Most popular boy names in the 50s in North Carolina

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

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 North Carolina 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. Mark

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,298
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 429 (#271 most common name, -90.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#29. Edward

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,312
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 540 (#227 most common name, -87.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#28. Willie

Willie is a name of English origin meaning "resolute".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,325
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 77 (#912 most common name, -98.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,241 (#53 most common name)

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#27. Ronnie

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,575
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 88 (#835 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#26. Steven

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,612
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 571 (#215 most common name, -87.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#25. Johnny

Johnny is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,708
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 232 (#424 (tie) most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 65,626 (#55 most common name)

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#24. Bobby

Bobby is a name of German origin meaning "bright fame".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,770
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 137 (#610 (tie) most common name, -97.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,069 (#75 most common name)

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#23. Dennis

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,778
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 155 (#565 (tie) most common name, -96.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#22. Randy

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,838
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 104 (#747 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#21. Danny

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,946
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 166 (#541 (tie) most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#20. Ricky

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,112
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 121 (#672 (tie) most common name, -97.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#19. Timothy

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,178
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 889 (#144 most common name, -82.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#18. Terry

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,293
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 119 (#683 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#17. George

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,877
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 944 (#136 most common name, -83.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#16. Joseph

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,288
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,650 (#30 most common name, -57.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#15. Gary

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,362
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 97 (#787 (tie) most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#14. Ronald

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,631
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 187 (#500 most common name, -97.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#13. Jerry

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,798
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 148 (#581 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Kenneth

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,212
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 591 (#203 most common name, -92.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#11. Donald

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,399
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 177 (#514 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#10. Thomas

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,058
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,460 (#34 most common name, -72.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#9. Richard

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,418
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 577 (#212 most common name, -93.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#8. Larry

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,415
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 111 (#718 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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#7. Charles

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,543
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,442 (#35 most common name, -82.0% 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".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,510
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,389 (#14 most common name, -79.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#5. David

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,193
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,780 (#27 most common name, -83.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#4. Michael

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,241
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,156 (#19 most common name, -81.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#3. Robert

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,930
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,700 (#68 most common name, -90.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#2. William

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 20,687
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,860 (#3 most common name, -71.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#1. James

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 29,864
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5,009 (#4 most common name, -83.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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