Names that Peaked in 1935
Across 3 pages
of 3
The names
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),…
Royce
English
"son of the king"
It may seem like an indecisive cross between Roy and Reece, but Royce was fairly popular in the 1930s and '40s. It has seen a resurgence in recent years, helped by some well-known athlete bearers.…
Ruthie
Diminutive of Ruth, Hebrew
"compassionate friend"
With vintage names on the rise and recent data suggesting that the US is following the UK trend of nicknames-as-given-names, Ruthie joined Goldie, Daisy, and Nellie on the US Top 1000 list in 2023. A…
Leroy
French
"the king"
Leroy's heyday was in the early twentieth century, when it was in the US Top 100 until 1949. As a result, it's now more frequently seen as a father or grandfather name. Nevertheless, it remains in…
Elida
Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, Portuguese, Spanish, Greek
"fast-sailing ship; noble; valley, lowland"
A multicultural choice and an unusual way to nicknames Ellie or Elle, Elida has its origins in Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Scandinavia. It has appeared in the charts in the US, France, and Spain…
Darlyne
Darlyne is a feminine name that emerged as a variant spelling of Darlene, which itself developed as an elaboration of the English word 'darling.' This affectionate term ultimately derives from Old…
Caryl
Caryl is a unisex name though more commonly used for females, derived from either the masculine name Carl (meaning 'free man' in Germanic languages) or as a variation of Carol, which has Latin roots…
Loris
Variation of Laura, English from Latin
"from Laurentum or bay laurel"
As Doris is to Dora, Loris is to Laura. It's virtually never used for babies of either sex. That said, it's not a bad name and might make a good honor name for an ancestral Laura or Lawrence.
Joycelyn
Variation of Jocelyn or combination of Joyce + Lyn, Latin and Welsh
"joyous lake"
The compound name Joycelyn, which combines the names Joyce and Lyn and also is a spin on Jocelyn, was brought to widespread attention via the first African-American female surgeon general, Joycelyn…
Marlene
German variation of Madeline; combination of Mary and Magdalen
Marlene Dietrich made it famous when she condensed her first two names, Maria and Magdalena. Now more often pronounced with two syllables rather than three.
Merilyn
English, combination of Merry and Lynn
All the names ending in-lyn seem sadly dated.
Nila
Indian, Tamil, Hindi
"dark blue; moon"
A sweet, simple Sanskrit name which would work in many languages and has an sparkling, colorful meaning. Fitting in besides Nina, Mila and Nola, Nila was one of the fastest rising names for girls in…
Cleta
Greek
"the renowned one"
Cleta was one of the Charities or Graces.
Shirlie
Shirlie is a variant spelling of Shirley, a name that originated as an Old English place name meaning "bright clearing" or "bright meadow." This alternative spelling emerged in the early 20th…
Shirley
English
"bright meadow"
Shirley Temple almost single-handedly lifted the gloom of the Great Depression, and in tribute (and perhaps wishing for a similarly curly-headed, dimpled darling of their own), thousands of parents…
Joanne
French variation of Joanna, Hebrew
"God is gracious"
A Top 100 name from the 1930s all the way through the 1950s, it's now firmly in Mom -- or Grandma -- land and supplanted for babies by Joanna.....or even great-grandmother Josephine. In its heyday,…
Shirlee
Shirlee is a feminine name that serves as a variant spelling of Shirley, which originated as an Old English place name derived from the elements 'scir' (bright) and 'leah' (clearing or meadow). This…
Rosita
Spanish, diminutive of Rosa
"rose"
This spirited Spanish variation of Rosa was familiar in the mid-20th century, but is used more quietly now. Given to around 35 babies in the US each year, it could work as a fresh alternative to…