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 Michigan 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. Bruce
Bruce is a name of Scottish origin meaning "from the brushwood thicket".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,261
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 183 (#463 most common name, -97.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,459 (#32 most common name)
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2 / 30#29. Terry
Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,282
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 108 (#654 (tie) most common name, -98.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#29 most common name)
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3 / 30#28. Stephen
Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,617
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 283 (#331 most common name, -96.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)
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4 / 30#27. Edward
Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,871
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 590 (#183 most common name, -92.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 188,328 (#23 most common name)
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5 / 30#26. Brian
Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,496
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#254 most common name, -95.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 112,317 (#35 most common name)
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6 / 30#25. Kevin
Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,819
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 590 (#183 most common name, -93.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 158,998 (#27 most common name)
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7 / 30#24. Jeffrey
Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,214
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 236 (#382 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)
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8 / 30#23. Douglas
Douglas is a name of Scottish origin meaning "black water".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,161
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 131 (#580 (tie) most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 148,204 (#28 most common name)
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9 / 30#22. Larry
Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,597
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#650 most common name, -99.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)
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10 / 30#21. Gregory
Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,361
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 256 (#356 most common name, -97.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 178,453 (#26 most common name)
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11 / 30#20. Joseph
Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,524
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,605 (#25 most common name, -79.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)
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12 / 30#19. Paul
Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,957
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 499 (#216 most common name, -96.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
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13 / 30#18. Timothy
Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,435
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 679 (#159 most common name, -94.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
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14 / 30#17. Kenneth
Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,132
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 508 (#214 most common name, -96.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
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15 / 30#16. Charles
Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,201
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,005 (#37 most common name, -85.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
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16 / 30#15. Dennis
Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,253
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 157 (#519 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
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17 / 30#14. Donald
Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,342
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 224 (#400 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)
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18 / 30#13. Ronald
Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,573
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 226 (#399 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
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19 / 30#12. Daniel
Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,891
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,108 (#33 most common name, -86.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)
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21 / 30#10. Gary
Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,743
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 115 (#628 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
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22 / 30#9. Mark
Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,300
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 456 (#228 most common name, -98.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
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23 / 30#8. Williamh2>
William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,652
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,487 (#8 most common name, -86.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)
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24 / 30#7. Richard
Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,740
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 528 (#204 most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
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25 / 30#6. Thomas
Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 26,038
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,982 (#38 most common name, -92.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)
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26 / 30#5. John
John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 35,191
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,107 (#34 most common name, -94.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
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27 / 30#4. James
James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 38,208
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,486 (#9 most common name, -90.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
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28 / 30#3. Robert
Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 39,890
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,398 (#74 most common name, -96.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)
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29 / 30#2. David
David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 41,829
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,980 (#39 most common name, -95.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)
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30 / 30#1. Michael
Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 45,392
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,058 (#17 most common name, -93.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
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