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鈥攁nd you'd actually be historically accurate. James and Susan were in fact two of the most popular names of the decade.
compiled a list of the most popular baby names for boys in the 50s in Arkansas using data from the . Names are ranked by number of babies born.
Keep reading to see if your name made the list.
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1 / 30#30. Ronnie
Ronnie is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "mountain of strength".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,727
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#647 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 51,160 (#77 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. George
George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,759
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 216 (#180 most common name, -87.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Randy
Randy is a name of Norse origin meaning "shield-wolf".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,787
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#670 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 120,514 (#33 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Paul
Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,876
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 136 (#264 (tie) most common name, -92.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Mark
Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,961
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 106 (#313 most common name, -94.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Dennis
Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,031
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#874 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Willie
Willie is a name of English origin meaning "resolute".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,046
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#769 most common name, -99.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,241 (#52 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Ricky
Ricky is a name of German origin meaning "powerful leader".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,182
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#535 most common name, -98.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 79,109 (#46 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Johnny
Johnny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,288
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 103 (#324 (tie) most common name, -95.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 65,626 (#54 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Bobby
Bobby is a name of German origin meaning "bright fame".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,456
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#493 (tie) most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,069 (#74 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Danny
Danny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,586
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#465 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,615 (#43 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Ronald
Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,597
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 38 (#560 most common name, -98.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Terry
Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,623
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 38 (#560 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#29 most common name)
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15 / 30#16. Jimmy
Jimmy is a name of English origin meaning "supplanter".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,637
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 74 (#417 (tie) most common name, -97.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 54,735 (#71 most common name)
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16 / 30#15. Thomas
Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,790
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 574 (#51 most common name, -79.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Donald
Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,805
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#647 most common name, -99.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
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18 / 30#13. Billy
Billy is a name of English origin meaning "resolute protection".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,011
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 64 (#451 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 59,125 (#66 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Kenneth
Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,050
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 202 (#190 most common name, -93.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
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20 / 30#11. Richard
Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,432
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 160 (#232 (tie) most common name, -95.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
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#10. Jerry
Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,857
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#460 (tie) most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,566 (#31 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Gary
Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,061
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#550 most common name, -99.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. William
William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,524
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,465 (#4 most common name, -73.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Charles
Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,785
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 564 (#55 most common name, -90.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
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25 / 30#6. Larry
Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,965
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 38 (#560 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
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26 / 30#5. Michael
Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,143
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 800 (#22 most common name, -87.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
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27 / 30#4. John
John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,362
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,024 (#10 most common name, -83.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
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28 / 30#3. David
David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,566
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 660 (#34 most common name, -89.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
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29 / 30#2. Robert
Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,612
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 441 (#79 most common name, -93.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
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30 / 30#1. James
James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,357
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,227 (#6 most common name, -89.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
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