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 Kentucky 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.
yifanjrb // Shutterstock
1 / 30Ronnie is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "mountain of strength".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,809
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 38 (#674 (tie) most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 51,160 (#78 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
2 / 30Billy is a name of English origin meaning "resolute protection".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,196
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 70 (#507 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 59,125 (#67 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
3 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,216
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 110 (#401 (tie) most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 178,453 (#26 most common name)
Ramona Heim // Shutterstock
4 / 30Ricky is a name of German origin meaning "powerful leader".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,287
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#552 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 79,109 (#47 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
5 / 30George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,371
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 361 (#152 most common name, -89.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)
Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock
6 / 30Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,508
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#660 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
Yulia Sribna // Shutterstock
7 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,654
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 410 (#133 most common name, -88.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock
8 / 30Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,049
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 222 (#237 (tie) most common name, -94.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)
Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock
9 / 30Roger is a name of German origin meaning "famous spearman".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,079
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 52 (#597 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 110,156 (#37 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
10 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,380
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 271 (#197 (tie) most common name, -93.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)
Pshenina_m // Shutterstock
11 / 30Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,594
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 67 (#521 most common name, -98.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#29 most common name)
MIA Studio // Shutterstock
12 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,595
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#240 most common name, -95.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
13 / 30Danny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,622
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 86 (#452 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,615 (#44 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
14 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,718
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 93 (#435 most common name, -98.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
15 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,818
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,223 (#27 most common name, -74.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)
Mallmo // Shutterstock
16 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,155
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 192 (#263 (tie) most common name, -96.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
17 / 30Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,262
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 74 (#487 (tie) most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,566 (#31 most common name)
Capable97 // Shutterstock
18 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,624
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 311 (#178 most common name, -94.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
19 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,906
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 85 (#457 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
20 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,189
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 945 (#49 most common name, -84.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
21 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,879
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 254 (#213 most common name, -96.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
noBorders - Brayden Howie // Shutterstock
22 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,239
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#582 (tie) most common name, -99.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
Adrie Molco // Shutterstock
23 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,324
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#566 most common name, -99.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
24 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,733
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,101 (#37 most common name, -88.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
25 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,741
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,644 (#13 most common name, -86.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
26 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,299
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 733 (#67 most common name, -94.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
27 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,528
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,278 (#26 most common name, -90.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
28 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,551
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,624 (#2 most common name, -80.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock
29 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,075
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,044 (#39 (tie) most common name, -92.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
30 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,920
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,277 (#5 most common name, -88.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
