Names that Peaked in 1954

Michael was the Number 1 American boys' name for almost half a century. While Michael has moved out of the Top 10 baby boy names, it's still widely used.

A solid classic with plenty of history, Thomas strikes the balance between strength and gentleness. A favorite in the UK, a staple in France, and Australia, and never absent from the US Top 100, Thomas feels like a safe bet and a name that fits into any era.

Mary is the English form of Maria, which ultimately was derived from the Hebrew name Maryam/Mariam. The original meaning of Maryam is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Mari enjoyed some mid-century popularity as a nicknameish version of Mary, but now deserves a second look as a multicultural classic. Popular in Norway and Armenia as a variation of Marie, it is also the name of a Basque goddess and an Estonian word name.

When Gary cracked the Top 10 in 1950, it was one of the first nonclassic boys’ names to do so, largely due to Gary (born Frank) Cooper, who was renamed after Gary, Indiana, his agent's hometown. Now, a 65 years later, Gary isn't particularly high in the charts, and has lost any glitter it had. May we suggest the fuller name Gareth?

Aida is a melodic name largely associated with the title character of the 1871 Verdi opera, an enslaved Ethiopian princess who dies to save her people. In the past, her name was rarely heard outside the Latino community, but in the current time of love for all A-starting girls' names, this could very well change.

Best known as the beautiful heroine to whom Cyrano de Bergerac says, "Your name is like a golden bell".

Paula still seems somewhat stuck in the era of duo Paul and Paula bopping out the song "Hey, Paula." Two pronunciations are possible—the English "PAW-la" and the Portuguese "POW-la."

Gerard is currently in style limbo, after reaching peak popularity in the 1950s. With its strong meaning and gentle sound, it may be back in a generation or two. But for now, a boy called Gerard will likely be the only one in his class...unless you live in Catalonia, where it was recently in the Top 10.

Baby girl Danas outnumber baby boys with the name nearly ten to one. But Dana is an attractive, sleek name that can certain work for babies of either gender.

Attractive British place-name with a sense of humor. Fun fact: John Wayne played five characters with the first or second name of Kirby.

Now that Kimberly is no longer one of the top girl names, Kim or long form Kimball feel more gender neutral.

Although Kenton has the trendy K beginning and on ending, and a jazz reference to Stan Kenton, it still manages to sound stiff and old-fashioned.

Spelled with one 'n', this was the name of the wife of Alexander the Great, and is more attractive than the better-known Roxanne.

This regal Spanish name combines several of today's top trends: names that end in S, last names that can also be first names, royal-sounding names, and unisex options. It has a long history of use in Spain as both a surname and a given name.

If you wanted to try to get people to pronounce your son's first name the way Stephen Curry does, this might be a way to do it.

Valinda is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a combination of the Latin prefix 'val' meaning 'strong' or 'healthy' with the Spanish suffix 'linda' meaning 'beautiful,' essentially creating a name that means 'beautiful and strong.' Alternatively, it could be a variation of Valentina or a unique creation. The name gained modest popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century but remains relatively uncommon today. Valinda has a melodic, romantic quality while still conveying strength. Its distinctive sound and spelling make it stand out among more common names, appealing to parents seeking something unique yet accessible with a pleasant rhythm.

A name that took on a pronounced country twang via Nashville megastar Garth (born Troyal) Brooks.

Jan, not short for Janet or Janice but standing on its own, ranked in the Top 200 throughout the 1950s but dropped off the Top 1000 in the 1980s and now is a truly extinct name, given to fewer than five baby girls in the US each year.

Garry is a masculine name typically considered a variant spelling of Gary, which originated as a diminutive of names like Gareth or Gerald, or from the Germanic element "gar" meaning "spear." This alternative spelling with the double 'r' was particularly popular in the mid-20th century. Garry peaked in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s alongside Gary, associated with celebrities like actor Garry Cooper and musician Garry Moore. The name has a friendly, approachable quality while maintaining masculine strength. Though less common than the single-r spelling, Garry offers a slightly distinctive alternative to the more standard form. Its usage has declined since its mid-century peak, now giving it a somewhat vintage character that connects to mid-century American culture.