Most popular boy names in the 50s in Washington

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

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 Washington 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. Patrick

Patrick is a name of Latin origin meaning "nobleman".

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,723
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 364 (#232 (tie) most common name, -86.6% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 96,856 (#40 most common name)

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#29. Bruce

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,826
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 190 (#394 most common name, -93.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#28. Kevin

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,899
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 565 (#150 most common name, -80.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#27. Randy

Randy is a name of Norse origin meaning "shield-wolf".

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,920
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 50 (#902 (tie) most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 120,514 (#33 most common name)

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#26. Brian

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,016
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 305 (#265 (tie) most common name, -89.9% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 112,317 (#35 most common name)

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Serenko Natalia // Shutterstock

#25. Stephen

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,166
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 203 (#375 (tie) most common name, -93.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#24. Dennis

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,229
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 124 (#543 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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#23. Larry

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,395
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#1070 (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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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#22. Scott

Scott is a name of Scotland origin meaning "a Scotsman".

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,405
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 130 (#525 (tie) most common name, -96.2% compared to the 50s)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 111,814 (#36 most common name)

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#21. Jeffrey

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,426
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 159 (#451 most common name, -95.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#20. Gregory

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,665
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#587 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#19. Paul

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,712
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 361 (#234 (tie) most common name, -90.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#18. Timothy

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,734
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 622 (#139 (tie) most common name, -83.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#17. Charles

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,821
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,341 (#49 most common name, -64.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#16. Douglas

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,922
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 103 (#617 most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#15. Kenneth

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,384
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 289 (#277 (tie) most common name, -93.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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Vasilyev Alexandr // Shutterstock

#14. Ronald

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,657
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 100 (#625 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#13. Donald

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,726
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 105 (#605 most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Daniel

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,009
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,492 (#12 most common name, -50.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#11. Gary

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,869
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 50 (#902 (tie) most common name, -99.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#10. Thomas

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,928
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,426 (#44 most common name, -75.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#9. William

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,558
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,015 (#6 most common name, -60.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#8. Mark

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 7,729
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 559 (#155 most common name, -92.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#7. Steven

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,412
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 302 (#270 most common name, -96.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#6. Richard

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,107
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 428 (#204 most common name, -95.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#5. James

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,196
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,870 (#7 most common name, -74.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#4. John

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,419
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,378 (#45 most common name, -87.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#3. Robert

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 12,250
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 854 (#103 most common name, -93.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#2. David

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 13,162
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,064 (#22 most common name, -84.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#1. Michael

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

Washington
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 14,527
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,845 (#28 most common name, -87.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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