Names that Peaked in 1939
Across 2 pages
of 2
About this list
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),…
Kenneth
Scottish and Irish
"born of fire, handsome"
Kenneth may have lost much of its luster now, but Kenneth has had its moments of glory. The first king of Scotland was Kenneth, and Sir Kenneth, a Christian crusader, was the hero of the Sir Walter…
Ronal
Ronal is a masculine name that functions as a variant of Ronald or a shortened form of Ronaldo. Ronald derives from Old Norse elements meaning "ruler's advisor" or "king's power" (from "Rögnvaldr").…
Benny
Diminutive of Benjamin, Hebrew
"son of the right hand"
Benny is a diminutive form of Benjamin, which comes from Hebrew and means "son of the right hand" or "son of the south." Benny can also serve as a nickname for other names like Benedict, Bennett, or…
Karel
Karel is a feminine name in English-speaking contexts, though it originated as the Czech and Dutch masculine form of Charles. This cross-cultural name derives from the Germanic element 'karl' meaning…
Marleen
Marleen is a feminine name of Dutch and German origin, derived as a variation of Marlene or a diminutive of Maria combined with the suffix '-leen.' It gained popularity in the mid-20th century,…
Jeraldine
Jeraldine is a feminine variant of Gerald, which has Germanic origins meaning 'ruler with the spear.' This elegant elaboration adds the feminine suffix '-ine' to create a distinctly female version of…
Nelda
English
"one who lives by the alder tree"
Occasionally heard in Ireland, small chance of success here.
Verlene
Verlene is a feminine name with French and Germanic influences, possibly derived from the French 'Verlaine' or functioning as a variation of names like Verleen or Verlena. The name has a melodious…
Darrel
Darrel is a masculine name of Old French origin, derived from 'Darrell,' originally a surname meaning "open-hearted" or coming from the French place name d'Airelle. The name gained popularity in…
Peggie
Peggie is a feminine name that serves as an affectionate variant spelling of Peggy, which itself originated as a diminutive of Margaret. The name Margaret derives from Greek 'margarites' meaning…
Verlon
Verlon is an uncommon masculine name with uncertain origins, possibly a variant of Vernon or a unique creation combining elements of names like Vernon and Marlon. Vernon itself derives from a French…
Glennis
Glennis is a feminine name with Celtic and Scottish origins, deriving from the Welsh 'glân' meaning 'clean' or 'pure,' or possibly from Scottish place names containing 'glen' (valley). The name…
Gerold
Gerold is a masculine name of Germanic origin, derived from elements meaning 'spear' and 'rule' or 'power'. This traditional name was popular during medieval times, particularly among nobility in…
Jerome
Greek
"sacred name"
Jerome has a bespectacled, serious, studious image, just like its namesake saint, who was a brilliant scholar. St. Jerome is the patron saint of students, librarians, and archaeologists. Musical…
Sally
Diminutive of Sarah
"princess"
Sally is a cheerful, fresh-faced girl-next-door name that was originally a nickname for Sarah, but has long been used independently. Sally was popular in the eighteenth century and then again from…
Gale
Nature name
Gale for boys is more a storm name than a short form of Abigail. Since Gale has resurfaced as the name of Liam Hemsworth's daring character in The Hunger Games , it has new force for boys.
Treva
Welsh
"large homestead"
Trevor with a New York accent.
