Most popular boy names in the 50s in Illinois

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

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 Illinois 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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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#30. Bruce

Bruce is a name of Scottish origin meaning "from the brushwood thicket".

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,077
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 200 (#513 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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#29. Anthony

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,085
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,676 (#22 most common name, -54.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#28. Scott

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,699
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 177 (#574 most common name, -98.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#27. George

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,129
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,395 (#96 most common name, -84.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#26. Stephen

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,255
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 312 (#370 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#25. Edward

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,175
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 920 (#154 most common name, -91.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#24. Timothy

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,597
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 774 (#183 most common name, -93.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#23. Kevin

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,618
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,120 (#124 (tie) most common name, -90.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#22. Jeffrey

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,832
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 248 (#440 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#21. Dennis

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,835
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 189 (#540 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#20. Larry

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,857
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 100 (#817 (tie) most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock

#19. Gregory

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,655
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 288 (#393 (tie) 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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#18. Paul

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,773
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 544 (#244 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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Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

#17. Kenneth

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,651
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 514 (#247 (tie) most common name, -96.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#16. Donald

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,433
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 265 (#418 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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Thammasak Lek // Shutterstock

#15. Ronald

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,614
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 203 (#507 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#14. Daniel

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,901
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,307 (#10 most common name, -72.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#13. Joseph

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,344
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,286 (#27 most common name, -79.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Charles

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,556
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,792 (#35 most common name, -84.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#11. Gary

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,854
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#1125 (tie) most common name, -99.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#10. Steven

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,607
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 549 (#240 most common name, -97.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock

#9. Mark

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 24,502
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 736 (#190 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#8. Thomas

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 30,053
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,535 (#41 most common name, -91.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#7. Richard

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 30,719
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 619 (#223 most common name, -98.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#6. William

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 32,678
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,823 (#6 most common name, -85.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#5. David

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 42,128
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,198 (#29 most common name, -92.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#4. Robert

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 47,397
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,672 (#75 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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#3. John

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 47,669
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,287 (#26 most common name, -93.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#2. James

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 48,347
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,658 (#8 most common name, -90.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#1. Michael

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

Illinois
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 55,743
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,549 (#9 most common name, -91.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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