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 Dakota 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 / 30Wayne is a name of English origin meaning "wagon builder".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 794
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,092 (#43 most common name)
Adrie Molco // Shutterstock
2 / 30Rodney is a name of English origin meaning "island near the clearing".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 796
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 54,798 (#67 most common name)
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
3 / 30Roger is a name of German origin meaning "famous spearman".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 836
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 110,156 (#37 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
4 / 30Dale is a name of English origin meaning "valley".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 850
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 75,560 (#50 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
5 / 30Randy is a name of Norse origin meaning "shield-wolf".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 937
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 120,514 (#33 most common name)
2p2play // Shutterstock
6 / 30Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 955
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#29 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
7 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,030
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 178,453 (#26 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
8 / 30Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,056
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
9 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,067
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#332 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
10 / 30Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,070
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#337 (tie) most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 158,998 (#27 most common name)
yifanjrb // Shutterstock
11 / 30Bruce is a name of Scottish origin meaning "from the brushwood thicket".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,096
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#504 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,459 (#32 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
12 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,106
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#200 (tie) most common name, -94.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
yifanjrb // Shutterstock
13 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,108
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#389 most common name, -99.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
14 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,149
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 172 (#63 most common name, -85.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)
Yulia Sribna // Shutterstock
15 / 30Douglas is a name of Scottish origin meaning "black water".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,162
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 172 (#63 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 148,204 (#28 most common name)
MIA Studio // Shutterstock
16 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,166
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 421 (#5 most common name, -63.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
17 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,180
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 421 (#5 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
Minnikova Mariia // Shutterstock
18 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,187
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 421 (#5 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
My Good Images // Shutterstock
19 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,255
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 421 (#5 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
20 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,517
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#239 (tie) most common name, -97.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
21 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,537
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#239 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock
22 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,583
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 241 (#30 most common name, -84.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
23 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,806
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#320 (tie) most common name, -98.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock
24 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,925
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#310 (tie) most common name, -98.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
25 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,054
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 168 (#65 most common name, -91.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
Pshenina_m // Shutterstock
26 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,071
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#343 (tie) most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
27 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,469
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 223 (#39 most common name, -91.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock
28 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,484
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#142 (tie) most common name, -96.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
29 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,621
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 382 (#10 most common name, -85.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
30 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,212
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 154 (#73 most common name, -95.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
