Most popular boy names in the 50s in New Jersey

Written by:
May 22, 2026
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

Most popular boy names in the 50s in New Jersey

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 New Jersey 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.

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#30. Gregory

Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,743
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 249 (#332 (tie) most common name, -94.8% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 178,453 (#26 most common name)

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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

#29. Raymond

Raymond is a name of German origin meaning "protector".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,821
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 322 (#273 most common name, -93.3% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,932 (#38 most common name)

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2p2play // Shutterstock

#28. Dennis

Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,001
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 170 (#430 (tie) most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)

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Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock

#27. Bruce

Bruce is a name of Scottish origin meaning "from the brushwood thicket".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,283
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 154 (#458 most common name, -97.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,459 (#32 most common name)

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Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

#26. Daniel

Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,117
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,510 (#12 most common name, -42.6% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)

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#25. Frank

Frank is a name of German origin meaning "free man".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,467
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 407 (#231 most common name, -93.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 112,321 (#34 most common name)

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Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock

#24. Jeffrey

Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,549
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 315 (#277 (tie) most common name, -95.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)

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#23. Ronald

Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,733
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 156 (#453 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)

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Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

#22. Stephen

Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,749
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 357 (#255 (tie) most common name, -94.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)

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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#21. Anthony

Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,055
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,501 (#14 most common name, -50.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,652 (#30 most common name)

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#20. Donald

Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,057
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#586 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)

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#19. Kevin

Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,125
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,054 (#95 most common name, -85.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 158,998 (#27 most common name)

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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#18. Peter

Peter is a name of Greek origin meaning "rock".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,192
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 554 (#179 most common name, -92.3% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 102,752 (#39 most common name)

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Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

#17. George

George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,834
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 832 (#114 most common name, -89.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)

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Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#16. Steven

Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,028
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 665 (#145 most common name, -91.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)

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Falcona // Shutterstock

#15. Kenneth

Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,369
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 413 (#227 most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)

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Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock

#14. Paul

Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,743
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 424 (#219 (tie) most common name, -95.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)

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Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#13. Gary

Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,781
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 72 (#763 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)

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Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock

#12. Charles

Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,501 (#57 most common name, -84.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)

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Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock

#11. Edward

Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,595
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 667 (#144 most common name, -93.0% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 188,328 (#23 most common name)

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Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#10. Mark

Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,091
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 630 (#158 most common name, -93.8% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)

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rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock

#9. David

David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,663
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,993 (#18 most common name, -83.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)

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#8. Joseph

Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,233
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,258 (#5 most common name, -76.6% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)

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MIA Studio // Shutterstock

#7. Thomas

Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,045
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,121 (#38 most common name, -88.9% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)

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Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

#6. Richard

Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,117
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 608 (#162 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)

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#5. William

William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 21,719
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,626 (#24 most common name, -87.9% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)

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#4. James

James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 23,304
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,694 (#8 most common name, -84.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#3. Michael

Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,134
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,260 (#4 most common name, -83.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)

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Thammasak Lek // Shutterstock

#2. John

John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 33,443
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,707 (#23 most common name, -91.9% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)

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#1. Robert

Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".

New Jersey
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 33,838
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,408 (#62 most common name, -95.8% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)

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