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 Alaska 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.
Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 221
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#407 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)
Bruce is a name of Scottish origin meaning "from the brushwood thicket".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#237 (tie) most common name, -87.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,459 (#31 most common name)
Peter is a name of Greek origin meaning "rock".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 234
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 70 (#136 most common name, -70.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 102,752 (#36 most common name)
Douglas is a name of Scottish origin meaning "black water".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 239
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 70 (#136 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 148,204 (#27 most common name)
Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 248
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 70 (#136 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
Patrick is a name of Latin origin meaning "nobleman".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 252
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#172 (tie) most common name, -80.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 96,856 (#37 most common name)
Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 269
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#407 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#137 most common name, -74.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 188,328 (#23 most common name)
Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 279
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#285 most common name, -94.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)
Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 295
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#326 (tie) most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 178,453 (#26 most common name)
Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 319
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 94 (#97 (tie) most common name, -70.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 385
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 85 (#106 (tie) most common name, -77.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)
Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 387
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 82 (#114 (tie) most common name, -78.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 392
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 247 (#19 (tie) most common name, -37.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)
Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 400
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#312 (tie) most common name, -97.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 411
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#312 (tie) most common name, -97.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 420
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#200 most common name, -91.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 450
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 221 (#29 most common name, -50.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)
Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 450
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 221 (#29 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 486
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 164 (#48 most common name, -66.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 596
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#159 most common name, -90.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 619
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#190 (tie) most common name, -93.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)
Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 636
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 201 (#33 most common name, -68.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 859
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 57 (#157 most common name, -93.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 982
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 355 (#5 most common name, -63.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,292
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 224 (#27 most common name, -82.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,296
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 169 (#47 most common name, -87.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,298
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 384 (#3 most common name, -70.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,349
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 255 (#16 most common name, -81.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Alaska
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,357
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, -78.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
