Most popular boy names in the 50s in Arkansas

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May 22, 2026
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Most popular boy names in the 50s in Arkansas

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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Yulia Sribna // Shutterstock

#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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BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock

#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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#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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#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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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#26. Steven

Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".

Arkansas
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,925
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 189 (#202 most common name, -90.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)

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Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock

#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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Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock

#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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#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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#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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Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock

#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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#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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Irisska // Shutterstock

#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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noBorders - Brayden Howie // Shutterstock

#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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#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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#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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#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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Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock

#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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Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

#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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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#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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#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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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#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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#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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#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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#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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