Names that Peaked in 1930
Across 2 pages
of 2
The names
Jack
English, diminutive of John
"God is gracious"
Jack may have fallen from its Number 1 place in England, but in the US it's as popular as it was at its height in the 1920s and 1930s. A durable, cheery, everyman form of John, Jack ranks as one of…
Robert
English from German
"bright fame"
Robert was the Number 1 boys' name in the US in both 1925 and 1950, and in fact was in the Top 25 for more than a century, giving it true classic status. Strong if not quite stylish, Robert remains…
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…
Richard
German
"dominant ruler"
A classic old Norman name popular for a thousand years and favored for kings (Richard Nixon was named for Richard the Lionhearted), as well as the hoi polloi (as in every Tom, Dick and Harry),…
Paul
Latin
"small"
Paul is an ancient name for boys -- popular in Roman and medieval times -- that's not very fashionable now, which can work in its favor, scarcity balancing simplicity. To the thousands of girls who…
Aurelio
Italian; Spanish, variation of Aurelius
"the golden one"
Aurelio is an energetic Italian and Spanish name, with an attractive golden aura. Derived from the Latin aureus , it's a relative of rising star Aurelia and the Roman Aurelius. A Top 200 name in…
Billie
English, diminutive of Wilhelmina, Wilma
"resolute protection"
Billie is a tomboy nickname name, part of the growing trend for using boyish nicknames for girls and now destined for stardom along with its most famous contemporary bearer, music sensation Billie…
Ignacio
Spanish
"fiery"
Ignacio, like Horacio, makes its gray-bearded English equivalent name sound positively dashing. While the Ig- beginning summons up such associations as ignoble and ignorant, the era for Ignacio and…
Ramon
Catalan variation of Raymond
The Latin Ramon has been in the U.S. Top 1000 since the beginning of baby-naming time, i.e. the past 130+ years. Ramon is the perfect blend of worldly and familiar, with a rocker edge via The…
Arden
English
"valley of the eagle; high"
Arden, the name of the magical forest in Shakespeare's As You Like It , is a stylish A name with a strong, straightforward image. Another reason to love Arden: its similarity to "ardent." Arden is…
Josefina
Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish feminine form of Joseph, Hebrew
"Jehovah increases"
Sweet and bright international form of Josephine, used in many European countries with various pronunciations of the initial J. A notable bearer is Josefina "Joey" Guerrero, a Filipina spy during…
Jovita
Spanish, feminine variation of Jove, Roman king of the gods
Lively and joyful. Jovie could be a cute short form.
Lois
Greek
"most desirable"
The eternal fiancee of Superman turned sweet gray-haired lady who's always available to babysit her grandkids turned....hot new baby name? True to the Hundred Year Rule, Lois is poised to climb the…
Dorthy
Dorthy is a variant spelling of the more common Dorothy, a feminine name with Greek origins meaning 'gift of God.' This alternate spelling emerged in English-speaking countries, particularly gaining…
Rita
Spanish, Hindi
"pearl; truth, order"
One of the glamour girl names of the Rita Hayworth 1940s, Rita was once a Top 50 name and stayed on the SSA list until 2002. The name Rita still has enough Latin zip to be a lively, revivable short…
Merna
Merna is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be derived from the Irish name Myrna, meaning 'beloved,' or could be connected to the Gaelic elements 'muir' (sea) and 'na' (of the).…
Wynona
Wynona is a feminine name with Native American origins, specifically from the Sioux language, meaning 'firstborn daughter.' The name gained wider recognition through various cultural references,…
Dolores
Spanish
"lady of sorrows"
Though it's related to the Virgin Mary, this name was once perceived as the height of sensuality, a role since taken over by nicknames Lola and Lolita. Dolores is one of the many titles given to the…
Delphine
French from Greek
"of Delphi; womb"
Delphine is a sleek, chic French name with two nature associations — the dolphin and the delphinium, a bluebell-like flower, a well as a link to the ancient city of Delphi, which the Greeks believed…
Consuelo
Spanish from Latin
"she who brings consolation"
Consuelo is a chic, highly sophisticated Spanish name that works well with Anglo surnames. It was regularly on the U.S. popularity list through 1983, reaching as high as Number 339 in 1930. The name…