Names that rose through the 1950s

Names whose ranking improved by at least a quarter between the start and the end of the 1950s, within one official list.

Measured inside the decade itself: the earliest and latest ranked years within 1950s in the same published list, requiring data near both ends of the decade so a name present for only two years never stands in for the whole of it.

60 names, selected from the 2,577 names in the catalogue with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon). Based on official statistics from national registrars. Data sources · Methodology

• Heidi

  Ranked #232 in 1950 and #11 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Kim

  Ranked #98 in 1952 and #6 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Bente

  Ranked #32 in 1950 and #2 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Deborah

  Ranked #51 in 1952 and #4 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Mark

  Ranked #27 in 1952 and #3 in 1959 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

• Geir

  Ranked #31 in 1950 and #4 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Anita

  Ranked #109 in 1950 and #15 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Karen

  Ranked #35 in 1952 and #5 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Hilde

  Ranked #81 in 1950 and #12 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Rune

  Ranked #52 in 1950 and #8 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Nina

  Ranked #103 in 1950 and #16 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Morten

  Ranked #61 in 1950 and #10 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Sharon

  Ranked #47 in 1952 and #9 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Marianne

  Ranked #51 in 1950 and #10 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Jennifer

  Ranked #5 in 1952 and #1 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Michelle

  Ranked #95 in 1952 and #21 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Joanne

  Ranked #77 in 1952 and #18 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Julie

  Ranked #12 in 1952 and #3 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Mona

  Ranked #79 in 1950 and #21 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Catherine

  Ranked #33 in 1952 and #10 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Trude

  Ranked #292 in 1950 and #90 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Vicki

  Ranked #38 in 1952 and #12 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Espen

  Ranked #260 in 1950 and #83 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Kristin

  Ranked #59 in 1950 and #19 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Tommy

  Ranked #186 in 1950 and #60 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Linda

  Ranked #182 in 1950 and #59 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Siv

  Ranked #206 in 1950 and #67 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Steven

  Ranked #41 in 1952 and #14 in 1959 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

• Hege

  Ranked #197 in 1950 and #68 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Stig

  Ranked #107 in 1950 and #39 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Tone

  Ranked #49 in 1950 and #18 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Trine

  Ranked #175 in 1950 and #65 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Tove

  Ranked #16 in 1950 and #6 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Wayne

  Ranked #29 in 1952 and #11 in 1959 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

• David

  Ranked #5 in 1952 and #2 in 1959 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

• Tom

  Ranked #32 in 1950 and #13 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Hanne

  Ranked #91 in 1950 and #38 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Lena

  Ranked #287 in 1950 and #124 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Janne

  Ranked #157 in 1950 and #70 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Frode

  Ranked #89 in 1950 and #40 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Roger

  Ranked #82 in 1950 and #37 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Lene

  Ranked #277 in 1950 and #125 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Louise

  Ranked #73 in 1952 and #34 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Trond

  Ranked #30 in 1950 and #14 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Monica

  Ranked #236 in 1950 and #111 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Pål

  Ranked #92 in 1950 and #44 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Kjetil

  Ranked #146 in 1950 and #72 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Gunn

  Ranked #40 in 1950 and #20 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Peter

  Ranked #2 in 1952 and #1 in 1959 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

• Ronny

  Ranked #250 in 1950 and #126 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Jane

  Ranked #70 in 1952 and #36 in 1959 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

• Vibeke

  Ranked #176 in 1950 and #91 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Vidar

  Ranked #48 in 1950 and #25 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Stein

  Ranked #41 in 1950 and #22 in 1959 among boys in Norway.

• Wenche

  Ranked #13 in 1950 and #7 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Anthony

  Ranked #18 in 1952 and #10 in 1959 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

• Ann

  Ranked #52 in 1950 and #29 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Mette

  Ranked #57 in 1950 and #32 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Line

  Ranked #418 in 1952 and #236 in 1959 among girls in Norway.

• Cecilie

  Ranked #272 in 1950 and #156 in 1959 among girls in Norway.