Most popular boy names in the 50s in Tennessee

Written by:
May 22, 2026
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Most popular boy names in the 50s in Tennessee

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 Tennessee 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. Joseph

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,276
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,841 (#30 most common name, -43.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#29. Dennis

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,426
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 102 (#616 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#28. Jimmy

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,429
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#563 most common name, -96.7% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 54,735 (#72 most common name)

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#27. Roger

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,454
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#631 (tie) most common name, -97.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 110,156 (#37 most common name)

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#26. Paul

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,528
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 352 (#250 (tie) most common name, -90.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#25. Stephen

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,544
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 286 (#295 (tie) most common name, -91.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#24. Bobby

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,558
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#665 most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#23. Johnny

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,684
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 215 (#369 (tie) most common name, -94.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#22. George

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,798
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 668 (#138 most common name, -82.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#21. Ricky

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,163
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 97 (#637 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#20. Billy

Billy is a name of English origin meaning "resolute protection".

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,204
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 104 (#605 (tie) most common name, -97.5% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 59,125 (#67 most common name)

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#19. Mark

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,326
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 332 (#261 (tie) most common name, -92.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#18. Steven

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,529
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 446 (#196 (tie) most common name, -90.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#17. Danny

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,846
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 131 (#510 (tie) most common name, -97.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#16. Donald

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,635
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 118 (#549 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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#15. Ronald

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,639
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 138 (#496 most common name, -97.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#14. Terry

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,747
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 119 (#544 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#13. Kenneth

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,801
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 478 (#177 most common name, -91.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Thomas

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,041
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,804 (#34 most common name, -74.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#11. Jerry

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,218
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 120 (#542 most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#10. Richard

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,328
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 401 (#224 most common name, -94.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#9. Gary

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,685
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#631 (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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#8. Larry

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,443
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 118 (#549 most common name, -98.8% 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".

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,522
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,855 (#29 most common name, -83.9% 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".

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,570
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,902 (#7 most common name, -76.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#5. Robert

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,227
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,385 (#60 most common name, -90.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#4. Michael

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,688
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,169 (#20 most common name, -85.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#3. David

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,706
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,961 (#25 most common name, -86.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#2. William

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

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,994
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,706 (#1 most common name, -68.6% 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".

Tennessee
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 23,969
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,947 (#3 most common name, -83.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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