Most popular boy names in the 50s in South Carolina

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May 22, 2026
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Most popular boy names in the 50s in South 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 South 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. Gary

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,990
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#788 (tie) most common name, -98.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#29. Samuel

Samuel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "name of God".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,007
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,437 (#14 most common name, -28.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,711 (#72 most common name)

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#28. Anthony

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,010
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 753 (#65 (tie) most common name, -62.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#27. Paul

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,021
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 232 (#222 most common name, -88.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#26. Steven

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,180
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 234 (#219 most common name, -89.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#25. Jimmy

Jimmy is a name of English origin meaning "supplanter".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,187
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#594 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 54,735 (#71 most common name)

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#24. Timothy

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,200
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 443 (#126 most common name, -79.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#23. Ronnie

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,203
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#688 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 51,160 (#77 most common name)

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#22. Terry

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,417
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 50 (#629 most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 140,720 (#28 most common name)

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#21. Bobby

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,453
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#661 most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 53,069 (#74 most common name)

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#20. Henry

Henry is a name of German origin meaning "estate ruler".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,564
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,525 (#11 most common name, -40.5% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 62,205 (#60 most common name)

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#19. Edward

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,626
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 294 (#178 most common name, -88.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#18. Johnny

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,080
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 104 (#417 (tie) most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 65,626 (#54 most common name)

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#17. Jerry

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,152
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#504 most common name, -97.6% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,566 (#30 most common name)

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#16. Donald

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,544
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 92 (#457 most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#15. George

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,770
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 470 (#120 most common name, -87.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#14. Ronald

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,788
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 97 (#441 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#13. Joseph

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,969
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,231 (#25 most common name, -69.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Kenneth

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,223
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 297 (#175 (tie) most common name, -93.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#11. Willie

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,313
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#623 most common name, -99.0% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 66,241 (#52 most common name)

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#10. Larry

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,576
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#639 (tie) most common name, -99.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#9. Thomas

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,585
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,390 (#16 most common name, -75.1% 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".

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,652
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 353 (#158 most common name, -93.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#7. Michael

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,932
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,538 (#10 most common name, -80.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#6. Charles

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,069
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,324 (#19 most common name, -83.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#5. David

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,381
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,193 (#28 most common name, -85.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#4. Robert

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,747
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 979 (#45 most common name, -90.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#3. William

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,868
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,052 (#1 most common name, -71.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#2. John

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,989
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,012 (#6 most common name, -81.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#1. James

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

South Carolina
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 18,460
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,597 (#3 most common name, -85.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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