Most popular boy names in the 50s in Virginia

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

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 Virginia 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".

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,568
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#738 most common name, -96.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#29. Jeffrey

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,717
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 291 (#291 most common name, -89.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#28. Gregory

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,851
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 227 (#359 most common name, -92.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#27. Douglas

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,053
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 133 (#538 most common name, -95.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#26. Daniel

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,108
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,553 (#19 most common name, -17.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#25. Roger

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,312
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 126 (#551 (tie) most common name, -96.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#24. Timothy

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,392
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 657 (#145 most common name, -80.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#23. Paul

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,747
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 429 (#216 most common name, -88.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#22. Dennis

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,920
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 147 (#503 (tie) most common name, -96.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#21. Stephen

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,047
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 352 (#255 (tie) most common name, -91.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#20. Edward

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,123
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 607 (#159 most common name, -85.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#19. Jerry

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,178
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 107 (#602 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#18. Steven

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,818
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 526 (#178 (tie) most common name, -89.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#17. Mark

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,084
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 418 (#221 most common name, -91.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#16. Joseph

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,403
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,424 (#26 most common name, -55.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#15. George

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,536
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 955 (#106 most common name, -82.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#14. Kenneth

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,847
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 439 (#212 (tie) most common name, -92.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#13. Ronald

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,233
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 189 (#407 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Donald

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,275
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 147 (#503 (tie) most common name, -97.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#11. Gary

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,612
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 98 (#649 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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#10. Larry

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,929
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 81 (#729 most common name, -99.0% 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".

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,905
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,213 (#33 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".

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,610
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 561 (#172 most common name, -94.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#7. Charles

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,483
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,111 (#37 most common name, -79.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#6. David

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,243
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,317 (#31 most common name, -84.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#5. John

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 15,873
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,887 (#13 most common name, -81.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#4. Michael

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 16,517
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,874 (#14 most common name, -82.6% 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".

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,124
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,563 (#58 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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#2. William

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

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 17,678
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,687 (#3 most common name, -73.5% 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".

Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 22,102
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,408 (#4 most common name, -80.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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