Most popular boy names in the 50s in West Virginia

Written by:
May 22, 2026
Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

Most popular boy names in the 50s in West 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 West 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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Irisska // Shutterstock

#30. Edward

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,855
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 67 (#275 (tie) most common name, -96.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#29. Jeffrey

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,870
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#377 most common name, -98.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#28. Randy

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,957
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#623 most common name, -99.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#27. Daniel

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,077
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 286 (#74 (tie) most common name, -86.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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Vasiuk Iryna // Shutterstock

#26. Gregory

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,232
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#532 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#25. George

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,247
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 86 (#229 (tie) most common name, -96.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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#24. Danny

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,367
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#499 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#23. Stephen

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,462
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 63 (#285 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#22. Timothy

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,725
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 159 (#134 most common name, -94.2% compared to the 50s)

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

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Iren_Geo // Shutterstock

#21. Jerry

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,776
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#475 most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#20. Paul

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,793
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#293 (tie) most common name, -97.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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Iren_Geo // Shutterstock

#19. Joseph

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,842
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 415 (#42 most common name, -85.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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#18. Terry

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,874
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 415 (#42 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)

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

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#17. Kenneth

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,929
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 118 (#177 (tie) most common name, -96.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#16. Steven

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,948
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 94 (#218 (tie) most common name, -96.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#15. Ronald

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,461
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#463 (tie) most common name, -99.5% compared to the 50s)

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

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#14. Mark

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,490
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#296 (tie) most common name, -98.3% compared to the 50s)

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

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#13. Roger

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,663
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#463 (tie) most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)

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

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#12. Donald

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,764
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#487 (tie) most common name, -99.7% compared to the 50s)

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

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#11. Thomas

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,534
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 314 (#62 (tie) most common name, -93.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#10. Larry

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,611
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#515 most common name, -99.8% compared to the 50s)

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

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#9. Gary

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 4,841
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#623 most common name, -99.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#8. Richard

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 5,841
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 113 (#182 (tie) most common name, -98.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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Anna Grigorjeva // Shutterstock

#7. Charles

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 6,824
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 334 (#57 most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)

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

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#6. William

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,236
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 667 (#13 most common name, -91.9% compared to the 50s)

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

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#5. Michael

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,270
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 493 (#28 most common name, -94.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#4. John

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 8,737
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 443 (#34 most common name, -94.9% 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".

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 9,193
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 286 (#74 (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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#2. David

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 10,302
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 313 (#64 (tie) most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)

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

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#1. James

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

West Virginia
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 11,805
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 663 (#14 most common name, -94.4% compared to the 50s)

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

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