Most popular boy names in the 50s in Rhode Island

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May 22, 2026
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Most popular boy names in the 50s in Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island 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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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#30. Frank

Frank is a name of German origin meaning "free man".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 716
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#273 (tie) most common name, -97.5% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 112,321 (#32 most common name)

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BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock

#29. Bruce

Bruce is a name of Scottish origin meaning "from the brushwood thicket".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 793
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#273 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,459 (#31 most common name)

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FamVeld // Shutterstock

#28. Brian

Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 816
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#179 most common name, -94.0% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 112,317 (#33 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#27. Jeffrey

Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 880
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#264 (tie) most common name, -97.5% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)

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burlakova_anna // Shutterstock

#26. Anthony

Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,036
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 311 (#25 most common name, -70.0% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,652 (#29 most common name)

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Ramona Heim // Shutterstock

#25. Daniel

Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,040
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 253 (#34 most common name, -75.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)

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noBorders - Brayden Howie // Shutterstock

#24. George

George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,119
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#116 (tie) most common name, -91.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)

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#23. Kevin

Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,250
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#121 most common name, -92.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 158,998 (#27 most common name)

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Capable97 // Shutterstock

#22. Dennis

Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,253
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#327 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)

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#21. Gary

Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,317
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#327 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)

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Minnikova Mariia // Shutterstock

#20. Charles

Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,341
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 222 (#45 most common name, -83.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)

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Flashon // Shutterstock

#19. Raymond

Raymond is a name of German origin meaning "protector".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,376
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#239 most common name, -98.0% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,932 (#36 most common name)

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Mallmo // Shutterstock

#18. Ronald

Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,406
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#402 most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)

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Yulia Sribna // Shutterstock

#17. Edward

Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,458
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 72 (#143 (tie) most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 188,328 (#23 most common name)

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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#16. Peter

Peter is a name of Greek origin meaning "rock".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,469
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#156 most common name, -95.9% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 102,752 (#37 most common name)

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pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock

#15. Donald

Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,476
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#156 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)

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Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock

#14. Kenneth

Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,542
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#193 (tie) most common name, -97.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)

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#13. Mark

Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,630
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#231 (tie) most common name, -98.0% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)

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Falcona // Shutterstock

#12. Steven

Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,130
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#210 (tie) most common name, -98.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)

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My Good Images // Shutterstock

#11. Stephen

Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,186
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#215 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)

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#10. Thomas

Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,634
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 286 (#28 most common name, -89.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)

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rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock

#9. Paul

Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,697
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#220 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)

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morrowlight // Shutterstock

#8. Joseph

Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,711
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 339 (#18 (tie) most common name, -87.5% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)

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MIA Studio // Shutterstock

#7. William

William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,409
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 365 (#14 most common name, -89.3% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)

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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#6. James

James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,462
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 409 (#9 most common name, -88.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)

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Adrie Molco // Shutterstock

#5. Richard

Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,518
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#134 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)

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Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

#4. David

David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,800
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 236 (#40 most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)

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Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock

#3. Michael

Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,049
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 448 (#6 most common name, -91.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)

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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#2. John

John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,130
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 339 (#18 (tie) most common name, -93.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#1. Robert

Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,988
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 186 (#61 (tie) most common name, -96.9% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)

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