Most popular boy names in the 50s in Iowa

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

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 Iowa 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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#30. Stephen

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,891
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#541 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#29. Scott

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,009
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#516 (tie) most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#28. Roger

Roger is a name of German origin meaning "famous spearman".

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,028
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#516 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 110,156 (#37 most common name)

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#27. Craig

Craig is a name of Scottish origin meaning "rocky".

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,070
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#516 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 69,473 (#52 most common name)

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#26. Gregory

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,267
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#730 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#25. Kenneth

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,339
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 144 (#265 (tie) most common name, -95.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#24. Terry

Terry is a name of German origin meaning "power of the tribe".

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,447
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#751 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#29 most common name)

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#23. Paul

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,547
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 145 (#262 (tie) most common name, -95.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#22. Charles

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,918
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 588 (#53 most common name, -85.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#21. Donald

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,398
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#741 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#20. Jeffrey

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,431
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#475 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#19. Randy

Randy is a name of Norse origin meaning "shield-wolf".

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,431
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#825 most common name, -99.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 120,514 (#33 most common name)

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#18. Larry

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,435
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#751 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#17. Timothy

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,616
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 165 (#232 most common name, -96.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#16. Kevin

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,694
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 177 (#215 most common name, -96.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#15. Ronald

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,793
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#700 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#14. Douglas

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,825
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#939 most common name, -99.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#13. Daniel

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,160
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 647 (#41 most common name, -87.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Gary

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,281
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#793 (tie) most common name, -99.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#11. William

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,934
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,423 (#4 most common name, -79.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#10. Dennis

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,977
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#571 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#9. Thomas

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,784
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 627 (#47 most common name, -91.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#8. Richard

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,322
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 129 (#296 (tie) most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#7. Mark

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,064
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 108 (#338 (tie) most common name, -98.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#6. Steven

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,514
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 121 (#311 (tie) most common name, -98.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#5. Robert

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,595
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 331 (#128 most common name, -96.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#4. John

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,659
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 569 (#55 most common name, -94.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#3. James

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,381
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,133 (#10 most common name, -90.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#2. Michael

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,925
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 733 (#31 most common name, -94.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#1. David

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

Iowa
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,679
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 617 (#50 most common name, -95.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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