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 Pennsylvania 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 / 30Bruce is a name of Scottish origin meaning "from the brushwood thicket".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,926
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 213 (#451 most common name, -97.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,459 (#32 most common name)
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2 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,115
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 77 (#883 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
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3 / 30Frank is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,219
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 291 (#370 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 112,321 (#34 most common name)
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4 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,700
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 315 (#353 most common name, -97.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 178,453 (#26 most common name)
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5 / 30Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,726
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,024 (#131 (tie) most common name, -90.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 158,998 (#27 most common name)
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6 / 30Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,744
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,112 (#32 most common name, -71.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,652 (#30 most common name)
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7 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,563
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,002 (#136 most common name, -92.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
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8 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,087
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 834 (#159 (tie) most common name, -93.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)
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9 / 30Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,921
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 663 (#189 (tie) most common name, -95.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)
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10 / 30George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,970
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,038 (#127 most common name, -93.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)
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11 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,509
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 522 (#245 most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
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12 / 30Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,106
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 225 (#436 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
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13 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,712
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 443 (#268 most common name, -97.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)
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14 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,125
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 747 (#175 most common name, -95.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
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15 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,289
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,729 (#20 most common name, -78.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)
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16 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,229
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 264 (#396 (tie) most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
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17 / 30Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,607
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 854 (#157 most common name, -95.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 188,328 (#23 most common name)
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18 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,778
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 277 (#387 most common name, -98.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
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19 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,917
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 142 (#609 most common name, -99.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
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20 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,611
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,443 (#51 most common name, -89.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
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21 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 23,214
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 760 (#174 most common name, -96.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
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22 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 35,170
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,121 (#13 most common name, -88.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)
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23 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 38,392
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,787 (#40 most common name, -92.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
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24 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 39,143
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 822 (#162 most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
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25 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 46,971
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,193 (#11 most common name, -91.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
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26 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 50,321
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,878 (#6 most common name, -90.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
27 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,221
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,139 (#29 most common name, -94.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
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28 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 54,256
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,964 (#5 most common name, -90.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
29 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 63,694
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,044 (#69 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
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30 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,101
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,050 (#15 most common name, -93.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
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