Most popular boy names in the 50s in North Dakota

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

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 Dakota 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. Wayne

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 794
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

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

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#29. Rodney

Rodney is a name of English origin meaning "island near the clearing".

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 796
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 54,798 (#67 most common name)

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#28. Roger

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 836
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 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. Dale

Dale is a name of English origin meaning "valley".

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 850
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 75,560 (#50 most common name)

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#26. Randy

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 937
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

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

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#25. Terry

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 955
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

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

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#24. Gregory

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,030
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

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

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#23. Dennis

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,056
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 295 (#10 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

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

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#22. Kenneth

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,067
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#332 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#21. Kevin

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,070
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#337 (tie) most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#20. Bruce

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,096
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#504 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#19. Paul

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,106
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#200 (tie) most common name, -94.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#18. Jeffrey

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,108
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#389 most common name, -99.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#17. Daniel

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,149
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 172 (#63 most common name, -85.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#16. Douglas

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,162
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 172 (#63 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

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

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#15. William

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,166
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 421 (#5 most common name, -63.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#14. Larry

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,180
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 421 (#5 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

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

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#13. Donald

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,187
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 421 (#5 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Ronald

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,255
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 421 (#5 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

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

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#11. Timothy

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,517
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#239 (tie) most common name, -97.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#10. Gary

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,537
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#239 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

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

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#9. Thomas

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,583
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 241 (#30 most common name, -84.8% 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".

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,806
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#320 (tie) most common name, -98.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#7. Steven

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,925
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#310 (tie) most common name, -98.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#6. John

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,054
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 168 (#65 most common name, -91.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#5. Mark

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,071
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#343 (tie) most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#4. Michael

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,469
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 223 (#39 most common name, -91.0% 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 Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,484
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#142 (tie) 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. James

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,621
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 382 (#10 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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#1. David

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

North Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,212
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 154 (#73 most common name, -95.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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