Most popular boy names in the 50s in North Carolina
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 North Carolina 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.
#30. Mark
Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,298
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 429 (#271 most common name, -90.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
#29. Edward
Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,312
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 540 (#227 most common name, -87.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 188,328 (#23 most common name)
#28. Willie
Willie is a name of English origin meaning "resolute".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,325
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 77 (#912 most common name, -98.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,241 (#53 most common name)
#27. Ronnie
Ronnie is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "mountain of strength".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,575
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 88 (#835 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 51,160 (#78 most common name)
#26. Steven
Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,612
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 571 (#215 most common name, -87.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)
#25. Johnny
Johnny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,708
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 232 (#424 (tie) most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 65,626 (#55 most common name)
#24. Bobby
Bobby is a name of German origin meaning "bright fame".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,770
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 137 (#610 (tie) most common name, -97.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,069 (#75 most common name)
#23. Dennis
Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,778
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 155 (#565 (tie) most common name, -96.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
#22. Randy
Randy is a name of Norse origin meaning "shield-wolf".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,838
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 104 (#747 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 120,514 (#33 most common name)
#21. Danny
Danny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,946
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 166 (#541 (tie) most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,615 (#44 most common name)
#20. Ricky
Ricky is a name of German origin meaning "powerful leader".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,112
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 121 (#672 (tie) most common name, -97.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 79,109 (#47 most common name)
#19. Timothy
Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,178
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 889 (#144 most common name, -82.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
#18. Terry
Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,293
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 119 (#683 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#29 most common name)
#17. George
George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,877
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 944 (#136 most common name, -83.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)
#16. Joseph
Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,288
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,650 (#30 most common name, -57.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)
#15. Gary
Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,362
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 97 (#787 (tie) most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
#14. Ronald
Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,631
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 187 (#500 most common name, -97.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
#13. Jerry
Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,798
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 148 (#581 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,566 (#31 most common name)
#12. Kenneth
Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,212
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 591 (#203 most common name, -92.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
#11. Donald
Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,399
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 177 (#514 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
#10. Thomas
Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,058
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,460 (#34 most common name, -72.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
#9. Richard
Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,418
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 577 (#212 most common name, -93.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
#8. Larry
Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,415
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 111 (#718 most common name, -99.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
#7. Charles
Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,543
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,442 (#35 most common name, -82.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
#6. John
John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,510
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,389 (#14 most common name, -79.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
#5. David
David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,193
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,780 (#27 most common name, -83.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
#4. Michael
Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,241
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,156 (#19 most common name, -81.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
#3. Robert
Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,930
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,700 (#68 most common name, -90.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
#2. William
William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,687
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,860 (#3 most common name, -71.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
#1. James
James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 29,864
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,009 (#4 most common name, -83.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)