California's most popular baby names in 1938

In the year 1938, the state of California witnessed a surge of newborns with some of the most popular names of the time. Mary, Barbara, and Patricia topped the charts for baby girl names, while Robert, John, and Richard were the most popular names for baby boys.

Mary, a timeless classic, has been a popular name for baby girls for centuries. Barbara and Patricia were also trendy names during the 1930s, with their popularity extending well into the 1950s. On the other hand, Robert, John, and Richard were traditional names that were quite popular for baby boys in California during that time. These names have continued to stand the test of time and remain popular even today.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 1938

In California in 1938, the most popular baby girl name was Mary with 1874 babies given that name. The second most popular name was Barbara with 1728 babies given that name. Patricia was the third most popular name with 1425 babies given that name. The fourth and fifth most popular names were Carol with 1050 babies and Nancy with 773 babies given those names respectively.

Mary

1874 baby girls born in California (1938) named Mary
Mary is a feminine given name that has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history. The meaning and origin of the name are uncertain, but it is believed to derive from the Hebrew name Miriam, which means "bitter" or "rebellious". The name Mary is popular in Christian cultures due to its association with the mother of Jesus Christ.
Barbara

1728 baby girls born in California (1938) named Barbara
The name Barbara is of Greek origin, derived from the word "barbaros" which means foreign or strange. It was a popular name in the Middle Ages and was often given to girls born on St. Barbara's feast day. The name has been used in various cultures and languages around the world.
Patricia

1425 baby girls born in California (1938) named Patricia
The name Patricia is derived from the Latin word "patricius," meaning "noble" or "aristocratic." It was a popular name in the Roman Empire and later spread throughout Europe. The name is often associated with qualities such as intelligence, kindness, and leadership.
Carol

1050 baby girls born in California (1938) named Carol
The name Carol is derived from the Old Germanic word "karl", which means "man" or "free man". It is often associated with the Christmas season due to the popular Christmas carol "Carol of the Bells".
Nancy

773 baby girls born in California (1938) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Betty
694 baby girls born in California (1938) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Shirley
674 baby girls born in California (1938) named Shirley
The name Shirley is of English origin and its meaning is "bright meadow" or "bright clearing". It was originally a surname that became a popular given name in the 19th century.
Joan
651 baby girls born in California (1938) named Joan
The name Joan is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a feminine name that was popularized in the Middle Ages and has been in use ever since. The name is often associated with strong and independent women, such as Joan of Arc.
Donna
610 baby girls born in California (1938) named Donna
The name Donna is of Italian origin and means "lady" or "woman". It was initially used as a title of respect for women of high social status in Italy, but later became a popular given name in English-speaking countries.
Marilyn
600 baby girls born in California (1938) named Marilyn
The name Marilyn is a combination of the names Mary and Lynn. The name Mary means "bitter" or "rebellious" in Hebrew, while Lynn means "lake" or "waterfall" in English. Therefore, the name Marilyn could be interpreted as "bitter lake" or "rebellious waterfall".
Margaret
580 baby girls born in California (1938) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Sandra
560 baby girls born in California (1938) named Sandra
The name Sandra is a variant of the name Alexandra, which is of Greek origin. The name Alexandra means "defender of mankind" or "protector of humanity". Therefore, it can be inferred that the name Sandra has a similar meaning.
Sharon
558 baby girls born in California (1938) named Sharon
The name Sharon means "a plain or flat area" in Hebrew. It is also a biblical name, referring to a fertile plain near the coast of Israel.
Beverly
553 baby girls born in California (1938) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Linda
517 baby girls born in California (1938) named Linda
The name Linda means "beautiful" or "pretty" in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and other Romance languages. It is also derived from the Germanic word "lind," which means "gentle" or "soft."
Virginia
485 baby girls born in California (1938) named Virginia
The name Virginia is derived from the Latin word "Virgo" which means "maiden" or "virgin". It was a popular name in ancient Rome and was often given to girls who were born in the month of August. The name has been used in English-speaking countries since the 19th century and is associated with purity, innocence, and virtue.
Diane
479 baby girls born in California (1938) named Diane
Diane is a feminine given name of French origin. The name is derived from the Roman goddess Diana, who was the goddess of hunting, the moon, and childbirth. The name Diane means "divine" or "heavenly".
Judith
465 baby girls born in California (1938) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Joyce
452 baby girls born in California (1938) named Joyce
The name Joyce is of Old French origin, derived from the name Josse, which means "lord" or "master". It was originally a masculine name but became popular as a feminine name in the 20th century. The name Joyce is often associated with qualities such as intelligence, creativity, and independence.
Janet
449 baby girls born in California (1938) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".

Most popular baby boy names in California in 1938

According to data from 1938, Robert was the most popular baby boy name in California with 2928 babies being given that name. John (2010), Richard (1975), James (1776), and William (1565) were also among the top five most popular names for baby boys.

Robert

2928 baby boys born in California (1938) named Robert
The name Robert means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobility.
John

2010 baby boys born in California (1938) named John
The name John is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a very common name and has been used for centuries. People with this name are often known for their kindness and generosity.
Richard

1975 baby boys born in California (1938) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
James

1776 baby boys born in California (1938) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
William

1565 baby boys born in California (1938) named William
The name William means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name throughout history.
Ronald
1201 baby boys born in California (1938) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
David
1194 baby boys born in California (1938) named David
The name David is of Hebrew origin and means "beloved" or "friend". It is a popular name in many cultures and religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the Bible, David was the second king of Israel and is known for his bravery, leadership, and devotion to God. People with the name David are often described as confident, charismatic, and loyal.
Donald
1123 baby boys born in California (1938) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Charles
975 baby boys born in California (1938) named Charles
The name Charles means "free man" or "strong man" and is of Germanic origin. It was a popular name among European royalty and has been commonly used throughout history.
Gary
880 baby boys born in California (1938) named Gary
The name Gary is of English origin and means "spear rule" or "spear carrier". It was originally a surname but became popular as a given name in the 20th century. People with this name are believed to be independent, practical, and analytical.
George
777 baby boys born in California (1938) named George
The name George means "farmer" or "earthworker" and is of Greek origin. It was a popular name among early Christians, as Saint George is the patron saint of England and a martyr in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches. The name has been used by many notable figures throughout history, including several kings of England.
Michael
701 baby boys born in California (1938) named Michael
The name Michael means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that is often associated with the archangel Michael, who is considered to be a protector and warrior in many religious traditions. The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.
Frank
682 baby boys born in California (1938) named Frank
The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".
Thomas
676 baby boys born in California (1938) named Thomas
The name Thomas is of Aramaic origin and means "twin". It is a common name in many cultures and has been used for centuries.
Kenneth
626 baby boys born in California (1938) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Larry
588 baby boys born in California (1938) named Larry
The name Larry is a shortened form of the name Lawrence, which comes from the Latin name Laurentius meaning "from Laurentum" or "crowned with laurel". The name was popularized in the Middle Ages due to the fame of St. Lawrence, a Christian martyr who was roasted alive on a gridiron. The name Larry has been used as a given name since the 19th century and has been a popular name in the United States.
Edward
575 baby boys born in California (1938) named Edward
The name Edward means "wealthy guardian" or "rich guard" and is of Old English origin. It is derived from the words "ead" meaning "wealth, fortune" and "weard" meaning "guardian, protector".
Jerry
543 baby boys born in California (1938) named Jerry
The name Jerry is a diminutive form of the name Gerald or Gerard, which means "ruler with a spear" or "brave with a spear" respectively. It is of Old German origin.
Paul
521 baby boys born in California (1938) named Paul
The name Paul is of Latin origin and means "small" or "humble". It was originally derived from the Roman family name Paulus, which was a common name in ancient Rome. The name has been popularized by various saints and biblical figures, including the apostle Paul, who was a significant figure in the early Christian church.
Jack
505 baby boys born in California (1938) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".