Names that Peaked in 1934
Across 2 pages
of 2
Bob
English, diminutive of Robert
"bright fame"
Kids love Bob the Builder, but do they want to be Bob the Builder? Bob and Bobby have been out of style since the 1960s, but as vintage nickname-names -- Fred, Archie -- come back into vogue, Bob may…
Bobby
Diminutive of Robert
"bright fame"
Bobby is the quintessential mid-century nickname, the name of the son on Mad Men and overused to the point of cliche. Though Robert is still a highly popular choice, most Roberts today are called by…
Kay
Kay as a masculine name has diverse origins. It can be a short form of names like Kenneth or Kai, or derive from the Middle English word 'key.' In Arthurian legend, Sir Kay was King Arthur's foster…
Carroll
Anglicized variation of Irish Cearbhall
"hacking with a weapon"
This name was consistently in the boys' Top 200 until WW2. It's a name with so many dimensions to it: the hyper-masculine meaning, the surname-as-firstname trendiness, and the softer sound and…
Deane
Deane is a masculine name of English origin, derived from an Old English surname meaning "valley" or "from the valley." It was originally a topographic name for someone who lived in or near a valley.…
Don
Diminutive of Donald, Scottish
"proud chief"
Short form of Donald -- or more stylishly, Donahue or Donovan -- that's acquired a new sixties-era suaveness thanks to Mad Man Don Draper. The name also carries a Sopranos or Godfather-style double…
Jimmie
Jimmie is a masculine name that originated as a diminutive form of James. Deriving from the Hebrew name Jacob (meaning "supplanter"), James became widely popular throughout the English-speaking…
Lowell
French
"young wolf"
Lowell is an upstanding and somewhat conservative name that calls to mind the genteel patrician families of nineteenth century New England, such as the one poet Robert Lowell was born into. Two other…
Raymon
Raymon is a masculine name that represents a variation of Raymond, derived from Germanic elements 'ragin' (advice, counsel) and 'mund' (protector). This spelling variant removes the 'd' from the…
Wardell
Wardell originated as an English surname derived from the Old English place name 'weard-hyll,' meaning 'watch hill' or 'guard hill.' It references a hill where guards or watchmen were stationed. The…
Lavon
Lavon is a unisex name with French origins, though it's more commonly used for females in some regions. It derives from the Old French word 'la von' meaning 'the good one.' The name gained some…
Verlyn
Latin
"true"
Verlyn is an obscure name that found some use in the US in the early part of the 20th century, but now it and variation Verlin are virtually extinct, given to no baby boys in the US last year. Verlyn…
Lavona
Lavona is a feminine name with multiple possible origins, potentially derived from Latin 'lavare' meaning 'to wash' or as a variant of Lavinia, an ancient Roman name. It might also relate to names…
Arla
Swedish
"early"
While Arla has a literal meaning in Swedish, its roots as a name are probably more closely related to such names as Arlene or Orla. Arla is among the girls' Top 1000 names in the UK.
Marland
Marland is a masculine name of English origin that combines elements of traditional names with a distinctive flair. It likely developed as a surname before transitioning to given name usage, possibly…
Arlene
English
Popular in the US from the 1920s to the 1950s, Arlene is of uncertain origin and seems to be a modern innovation, perhaps based on names like Marlene and Darlene which were popular around the same…
Bobbie
Diminutive of Roberta or Barbara, English
"bright fame; stranger"
A vintage nickname for Roberta or Barbara, most famously borne by Roberta "Bobbie" in Edith Nesbit's classic The Railway Children . Bobbie is one of the adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable…
Betty
Diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
Combine the popularity of Betty White and Mad Men 's glamorous Betty Draper Francis, with the residual sweetness of Ugly Betty 's Betty Suarez, and the result is an impending return of the name. It's…
Christene
Christene is a feminine name that represents a spelling variation of Christine, which derives from the Latin 'Christianus,' meaning 'follower of Christ.' This variant maintains the religious…
Delores
English variation of Dolores, Spanish
"lady of sorrows"
See Dolores.