Perhaps no decade in US history conjures up more imagery of all-American idealism than the 1950s. A politically conservative era, the '50s introduced the world to some of the most enduring cultural touchstones of the USA: milkshakes, Elvis Presley, "I Love Lucy," and sock-hops. One might imagine classic American kids named Jimmy and Susie splitting a hot-fudge sundae at a local soda shop—and you'd actually be historically accurate. James and Susan were in fact two of the most popular names of the decade.
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for boys in the 50s in California using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.
Keep reading to see if your name made the list.
You may also like: See how much it costs to attend San Diego Padres games
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
1 / 30Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,331
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12,345 (#22 most common name, +8.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,652 (#30 most common name)
Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock
2 / 30Douglas is a name of Scottish origin meaning "black water".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,564
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 300 (#825 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 148,204 (#28 most common name)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
3 / 30Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,577
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,050 (#93 most common name, -56.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 158,998 (#27 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
4 / 30Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,959
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 536 (#569 most common name, -95.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 111,814 (#36 most common name)
Irisska // Shutterstock
5 / 30George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,990
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,304 (#134 most common name, -72.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)
You may also like: Highest-rated IPAs in California
Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock
6 / 30Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,095
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,606 (#172 most common name, -80.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 188,328 (#23 most common name)
marina shin // Shutterstock
7 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,831
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 307 (#808 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
Adrie Molco // Shutterstock
8 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,433
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,061 (#354 most common name, -93.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)
Flashon // Shutterstock
9 / 30Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,598
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 473 (#619 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
10 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,778
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10,692 (#31 most common name, -32.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)
You may also like: Highest-rated Class of 2025 football recruits from California
yifanjrb // Shutterstock
11 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,090
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,866 (#237 most common name, -88.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
Ramona Heim // Shutterstock
12 / 30Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,901
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,042 (#360 most common name, -93.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
13 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,935
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 788 (#440 most common name, -95.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 178,453 (#26 most common name)
Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock
14 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,375
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,522 (#281 most common name, -92.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,790
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,657 (#262 (tie) most common name, -91.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
You may also like: Easy as pie: See the most uniquely popular pie in California
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
16 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,004
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 387 (#698 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
Fotonium // Shutterstock
17 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,347
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,938 (#98 most common name, -75.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
18 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 21,859
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 477 (#618 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
yifanjrb // Shutterstock
19 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,966
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17,356 (#7 most common name, -24.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
20 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,839
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 306 (#812 (tie) most common name, -98.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
You may also like: Biggest exports from California
rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock
21 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 27,601
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,771 (#77 most common name, -79.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
morrowlight // Shutterstock
22 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 36,140
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,223 (#202 most common name, -93.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
23 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 36,854
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11,156 (#30 most common name, -69.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock
24 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 37,186
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,705 (#168 most common name, -92.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
25 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 47,816
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,788 (#163 most common name, -94.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
You may also like: Most common jobs 150 years ago in California
Gorynvd // Shutterstock
26 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 51,372
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12,971 (#19 most common name, -74.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
Pshenina_m // Shutterstock
27 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 59,531
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6,234 (#73 most common name, -89.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
28 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 65,560
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13,006 (#18 most common name, -80.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
Shutterstock
29 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,396
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,243 (#89 most common name, -92.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
30 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 74,204
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12,856 (#20 most common name, -82.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
You may also like: Biggest comeback wins in Los Angeles Rams history
