Names that Peaked in 1952

James is one of the classic Anglo-Saxon names, a stalwart through the ages that is more popular—and yes, stylish—than ever today. It recently came out Number 1 in a poll of America's favorite boys' baby names, and is the most common male name, counting people of all ages, in the US.

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.

Claudia is a classic name with ancient Roman roots. Never truly in or truly out, Claudia feels like a strong, modern choice that hits the sweet spot between too popular and too unusual..

Bruce is a Norman place name made famous by the Scottish king Robert the Bruce, who won Scotland's independence from England in the fourteenth century. Hugely popular in the 40s and 50s, it has since declined in popularity, but nevertheless remains in the US Top 600 and has featured consistently in the latter end of the England and Wales Top 1000 since the 90s.

Patricia still sounds patrician, though its scores of nicknames definitely don't. Wildly popular from the forties (alternately Number 3 and 4 throughout the decade) to the sixties, Patricia has been fading ever since. But a comeback in its full form is definitely conceivable—just look at Penelope.

Pandora has occasionally been used by the British gentry (for girls with brothers who might be called Peregrine) and is now starting to be heard in the US too: It was given to 34 baby girls last year.

Linda will live forever in baby name history for toppling Mary from its four hundred year reign as Number 1. Queen of Names in 1947, Linda has fallen even further in favor than Mary today.

True Blood may be the reason that variation Rosalyn has retained some popularity while the original Rosalind still languishes. Moderately popular in the middle of the last century, Rosalyn may deserve its revival but we still prefer the more classic Rosalind.

Monte, pronounced with two syllables as brother Monty, is an old-fashioned nickname-name that's reclaiming a certain amount of dash and charm. It was recently chosen by actor Guy Pearce--which may signal a comeback.

A light and breezy nature name that's currently in style limbo, despite its pleasant meaning.

Meryl is a name that's at once rare and famous, thanks to Meryl (born Mary Louise) Streep. Streep's name is an invented short form of Mary Louise, but Meryl might also be a contraction of the unique Irish name Meriel.

Val as a boys' name is closely associated with the late actor Val Kilmer.

Charmaine is an ancient name connected to Charmion, the name of one of Cleopatra's servants, and Charmian, a Shakespearean name. Its meaning is related to the word charm, though some sources tie it to the Charles family, which means "free man".

An early unisex nature name that has been surpassed by others, Dale is still a simple, sylvan and serene option.

Randolph is a timeworn classic that had its last hurrah in the 1940s, when Randolph (born George) Scott was starring in westerns, but then was probably done in by its tricky nickname Randy (which, strangely enough, was itself a Top 50 name in the fifties and sixties).

The new Randy -- though a bit commercial, as in Rand Corporation, Rand McNally, et al.

Danial is a variant spelling of Daniel, a masculine name with ancient Hebrew origins meaning 'God is my judge.' This alternate spelling maintains the same pronunciation while offering a slightly distinctive written form. The biblical Daniel was known for his wisdom and interpretation of dreams, particularly in the lion's den story, giving the name strong religious associations across Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Danial has been consistently used throughout history but remains less common than the traditional spelling. While especially popular in Muslim communities as a form of the Arabic Danyal (دانيال), this spelling variant appears across various cultures. The name conveys qualities of wisdom, faith, and integrity, regardless of its spelling.

Old-school nickname ala Spike and Babe that's favored by some hipster parents.

While Dennis may be more familiar to English speakers, Denis, or sometimes Denys, were the original medieval French forms of the name. Ultimately derived from Dionysius, the Greek god of wine and debauchery, it is a saint's name, popular in France during the Middle Ages, and during the 60s.

Theodis appears to be a variation of the Greek name Theodore (meaning "gift of God"), with the suffix altered from "-ore" to "-is." This modification follows a pattern seen in other name variations where traditional endings are substituted with alternative sounds. The name emerged primarily in the United States in the mid-20th century, with most recorded usage beginning in the 1940s-1950s. While uncommon overall, it has maintained consistent if limited usage over decades. Theodis shares its root with the more common names Theodore and Theo, connecting it to the long tradition of theophoric (god-bearing) names in Western culture. The suffix "-is" appears in various masculine names across different traditions, including Greek-derived names, though Theodis itself does not have direct classical Greek origins.