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.
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
1 / 30Gregory 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)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
2 / 30Raymond 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)
2p2play // Shutterstock
3 / 30Dennis 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)
Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock
4 / 30Bruce 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)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
5 / 30Daniel 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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6 / 30Frank 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)
Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock
7 / 30Jeffrey 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)
Capable97 // Shutterstock
8 / 30Ronald 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)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
9 / 30Stephen 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)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
10 / 30Anthony 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)
Fotonium // Shutterstock
11 / 30Donald 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)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
12 / 30Kevin 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)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
13 / 30Peter 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)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
14 / 30George 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)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
15 / 30Steven 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)
Falcona // Shutterstock
16 / 30Kenneth 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)
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
17 / 30Paul 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)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 30Gary 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)
Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock
19 / 30Charles 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)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
20 / 30Edward 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)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
21 / 30Mark 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)
rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock
22 / 30David 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)
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock
23 / 30Joseph 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)
MIA Studio // Shutterstock
24 / 30Thomas 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)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
25 / 30Richard 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)
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock
26 / 30William 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)
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
27 / 30James 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)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
28 / 30Michael 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)
Thammasak Lek // Shutterstock
29 / 30John 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)
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
30 / 30Robert 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)
