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 Tennessee 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 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,276
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,841 (#30 most common name, -43.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)
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2 / 30Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,426
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 102 (#616 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
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3 / 30Jimmy is a name of English origin meaning "supplanter".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,429
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#563 most common name, -96.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 54,735 (#72 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
4 / 30Roger is a name of German origin meaning "famous spearman".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,454
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#631 (tie) most common name, -97.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 110,156 (#37 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
5 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,528
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 352 (#250 (tie) most common name, -90.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
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6 / 30Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,544
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 286 (#295 (tie) most common name, -91.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
7 / 30Bobby is a name of German origin meaning "bright fame".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,558
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#665 most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,069 (#75 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
8 / 30Johnny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,684
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 215 (#369 (tie) most common name, -94.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 65,626 (#55 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
9 / 30George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,798
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 668 (#138 most common name, -82.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
10 / 30Ricky is a name of German origin meaning "powerful leader".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,163
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 97 (#637 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 79,109 (#47 most common name)
Andy Dean Photography // Shutterstock
11 / 30Billy is a name of English origin meaning "resolute protection".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,204
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 104 (#605 (tie) most common name, -97.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 59,125 (#67 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
12 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,326
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 332 (#261 (tie) most common name, -92.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
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13 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,529
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 446 (#196 (tie) most common name, -90.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
14 / 30Danny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,846
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 131 (#510 (tie) most common name, -97.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,615 (#44 most common name)
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock
15 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,635
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 118 (#549 most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
16 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,639
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 138 (#496 most common name, -97.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock
17 / 30Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,747
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 119 (#544 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#29 most common name)
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock
18 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,801
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 478 (#177 most common name, -91.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
19 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,041
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,804 (#34 most common name, -74.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
20 / 30Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,218
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 120 (#542 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,566 (#31 most common name)
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21 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,328
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 401 (#224 most common name, -94.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
22 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,685
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#631 (tie) most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock
23 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,443
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 118 (#549 most common name, -98.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
24 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,522
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,855 (#29 most common name, -83.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock
25 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,570
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,902 (#7 most common name, -76.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
Gorynvd // Shutterstock
26 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,227
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,385 (#60 most common name, -90.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
marina shin // Shutterstock
27 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,688
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,169 (#20 most common name, -85.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
28 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,706
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,961 (#25 most common name, -86.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
29 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,994
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,706 (#1 most common name, -68.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
30 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 23,969
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,947 (#3 most common name, -83.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
