Names that Peaked in 1921
Across 2 pages
of 2
The names
John
Hebrew
"God is gracious"
John reigned as the most popular of all boys' Christian names for 400 years, from the time the first Crusaders carried it back to Britain until the 1950s. Then American baby namers finally seemed to…
Mary
Hebrew or Egyptian
"drop of the sea; bitter; beloved; love"
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…
Leon
Greek variation of Leo
"lion"
Currently overshadowed by the bright and lively Leo, Leon feels a slightly more serious, more quietly confident than its short and trending counterpart. Just as leonine as Leo and Leonardo, Leon is…
Edward
English
"wealthy guardian"
Unlike perennials William, John and James, Edward is a classic that moves in and out of fashion. This royal Anglo-Saxon standard has benefited in recent years from the popularity of the hot hero of…
Warren
English from French
"park-keeper"
Long lingering in limbo, Warren suddenly seems to be on the cusp of revival. One of the oldest recorded English surnames, Warren's popularity in the U.S. dates back to the nineteenth century, and by…
Dorothy
English variation of Greek Dorothea
"gift of God"
In the 1930s, Dorothy left Kansas and landed in the Land of Oz; by the '80s she had become a Golden Girl, living in Miami with roommates Blanche and Rose, giving her a decidedly older image. But…
Leland
English
"meadow land"
Popular in the first half of the 20th century, Leland briefly fell out of favor in the late 90s. After a short break from the US charts, it returned in the mid-2000s, with actor Brendan Fraser…
Virginia
Latin
"virginal, pure"
A literary name and a place name with a grand yet familiar feel, Virginia has been in the US Top 1000 since records began in the late 19th century. Also familiar in Spain, Brazil and Italy, recent…
Harold
Scandinavian
"army ruler"
The name of the last Anglo-Saxon king of England before the Norman conquest, and a name that's long been associated with a pipe-smoking, bespectacled grandpa or uncle. After years in style limbo,…
Venice
Italian place-name
This name of one of the most romantic cities in the world could easily find its way onto an American baby girl's birth certificate.
Yoshiko
Yoshiko is a traditional Japanese feminine name combining elements that typically mean 'good' (yoshi) and 'child' (ko), though the meaning can vary depending on the specific kanji characters used to…
Bernard
German
"strong, brave as a bear"
Bernard is obviously a saint's name, but how did it get to the big, benevolent dog? The eleventh century monk, patron saint of mountain climbers, who lived in the Alps, was famed for setting up safe…
Enrico
Italian variation of Henry
One of several Latin names starting with E that would work and play well with others in any family.
Harden
English
"valley of the hares"
While teasing about names is not as bad as it once was, the possibilities presented by this name would be difficult for any pubescent boy to resist.
Harding
English
"son of the courageous one"
For fans of Warren G. All two of them.
Orvil
Orvil is a masculine name of French origin, believed to be a variant of Orville, which means 'gold town' or 'golden city' (from Old French elements 'or' meaning gold and 'ville' meaning town). The…
Rueben
Rueben is a masculine name representing an alternative spelling of Reuben, which derives from Hebrew origins meaning 'behold, a son.' In the Bible, Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob and Leah, giving…
Yoshio
Yoshio is a Japanese masculine name composed of elements that typically mean 'righteous' (yo), 'good' or 'virtuous' (shi), and 'man' or 'husband' (o), though interpretations can vary depending on the…
Kazuo
Japanese
"first son; harmonious man"
A familiar choice in Japan, Kazuo is known more globally due to award winning writer, Kazuo Ishiguro, whose works include Never Let Me Go , The Remains of the Day , and Klara and the Sun . He won the…
Kiyoko
Japanese
"clear, pure child; holy child; rejoice child"
A bright sounding Japanese name, Kiyoko is notably borne by singer and actress Hayley Kiyoko (Alcroft). It ranked briefly in the US Top 1000 during the 1920s, perhaps influenced by the birth of…