Most popular boy names in the 50s in Michigan

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

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 Michigan 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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Iren_Geo // Shutterstock

#30. Bruce

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,261
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 183 (#463 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. Terry

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,282
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 108 (#654 (tie) 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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Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock

#28. Stephen

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,617
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 283 (#331 most common name, -96.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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Tatiana Chekryzhova // Shutterstock

#27. Edward

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,871
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 590 (#183 most common name, -92.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#26. Brian

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,496
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 391 (#254 most common name, -95.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#25. Kevin

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,819
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 590 (#183 most common name, -93.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#24. Jeffrey

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,214
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 236 (#382 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#23. Douglas

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,161
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 131 (#580 (tie) most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#22. Larry

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,597
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#650 most common name, -99.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#21. Gregory

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,361
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 256 (#356 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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#20. Joseph

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,524
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,605 (#25 most common name, -79.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#19. Paul

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,957
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 499 (#216 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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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#18. Timothy

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,435
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 679 (#159 most common name, -94.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#17. Kenneth

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,132
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 508 (#214 most common name, -96.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#16. Charles

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,201
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,005 (#37 most common name, -85.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#15. Dennis

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,253
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 157 (#519 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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#14. Donald

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,342
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 224 (#400 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#13. Ronald

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,573
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 226 (#399 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Daniel

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,891
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,108 (#33 most common name, -86.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#11. Steven

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,759
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 460 (#225 most common name, -97.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#10. Gary

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,743
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 115 (#628 most common name, -99.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock

#9. Mark

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,300
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 456 (#228 most common name, -98.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#8. William

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,652
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,487 (#8 most common name, -86.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#7. Richard

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 25,740
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 528 (#204 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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#6. Thomas

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 26,038
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,982 (#38 most common name, -92.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock

#5. John

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 35,191
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,107 (#34 most common name, -94.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#4. James

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 38,208
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,486 (#9 most common name, -90.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#3. Robert

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 39,890
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,398 (#74 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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#2. David

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 41,829
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,980 (#39 most common name, -95.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#1. Michael

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

Michigan
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 45,392
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,058 (#17 most common name, -93.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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