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 Mississippi 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.
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
1 / 30#30. Paul
Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,932
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 99 (#308 (tie) most common name, -94.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock
2 / 30#29. Danny
Danny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,032
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#524 (tie) most common name, -98.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,615 (#43 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
3 / 30#28. Walter
Walter is a name of German origin meaning "commander of the army".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,198
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 142 (#236 (tie) most common name, -93.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,190 (#50 most common name)
Flashon // Shutterstock
4 / 30#27. Gary
Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,222
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#753 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 30#26. Terry
Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,322
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 72 (#378 (tie) most common name, -96.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#28 most common name)
Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock
6 / 30#25. Ronald
Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,331
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 25 (#668 (tie) most common name, -98.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
Mallmo // Shutterstock
7 / 30#24. Edward
Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,454
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 158 (#213 most common name, -93.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 188,328 (#23 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
8 / 30#23. Joe
Joe is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Jehovah increases".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,579
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 36 (#554 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 62,481 (#56 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
9 / 30#22. Joseph
Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,583
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 715 (#22 most common name, -72.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)
Pshenina_m // Shutterstock
10 / 30#21. Jimmy
Jimmy is a name of English origin meaning "supplanter".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,825
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#428 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 54,735 (#71 most common name)
Capable97 // Shutterstock
11 / 30#20. Henry
Henry is a name of German origin meaning "estate ruler".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,848
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 644 (#36 most common name, -77.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 62,205 (#60 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
12 / 30#19. Bobby
Bobby is a name of German origin meaning "bright fame".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,890
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 70 (#385 most common name, -97.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,069 (#74 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
13 / 30#18. Donald
Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,942
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#428 (tie) most common name, -98.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
14 / 30#17. Eddie
Eddie is a name of English origin meaning "wealth".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,977
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#560 most common name, -98.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 38,363 (#92 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
15 / 30#16. Kenneth
Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,183
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 220 (#163 (tie) most common name, -93.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
16 / 30#15. Billy
Billy is a name of English origin meaning "resolute protection".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,267
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#480 (tie) most common name, -98.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 59,125 (#66 most common name)
MIA Studio // Shutterstock
17 / 30#14. Johnny
Johnny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,580
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 107 (#283 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 65,626 (#54 most common name)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
18 / 30#13. George
George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,751
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 204 (#175 most common name, -94.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
19 / 30#12. Richard
Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,935
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#177 most common name, -94.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
20 / 30#11. Thomas
Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,094
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 705 (#24 (tie) most common name, -82.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
21 / 30#10. Jerry
Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,455
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#396 most common name, -98.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,566 (#30 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 30#9. Michael
Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,050
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 901 (#11 most common name, -85.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
Yulia Sribna // Shutterstock
23 / 30#8. David
David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,024
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 642 (#37 most common name, -90.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock
24 / 30#7. Larry
Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,460
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#406 (tie) most common name, -99.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
25 / 30#6. William
William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,209
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,805 (#1 most common name, -78.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
morrowlight // Shutterstock
26 / 30#5. Willie
Willie is a name of English origin meaning "resolute".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,835
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#396 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,241 (#52 most common name)
marina shin // Shutterstock
27 / 30#4. Charles
Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,989
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 687 (#28 most common name, -92.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
28 / 30#3. John
John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,660
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,741 (#2 most common name, -82.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
29 / 30#2. Robert
Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,644
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 655 (#34 most common name, -94.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
#1. James
James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Mississippi
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,390
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,733 (#3 most common name, -90.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)