Most popular boy names in the 50s in Pennsylvania

Written by:
May 22, 2026
Flashon // Shutterstock

Most popular boy names in the 50s in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania using data from the . Names are ranked by number of babies born.

Keep reading to see if your name made the list.

You may also like: Most popular girl names in the 60s in Pennsylvania
1 / 30
Irisska // Shutterstock

#30. Bruce

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,926
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 213 (#451 most common name, -97.6% compared to the 50s)

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

2 / 30
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#29. Larry

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,115
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 77 (#883 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)

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

3 / 30
Shutterstock

#28. Frank

Frank is a name of German origin meaning "free man".

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,219
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 291 (#370 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 112,321 (#34 most common name)

4 / 30
marina shin // Shutterstock

#27. Gregory

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,700
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 315 (#353 most common name, -97.1% compared to the 50s)

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

5 / 30
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#26. Kevin

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,726
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,024 (#131 (tie) most common name, -90.5% compared to the 50s)

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

You may also like: Coldest Aprils in Pennsylvania since 1895
6 / 30
My Good Images // Shutterstock

#25. Anthony

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,744
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,112 (#32 most common name, -71.0% compared to the 50s)

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

7 / 30
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#24. Timothy

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,563
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,002 (#136 most common name, -92.0% compared to the 50s)

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

8 / 30
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#23. Steven

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,087
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 834 (#159 (tie) most common name, -93.6% compared to the 50s)

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

9 / 30
Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock

#22. Stephen

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,921
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 663 (#189 (tie) most common name, -95.6% compared to the 50s)

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

10 / 30
Ramona Heim // Shutterstock

#21. George

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,970
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,038 (#127 most common name, -93.1% compared to the 50s)

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

You may also like: Best counties to raise a family in Pennsylvania
11 / 30
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

#20. Kenneth

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,509
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 522 (#245 most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)

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

12 / 30
morrowlight // Shutterstock

#19. Dennis

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,106
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 225 (#436 most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)

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

13 / 30
BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock

#18. Jeffrey

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,712
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 443 (#268 most common name, -97.3% compared to the 50s)

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

14 / 30
Iren_Geo // Shutterstock

#17. Paul

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,125
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 747 (#175 most common name, -95.6% compared to the 50s)

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

15 / 30
noBorders - Brayden Howie // Shutterstock

#16. Daniel

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,289
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,729 (#20 most common name, -78.4% compared to the 50s)

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

You may also like: Pittsburgh Steelers seasons that exceeded expectations the most
16 / 30
pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock

#15. Donald

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,229
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 264 (#396 (tie) most common name, -98.6% compared to the 50s)

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

17 / 30
Samuel Borges Photography // Shutterstock

#14. Edward

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,607
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 854 (#157 most common name, -95.4% compared to the 50s)

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

18 / 30
Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock

#13. Ronald

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,778
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 277 (#387 most common name, -98.5% compared to the 50s)

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

19 / 30
Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock

#12. Gary

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 19,917
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 142 (#609 most common name, -99.3% compared to the 50s)

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

20 / 30
Tatiana Dyuvbanova // Shutterstock

#11. Charles

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,611
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,443 (#51 most common name, -89.2% compared to the 50s)

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

You may also like: Counties with the oldest homes in Pennsylvania
21 / 30
burlakova_anna // Shutterstock

#10. Mark

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 23,214
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 760 (#174 most common name, -96.7% compared to the 50s)

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

22 / 30
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#9. Joseph

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 35,170
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,121 (#13 most common name, -88.3% compared to the 50s)

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

23 / 30
Falcona // Shutterstock

#8. Thomas

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 38,392
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,787 (#40 most common name, -92.7% compared to the 50s)

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

24 / 30
Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

#7. Richard

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 39,143
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 822 (#162 most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)

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

25 / 30
yifanjrb // Shutterstock

#6. William

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 46,971
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,193 (#11 most common name, -91.1% compared to the 50s)

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

You may also like: Best draft picks in Pittsburgh Steelers history
26 / 30
rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock

#5. Michael

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 50,321
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,878 (#6 most common name, -90.3% compared to the 50s)

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

27 / 30
Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#4. David

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,221
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,139 (#29 most common name, -94.1% compared to the 50s)

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

28 / 30
FamVeld // Shutterstock

#3. James

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 54,256
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,964 (#5 most common name, -90.9% compared to the 50s)

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

29 / 30
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

#2. Robert

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 63,694
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,044 (#69 most common name, -96.8% compared to the 50s)

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

30 / 30
Pshenina_m // Shutterstock

#1. John

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

Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,101
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,050 (#15 most common name, -93.9% compared to the 50s)

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

You may also like: Most dominant seasons in Philadelphia 76ers history

Trending Now