded position #7 among girls in New Zealand in 1957, across a record running 1954–1979.

• Randi

  Highest recorded position #7 among girls in Norway in 1951, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Wenche

  Highest recorded position #7 among girls in Norway in 1955, across a record running 1945–2008.

• Aud

  Highest recorded position #10 among girls in Norway in 1951, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Wayne

  Highest recorded position #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1958, across a record running 1952–1986.

• Wendy

  Highest recorded position #10 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1958, across a record running 1952–1978.

• Anthony

  Highest recorded position #11 among boys in New Zealand in 1959, across a record running 1954–2005.

• Kerry

  Highest recorded position #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1956, across a record running 1952–1976.

• Sissel

  Highest recorded position #11 among girls in Norway in 1958, across a record running 1945–2023.

• Helen

  Highest recorded position #12 among girls in New Zealand in 1958, across a record running 1954–1990.

• Helge

  Highest recorded position #12 among boys in Norway in 1952, across a record running 1945–2025.

• John

  Highest recorded position #12 among boys in Norway in 1955, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Vicki

  Highest recorded position #12 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1956, across a record running 1952–1975.

• Grethe

  Highest recorded position #13 among girls in Norway in 1957, across a record running 1945–2012.

• Unni

  Highest recorded position #13 among girls in Norway in 1954, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Rolf

  Highest recorded position #14 among boys in Norway in 1950, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Stein

  Highest recorded position #14 among boys in Norway in 1954, across a record running 1945–2015.

• Ellen

  Highest recorded position #15 among girls in Norway in 1955, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Gunn

  Highest recorded position #15 among girls in Norway in 1954, across a record running 1945–2005.

• Kevin

  Highest recorded position #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1956, across a record running 1952–2001.

• Steinar

  Highest recorded position #17 among boys in Norway in 1953, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Grete

  Highest recorded position #18 among girls in Norway in 1953, across a record running 1945–2022.

• Carol

  Highest recorded position #19 among girls in New Zealand in 1957, across a record running 1954–1971.

• Åse

  Highest recorded position #20 among girls in Norway in 1955, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Vigdis

  Highest recorded position #21 among girls in Norway in 1954, across a record running 1945–2006.

• Gro

  Highest recorded position #22 among girls in Norway in 1957, across a record running 1945–2023.

• May

  Highest recorded position #24 among girls in Norway in 1956, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Vidar

  Highest recorded position #25 among boys in Norway in 1959, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Jane

  Highest recorded position #28 among girls in New Zealand in 1957, across a record running 1954–1988.

• Philip

  Highest recorded position #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1958, across a record running 1952–1988.

• Ann

  Highest recorded position #31 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1955, across a record running 1952–1970.

• Ross

  Highest recorded position #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1958, across a record running 1952–1983.

• Jeanette

  Highest recorded position #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1956, across a record running 1952–1963.

• Frank

  Highest recorded position #74 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1959, across a record running 1952–1967.

• Derek

  Highest recorded position #76 among boys in New Zealand in 1958, across a record running 1954–1970.

• Kate

  Highest recorded position #104 among girls in Norway in 1956, across a record running 1945–2022.

• Margaret

  Highest recorded position #108 among girls in Norway in 1953, across a record running 1945–2023.

• Judith

  Highest recorded position #112 among girls in Norway in 1950, across a record running 1945–2023.

• Jack

  Highest recorded position #151 among boys in Norway in 1956, across a record running 1945–2025.

• Angela

  Highest recorded position #229 among girls in Norway in 1959, across a record running 1947–2022.

• Janet

  Highest recorded position #239 among girls in Norway in 1958, across a record running 1947–1991.

• Grace

  Highest recorded position #321 among girls in Norway in 1959, across a record running 1946–2025.