Most popular boy names in the 50s in Rhode Island

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May 22, 2026
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Most popular boy names in the 50s in Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island 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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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#30. Frank

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 716
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#273 (tie) most common name, -97.5% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 112,321 (#32 most common name)

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BaLL LunLa // Shutterstock

#29. Bruce

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 793
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#273 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,459 (#31 most common name)

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FamVeld // Shutterstock

#28. Brian

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 816
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#179 most common name, -94.0% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 112,317 (#33 most common name)

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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#27. Jeffrey

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 880
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#264 (tie) most common name, -97.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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burlakova_anna // Shutterstock

#26. Anthony

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,036
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 311 (#25 most common name, -70.0% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,652 (#29 most common name)

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Ramona Heim // Shutterstock

#25. Daniel

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,040
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 253 (#34 most common name, -75.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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noBorders - Brayden Howie // Shutterstock

#24. George

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,119
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#116 (tie) most common name, -91.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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yifanjrb // Shutterstock

#23. Kevin

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,250
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#121 most common name, -92.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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Capable97 // Shutterstock

#22. Dennis

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,253
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#327 most common name, -99.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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Gorynvd // Shutterstock

#21. Gary

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,317
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#327 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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Minnikova Mariia // Shutterstock

#20. Charles

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,341
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 222 (#45 most common name, -83.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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Flashon // Shutterstock

#19. Raymond

Raymond is a name of German origin meaning "protector".

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,376
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#239 most common name, -98.0% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,932 (#36 most common name)

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Mallmo // Shutterstock

#18. Ronald

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,406
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#402 most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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Yulia Sribna // Shutterstock

#17. Edward

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,458
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 72 (#143 (tie) most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#16. Peter

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,469
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#156 most common name, -95.9% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 102,752 (#37 most common name)

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pratan ounpitipong // Shutterstock

#15. Donald

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,476
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#156 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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Roman Sorkin // Shutterstock

#14. Kenneth

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,542
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 44 (#193 (tie) most common name, -97.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#13. Mark

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,630
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#231 (tie) most common name, -98.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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Falcona // Shutterstock

#12. Steven

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,130
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#210 (tie) most common name, -98.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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My Good Images // Shutterstock

#11. Stephen

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,186
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#215 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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Tomsickova Tatyana // Shutterstock

#10. Thomas

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,634
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 286 (#28 most common name, -89.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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rSnapshotPhotos // Shutterstock

#9. Paul

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,697
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#220 most common name, -98.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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morrowlight // Shutterstock

#8. Joseph

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,711
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 339 (#18 (tie) most common name, -87.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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MIA Studio // Shutterstock

#7. William

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,409
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 365 (#14 most common name, -89.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#6. James

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,462
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 409 (#9 most common name, -88.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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Adrie Molco // Shutterstock

#5. Richard

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,518
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#134 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

#4. David

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,800
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 236 (#40 most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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Alena Vostrikova // Shutterstock

#3. Michael

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,049
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 448 (#6 most common name, -91.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#2. John

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,130
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 339 (#18 (tie) most common name, -93.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#1. Robert

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

Rhode Island
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,988
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 186 (#61 (tie) most common name, -96.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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