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 South 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.
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1 / 30Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 781
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,787 (#5 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 111,814 (#36 most common name)
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2 / 30Bruce is a name of Scottish origin meaning "from the brushwood thicket".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 832
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,787 (#5 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,459 (#32 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
3 / 30Dale is a name of English origin meaning "valley".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 894
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,787 (#5 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 75,560 (#49 most common name)
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
4 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 930
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,787 (#5 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)
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5 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 979
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#221 (tie) most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
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6 / 30Roger is a name of German origin meaning "famous spearman".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,008
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#221 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 110,156 (#37 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,009
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 178,453 (#26 most common name)
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8 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,015
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#247 most common name, -96.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
9 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,053
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 217 (#41 (tie) most common name, -79.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock
10 / 30Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,082
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 217 (#41 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#29 most common name)
My Good Images // Shutterstock
11 / 30Randy is a name of Norse origin meaning "shield-wolf".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,082
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 217 (#41 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 120,514 (#33 most common name)
noBorders - Brayden Howie // Shutterstock
12 / 30Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,090
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#290 (tie) most common name, -97.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 158,998 (#27 most common name)
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13 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,206
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#229 (tie) most common name, -96.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
14 / 30Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,213
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#229 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
15 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,254
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#229 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock
16 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,283
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#229 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
Adrie Molco // Shutterstock
17 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,368
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#437 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
18 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,451
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 233 (#33 most common name, -83.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)
Gorynvd // Shutterstock
19 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,589
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 403 (#6 most common name, -74.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
20 / 30Douglas is a name of Scottish origin meaning "black water".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,609
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 403 (#6 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 148,204 (#28 most common name)
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
21 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,732
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 403 (#6 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
Falcona // Shutterstock
22 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,853
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 226 (#36 most common name, -87.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
23 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,074
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 226 (#36 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
24 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,251
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#225 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
Fotonium // Shutterstock
25 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,274
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 162 (#69 most common name, -92.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
Irisska // Shutterstock
26 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,408
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#268 (tie) most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
27 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,788
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 97 (#134 most common name, -96.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
28 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,959
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 341 (#13 most common name, -88.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
29 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,347
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 251 (#29 most common name, -92.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
2p2play // Shutterstock
30 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,570
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 165 (#66 (tie) most common name, -95.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
