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 Oklahoma 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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1 / 30Johnny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,869
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 135 (#348 (tie) most common name, -92.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 65,626 (#55 most common name)
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2 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,879
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 264 (#199 most common name, -85.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
3 / 30Joe is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Jehovah increases".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,889
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#590 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 62,481 (#57 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
4 / 30Bobby is a name of German origin meaning "bright fame".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,941
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 74 (#519 most common name, -96.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,069 (#75 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
5 / 30Ricky is a name of German origin meaning "powerful leader".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,256
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#714 (tie) most common name, -98.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 79,109 (#47 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
6 / 30Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,283
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#836 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
morrowlight // Shutterstock
7 / 30Danny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,314
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 86 (#473 most common name, -96.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,615 (#44 most common name)
Falcona // Shutterstock
8 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,390
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 145 (#326 most common name, -93.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
2p2play // Shutterstock
9 / 30Jimmy is a name of English origin meaning "supplanter".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,487
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 82 (#492 most common name, -96.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 54,735 (#72 most common name)
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock
10 / 30Randy is a name of Norse origin meaning "shield-wolf".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,739
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#714 (tie) most common name, -98.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 120,514 (#33 most common name)
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock
11 / 30Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,765
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 125 (#367 most common name, -95.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)
Irisska // Shutterstock
12 / 30Billy is a name of English origin meaning "resolute protection".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,795
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 89 (#468 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 59,125 (#67 most common name)
Fotonium // Shutterstock
13 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,234
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 736 (#52 most common name, -77.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
14 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,452
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#572 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
15 / 30Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,494
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#513 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,566 (#31 most common name)
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
16 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,571
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 228 (#225 (tie) most common name, -93.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
17 / 30Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,672
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#802 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#29 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
18 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,740
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#694 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
19 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,440
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 216 (#236 (tie) most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
20 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,693
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 132 (#355 (tie) most common name, -97.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
21 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,017
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 634 (#65 most common name, -87.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
Ramona Heim // Shutterstock
22 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,434
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 223 (#231 (tie) most common name, -95.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
23 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,474
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#694 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
MIA Studio // Shutterstock
24 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,549
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#736 (tie) most common name, -99.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
25 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,736
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,623 (#5 most common name, -71.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
26 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,624
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,026 (#28 most common name, -86.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
Gorynvd // Shutterstock
27 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,116
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 503 (#97 most common name, -93.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
28 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,506
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,101 (#22 most common name, -88.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
Adrie Molco // Shutterstock
29 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,827
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 922 (#36 most common name, -90.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
30 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Oklahoma
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,891
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,504 (#6 most common name, -84.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
