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 Iowa 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.
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
1 / 30Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,891
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#541 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
2 / 30Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,009
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#516 (tie) most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 111,814 (#36 most common name)
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
3 / 30Roger is a name of German origin meaning "famous spearman".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,028
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#516 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 110,156 (#37 most common name)
Mallmo // Shutterstock
4 / 30Craig is a name of Scottish origin meaning "rocky".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,070
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#516 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 69,473 (#52 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
5 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,267
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#730 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 178,453 (#26 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
6 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,339
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 144 (#265 (tie) most common name, -95.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
7 / 30Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,447
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#751 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#29 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
8 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,547
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 145 (#262 (tie) most common name, -95.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
9 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,918
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 588 (#53 most common name, -85.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
Falcona // Shutterstock
10 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,398
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#741 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
marina shin // Shutterstock
11 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,431
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#475 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
12 / 30Randy is a name of Norse origin meaning "shield-wolf".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,431
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#825 most common name, -99.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 120,514 (#33 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
13 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,435
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#751 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
14 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,616
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 165 (#232 most common name, -96.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
15 / 30Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,694
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 177 (#215 most common name, -96.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 158,998 (#27 most common name)
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock
16 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,793
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#700 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock
17 / 30Douglas is a name of Scottish origin meaning "black water".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,825
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#939 most common name, -99.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 148,204 (#28 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
18 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,160
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 647 (#41 most common name, -87.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
19 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,281
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#793 (tie) most common name, -99.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
yifanjrb // Shutterstock
20 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,934
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,423 (#4 most common name, -79.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
21 / 30Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,977
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#571 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
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22 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,784
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 627 (#47 most common name, -91.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
23 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,322
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 129 (#296 (tie) most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
24 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,064
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 108 (#338 (tie) most common name, -98.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
25 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,514
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 121 (#311 (tie) most common name, -98.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
26 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,595
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 331 (#128 most common name, -96.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
27 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,659
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 569 (#55 most common name, -94.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
Thammasak Lek // Shutterstock
28 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,381
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,133 (#10 most common name, -90.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
MIA Studio // Shutterstock
29 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,925
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 733 (#31 most common name, -94.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
30 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,679
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 617 (#50 most common name, -95.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
