Most popular boy names in the 50s in Kentucky

Written by:
May 22, 2026
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

Most popular boy names in the 50s in Kentucky

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 Kentucky 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. Ronnie

Ronnie is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "mountain of strength".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,809
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 38 (#674 (tie) most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 51,160 (#78 most common name)

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Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

#29. Billy

Billy is a name of English origin meaning "resolute protection".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,196
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 70 (#507 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 59,125 (#67 most common name)

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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#28. Gregory

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,216
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 110 (#401 (tie) most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#27. Ricky

Ricky is a name of German origin meaning "powerful leader".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,287
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#552 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 79,109 (#47 most common name)

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#26. George

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,371
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 361 (#152 most common name, -89.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock

#25. Dennis

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,508
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#660 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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#24. Timothy

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,654
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 410 (#133 most common name, -88.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#23. Stephen

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,049
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 222 (#237 (tie) most common name, -94.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#22. Roger

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,079
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 52 (#597 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#21. Steven

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,380
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 271 (#197 (tie) most common name, -93.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#20. Terry

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,594
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 67 (#521 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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#19. Paul

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,595
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#240 most common name, -95.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#18. Danny

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,622
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 86 (#452 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,615 (#44 most common name)

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#17. Ronald

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,718
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 93 (#435 most common name, -98.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#16. Joseph

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,818
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,223 (#27 most common name, -74.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#15. Mark

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,155
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 192 (#263 (tie) most common name, -96.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#14. Jerry

Jerry is a name of English origin meaning "exalted of the Lord".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,262
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 74 (#487 (tie) most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,566 (#31 most common name)

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#13. Kenneth

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,624
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 311 (#178 most common name, -94.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Donald

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,906
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 85 (#457 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#11. Thomas

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,189
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 945 (#49 most common name, -84.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#10. Richard

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,879
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 254 (#213 most common name, -96.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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noBorders - Brayden Howie // Shutterstock

#9. Larry

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,239
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#582 (tie) most common name, -99.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#8. Gary

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,324
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#566 most common name, -99.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#7. Charles

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,733
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,101 (#37 most common name, -88.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#6. John

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,741
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,644 (#13 most common name, -86.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#5. Robert

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,299
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 733 (#67 most common name, -94.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

#4. Michael

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,528
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,278 (#26 most common name, -90.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#3. William

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,551
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,624 (#2 most common name, -80.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#2. David

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,075
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,044 (#39 (tie) most common name, -92.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#1. James

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

Kentucky
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,920
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,277 (#5 most common name, -88.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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