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Most popular boy names in the 50s in South Carolina

By Stacker Stacker

Updated May 22, 2026 11:12 AM

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-and you'd actually be historically accurate. James and Susan were in fact two of the most popular names of the decade.

Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for boys in the 50s in South Carolina using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.

Keep reading to see if your name made the list.

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

#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)

This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 6:52 AM.