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Most popular boy names in the 50s in New Hampshire
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 New Hampshire 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. Wayne
Wayne is a name of English origin meaning "wagon builder".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 584
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,459 (#24 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,092 (#42 most common name)
#29. Raymond
Raymond is a name of German origin meaning "protector".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 38 (#234 most common name, -93.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 108,932 (#37 most common name)
#28. Joseph
Joseph is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "he will add".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 599
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 358 (#25 most common name, -40.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 300,006 (#13 most common name)
#27. Edward
Edward is a name of English origin meaning "prosperous".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 610
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#149 most common name, -85.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 188,328 (#23 most common name)
#26. Jeffrey
Jeffrey is a name of English origin meaning "pledge of peace".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 613
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#317 (tie) most common name, -97.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 184,663 (#24 most common name)
#25. George
George is a name of Greek origin meaning "farmer".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 646
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 160 (#91 (tie) most common name, -75.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 181,029 (#25 most common name)
#24. Kenneth
Kenneth is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "handsome".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 736
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#239 (tie) most common name, -95.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 262,822 (#16 most common name)
#23. Timothy
Timothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "honouring God".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 96 (#139 (tie) most common name, -87.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 198,322 (#22 most common name)
#22. Kevin
Kevin is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 793
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#230 most common name, -95.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 158,998 (#27 most common name)
#21. Charles
Charles is a name of Germanic origin meaning "free man".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 813
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 351 (#28 most common name, -56.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 361,178 (#10 most common name)
#20. Brian
Brian is a name of Irish origin meaning "noble".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 855
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#247 (tie) most common name, -96.5% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 112,317 (#34 most common name)

#19. Dennis
Dennis is a name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Dionysius".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 902
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#247 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 204,267 (#21 most common name)
#18. Bruce
Bruce is a name of Scottish origin meaning "from the brushwood thicket".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 941
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#388 (tie) most common name, -99.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 136,459 (#32 most common name)
#17. Ronald
Ronald is a name of English origin meaning "counsel rule".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 977
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#388 (tie) most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 271,146 (#15 most common name)
#16. Daniel
Daniel is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is my judge".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,057
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 267 (#47 (tie) most common name, -74.7% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 243,725 (#19 most common name)
#15. Peter
Peter is a name of Greek origin meaning "rock".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,117
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 103 (#132 most common name, -90.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 102,752 (#38 most common name)
#14. Steven
Steven is a name of Greek origin meaning "crown".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,118
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#215 (tie) most common name, -95.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 333,657 (#11 most common name)

#13. Stephen
Stephen is a name of Greek origin meaning "wreath, crown".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,143
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#230 most common name, -96.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 207,276 (#20 most common name)
#12. Donald
Donald is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "world ruler".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,146
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#422 most common name, -99.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 273,576 (#14 most common name)

#11. Mark
Mark is a name of Latin origin meaning "God of war".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,369
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#247 (tie) most common name, -97.8% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 382,585 (#9 most common name)
#10. Paul
Paul is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,381
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#222 most common name, -97.0% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 253,191 (#17 most common name)
#9. Gary
Gary is a name of English origin meaning "spearman".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,396
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#222 most common name, data not available compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 329,935 (#12 most common name)
#8. Thomas
Thomas is a name of Greek origin meaning "twin".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,532
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 397 (#19 most common name, -74.1% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 454,385 (#8 most common name)

#7. William
William is a name of Germanic origin meaning "vehement protector".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,759
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 630 (#7 most common name, -64.2% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591,226 (#6 most common name)

#6. James
James is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,052
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 542 (#13 most common name, -73.6% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 843,776 (#1 most common name)
#5. John
John is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "Yahweh has been gracious".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,307
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 349 (#29 most common name, -84.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 797,917 (#4 most common name)
#4. Richard
Richard is a name of German origin meaning "dominant ruler".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 78 (#168 (tie) most common name, -96.9% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 535,453 (#7 most common name)
#3. Robert
Robert is a name of Germanic origin meaning "fame" or "bright".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,931
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 223 (#63 most common name, -92.4% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 830,391 (#3 most common name)

#2. Michael
Michael is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "who is like God?".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,105
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 362 (#23 (tie) most common name, -88.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 837,466 (#2 most common name)
#1. David
David is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "beloved".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 3,129
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 210 (#69 (tie) most common name, -93.3% compared to the 50s)
National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 769,951 (#5 most common name)


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