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 West Virginia 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 / 30Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,855
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 67 (#275 (tie) most common name, -96.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 188,328 (#23 most common name)
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2 / 30Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,870
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#377 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)
morrowlight // Shutterstock
3 / 30Randy is a name of Norse origin meaning "shield-wolf".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,957
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#623 most common name, -99.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 120,514 (#33 most common name)
MIA Studio // Shutterstock
4 / 30Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,077
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 286 (#74 (tie) most common name, -86.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock
5 / 30Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,232
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#532 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 178,453 (#26 most common name)
2p2play // Shutterstock
6 / 30George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,247
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 86 (#229 (tie) most common name, -96.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
7 / 30Danny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,367
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#499 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,615 (#44 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
8 / 30Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,462
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 63 (#285 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)
marina shin // Shutterstock
9 / 30Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,725
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 159 (#134 most common name, -94.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
10 / 30Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,776
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#475 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,566 (#31 most common name)
rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock
11 / 30Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,793
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#293 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock
12 / 30Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,842
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 415 (#42 most common name, -85.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock
13 / 30Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,874
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 415 (#42 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#29 most common name)
Minnikova Mariia // Shutterstock
14 / 30Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,929
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 118 (#177 (tie) most common name, -96.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
15 / 30Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,948
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 94 (#218 (tie) most common name, -96.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)
Flashon // Shutterstock
16 / 30Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,461
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#463 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
17 / 30Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,490
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#296 (tie) most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock
18 / 30Roger is a name of German origin meaning "famous spearman".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,663
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#463 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 110,156 (#37 most common name)
Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock
19 / 30Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,764
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#487 (tie) most common name, -99.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
20 / 30Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,534
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 314 (#62 (tie) most common name, -93.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
21 / 30Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,611
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#515 most common name, -99.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
22 / 30Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,841
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#623 most common name, -99.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock
23 / 30Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,841
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 113 (#182 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock
24 / 30Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,824
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 334 (#57 most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
My Good Images // Shutterstock
25 / 30William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,236
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 667 (#13 most common name, -91.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock
26 / 30Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,270
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 493 (#28 most common name, -94.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock
27 / 30John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,737
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 443 (#34 most common name, -94.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
28 / 30Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,193
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 286 (#74 (tie) most common name, -96.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
29 / 30David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,302
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 313 (#64 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
30 / 30James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,805
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 663 (#14 most common name, -94.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
