Most popular boy names in the 50s in Massachusetts

Written by:
May 22, 2026
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Most popular boy names in the 50s in Massachusetts

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 Massachusetts 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. Anthony

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,948
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,135 (#26 most common name, -45.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#29. Wayne

Wayne is a name of English origin meaning "wagon builder".

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,061
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1093 (tie) most common name, -99.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,092 (#43 most common name)

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#28. Timothy

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,074
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 502 (#138 most common name, -87.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#27. Bruce

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,153
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#521 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,459 (#32 most common name)

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#26. Dennis

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,170
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 113 (#416 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#25. Jeffrey

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,330
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 194 (#291 most common name, -96.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#24. George

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,951
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 951 (#69 most common name, -84.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#23. Ronald

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,283
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 89 (#493 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#22. Brian

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,882
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 403 (#171 (tie) most common name, -94.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 112,317 (#35 most common name)

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#21. Kenneth

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,362
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 249 (#240 (tie) most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#20. Donald

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,504
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#521 most common name, -98.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#19. Gary

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,587
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 34 (#795 most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#18. Charles

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,153
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,215 (#23 most common name, -72.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#17. Daniel

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,326
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,290 (#21 most common name, -72.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#16. Kevin

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,369
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 692 (#110 most common name, -91.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#15. Edward

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,909
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 659 (#115 most common name, -92.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#14. Peter

Peter is a name of Greek origin meaning "rock".

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,815
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 602 (#119 most common name, -93.9% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 102,752 (#39 most common name)

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#13. Steven

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,377
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 390 (#176 most common name, -96.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Mark

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,594
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 407 (#170 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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#11. Joseph

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,997
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,312 (#19 most common name, -83.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#10. Stephen

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,247
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 344 (#193 most common name, -97.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#9. Thomas

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,232
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,494 (#16 most common name, -84.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#8. Paul

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,312
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 402 (#173 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#7. William

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,464
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,419 (#5 most common name, -83.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#6. Richard

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 23,120
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 478 (#147 most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#5. James

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 23,863
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,479 (#4 most common name, -85.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#4. David

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,867
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,518 (#42 most common name, -94.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#3. Michael

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 27,474
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,600 (#14 most common name, -90.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#2. Robert

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 32,634
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,110 (#57 most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#1. John

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

Massachusetts
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 33,131
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,752 (#10 most common name, -91.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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