What Would Your Name Be If You Were Born in 1950?

By: Emily Maggrett
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
What Would Your Name Be If You Were Born in 1950?
Image: CoffeeAndMilk / E+/GettyImages

About This Quiz

Ah, the '50s. Through the magic of Hollywood, even people who weren't alive back then sometimes feel nostalgic for this era's retro charms. Poodle skirts, drive-in, hula hoops, ice cream shoppes ... it all seems so innocent and fun. Of course, the '50s were a lot more complex than that, but there's no harm in daydreaming about them, is there? If your answer to that question is yes, then this is the quiz for you! 

We're taking you on a journey through the past, to find out what your life would have been like if you'd been born during this quintessentially American decade. How would you have done your hair and makeup? Which slang would you have used? Would you have worshiped Paul Newman? We also want to know about your life now. Can you cook? Be smooth on the telephone? Sweet-talk your boss after making a big screw-up? All of these skills are crucial for 1950s survival, so the better you are at them, the more likely it is that you'll get a cool name as your result!

So: are you ready to find out how you would have fared way back when? Then put some Elvis on the stereo and come play this quiz, daddy-o!

If you lived in the '50s, would you have been a nerd, a soc, a greaser or a surfer?
Nerd
Greaser
Surfer
Soc
In high school, did you like going to dances?
No, but I went anyway.
I only showed up at the end of them (so I could make an entrance.)
I was too cool for school dances.
I was the belle of the ball!
You've screwed up big at work. How do you avoid getting fired?
I'd admit my mistake and strive to fix it.
I'd avoid mentioning it and hope I didn't get caught.
I'd tell my boss that it would never happen again.
Easy ... I wouldn't screw up in the first place!

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In your opinion, which '50s trend should we bring back?
3-D movies
Sideburns
Hot rods
Pencil skirts
When you were a kid, which classic '50s TV show re-runs were your favorite?
"Leave It to Beaver"
"I Love Lucy"
"The Twilight Zone"
"Lassie"
Do you ever wish you could go back in time and live life in the '50s?
Maybe. I do admire the craftsmanship of stuff from that time.
Yes, for fashion reasons.
Yes, because I'd love to get away from technology!
No. That was a bad time for many groups of people in America.

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On a scale of 1 to 10, how good of a cook are you?
6. I'm a decent chef.
2. I hate cooking!
4. I can barbecue over a campfire; that's it.
9. I know my way around a kitchen!
What's your biggest pet peeve about modern times?
People are too self-focused now.
There's no beatnik culture anymore!
It's hard to go wild in a high-surveillance world.
In the '50s, a typical CEO made 20 times the salary of his or her average employee. Now, they make 361 times as much.
Do you enjoy Jell-o?
Who doesn't?
Ew, no!
That's hospital food.
It's a low-cal dessert that comes in an array of charming fruit flavors!

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If you could own any '50s car you wanted, which one would you drive?
A 1957 Plymouth Fury
A 1956 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia
A 1959 Cadillac Eldorado
A 1950 Jaguar XK120
Your favorite '50s slang word is ...
"Nifty"
"Hep"
"Daddy-O"
"Square"
Are you comfortable talking on the telephone?
Surprisingly ... I'm not terrible at it.
Nah, not really.
The very thought of it is terrifying.
I LOVE talking on the phone!

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What's your favorite '50s makeup look?
A fresh face with a little pink lipstick
A winged cat's eye
Heavy black eyeliner, white lipstick
Scarlet lipstick with a beauty mark
The tastiest '50s meal is ...
Chicken à la king
Chow mein
A hot dog and some potato salad
Duck à l'orange
What was your New Year's resolution this year?
To get a better job
To lose five pounds
To travel to a new continent
To earn twice as much money as last year

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'50s cooks lacked our modern conveniences. What's the last food you made from scratch?
Bread
Pancakes
... Avocado toast?
Chicken stock
Who's your favorite classic movie star?
Jimmy Stewart
Ava Gardner
James Dean
Katherine Hepburn
Do you get along well with baby boomers?
Yes, it's like I'm one of them.
Nah. They don't get me and vice-versa!
I don't get along with any authority figures.
I don't agree with most of their ideas, but can tolerate them in business situations.

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If you were forced to get involved with your school play, what kind of role would you take?
Lighting person
Star
Scenery painter
Director
Who's your favorite '50s musician?
Buddy Holly
Patsy Cline
Ray Charles
Etta Fitzgerald
The most important lesson of the '50s that people today need to know is ...
Things that are made well last longer.
For counter-culture to thrive, youth must keep it secret from adults.
All you need is the open sea and the open road.
War is too dangerous; humanity must seek peace.

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Would you rather go hiking, play a game of Dungeons and Dragons or go to an art opening?
Play D and D, please!
I'd love to go to an art opening.
I dig hiking.
All I want to do is dance the night away at a beach party.
How would you describe your hair?
Thin and straight
Thick and curly
Thick and straight
Difficult (but I make it behave!)
Let's say your wedding has a '50s theme. What will you serve at the reception?
Steak Diane with scalloped potatoes
Oysters Rockefeller
A roast pig and pineapple skewers
Sole Meunière with Haricots Verts

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In a movie about your high school days, who would play you?
Tom Holland
Kiernan Shipka
Cole Sprouse
Zendaya
You have the power to check out any historical '50s event. Which one do you go see?
The Sputnik launch
Elvis's first concert
I would have joined the first surfers.
I would have helped with the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Which '50s job would you have?
Shop teacher
Nightclub performer
Getaway driver
Girl reporter

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Be honest: What's the nerdiest thing you've ever done?
Entered a soapbox derby
Mixed my own eye shadow from powdered mica
Bought an ant farm
Trained as a classical pianist
Are there any '50s names that you absolutely hate?
Arnold
Doreen
Herman
Sherri
What's your name in real life?
Something very common, such as Michael, Jen or Ryan.
Something feminine and exotic, like Isabella or Sebastian.
Something that's actually a nickname, like Jack or Lupe.
Something old-fashioned and strong-sounding, like Jasmine, Troy or Raquel.

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