Most popular boy names in the 50s in California

Written by:
May 22, 2026
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

Most popular boy names in the 50s in California

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 California using data from the . Names are ranked by number of babies born.

Keep reading to see if your name made the list.

You may also like: See how much it costs to attend San Diego Padres games
1 / 30
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

#30. Anthony

Anthony is a name of Latin origin meaning "praiseworthy".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,331
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12,345 (#22 most common name, +8.9% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,652 (#30 most common name)

2 / 30
Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock

#29. Douglas

Douglas is a name of Scottish origin meaning "black water".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,564
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 300 (#825 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 148,204 (#28 most common name)

3 / 30
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#28. Kevin

Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,577
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,050 (#93 most common name, -56.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 158,998 (#27 most common name)

4 / 30
Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#27. Scott

Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,959
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 536 (#569 most common name, -95.5% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 111,814 (#36 most common name)

5 / 30
Irisska // Shutterstock

#26. George

George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,990
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,304 (#134 most common name, -72.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)

You may also like: Highest-rated IPAs in California
6 / 30
Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock

#25. Edward

Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,095
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,606 (#172 most common name, -80.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 188,328 (#23 most common name)

7 / 30
marina shin // Shutterstock

#24. Larry

Larry is a name of Latin origin meaning "from the place of the laurel leaves".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,831
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 307 (#808 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 245,690 (#18 most common name)

8 / 30
Adrie Molco // Shutterstock

#23. Jeffrey

Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,433
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,061 (#354 most common name, -93.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)

9 / 30
Flashon // Shutterstock

#22. Dennis

Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,598
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 473 (#619 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)

10 / 30
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock

#21. Joseph

Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,778
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10,692 (#31 most common name, -32.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)

You may also like: Highest-rated Class of 2025 football recruits from California
11 / 30
yifanjrb // Shutterstock

#20. Timothy

Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,090
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,866 (#237 most common name, -88.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)

12 / 30
Ramona Heim // Shutterstock

#19. Stephen

Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,901
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,042 (#360 most common name, -93.8% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)

13 / 30
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#18. Gregory

Gregory is a name of Latin origin meaning "watchful, alert".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,935
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 788 (#440 most common name, -95.3% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 178,453 (#26 most common name)

14 / 30
Lipatova Maryna // Shutterstock

#17. Kenneth

Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,375
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,522 (#281 most common name, -92.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)

15 / 30
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#16. Paul

Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,790
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,657 (#262 (tie) most common name, -91.6% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)

You may also like: Easy as pie: See the most uniquely popular pie in California
16 / 30
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock

#15. Donald

Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,004
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 387 (#698 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)

17 / 30
Fotonium // Shutterstock

#14. Charles

Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,347
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,938 (#98 most common name, -75.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)

18 / 30
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#13. Ronald

Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 21,859
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 477 (#618 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)

19 / 30
yifanjrb // Shutterstock

#12. Daniel

Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,966
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17,356 (#7 most common name, -24.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)

20 / 30
Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#11. Gary

Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,839
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 306 (#812 (tie) most common name, -98.8% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)

You may also like: Biggest exports from California
21 / 30
rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock

#10. Thomas

Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 27,601
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,771 (#77 most common name, -79.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)

22 / 30
morrowlight // Shutterstock

#9. Mark

Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 36,140
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,223 (#202 most common name, -93.8% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)

23 / 30
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock

#8. William

William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 36,854
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11,156 (#30 most common name, -69.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)

24 / 30
Katrina Elena // Shutterstock

#7. Steven

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

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 37,186
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,705 (#168 most common name, -92.7% compared to the 50s)

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

25 / 30
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock

#6. Richard

Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 47,816
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,788 (#163 most common name, -94.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)

You may also like: Most common jobs 150 years ago in California
26 / 30
Gorynvd // Shutterstock

#5. James

James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 51,372
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12,971 (#19 most common name, -74.8% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)

27 / 30
Pshenina_m // Shutterstock

#4. John

John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 59,531
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6,234 (#73 most common name, -89.5% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)

28 / 30
Lopolo // Shutterstock

#3. David

David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 65,560
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13,006 (#18 most common name, -80.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)

29 / 30
Shutterstock

#2. Robert

Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,396
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,243 (#89 most common name, -92.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)

30 / 30
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

#1. Michael

Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".

California
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 74,204
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12,856 (#20 most common name, -82.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)

You may also like: Biggest comeback wins in Los Angeles Rams history

Trending Now