Delaware's most popular baby names in 1931

In the year 1931, the state of Delaware saw a surge in the popularity of traditional names for baby girls and boys. Mary, Betty, and Joan were among the most popular names for baby girls, while William, John, and Robert were the top choices for baby boys.

These classic names have stood the test of time and continue to be popular choices for parents today. Whether inspired by family traditions or simply a love for timeless names, these names remain a beloved part of Delaware's baby naming history.

Most popular baby girl names in Delaware in 1931

In Delaware in 1931, the most popular baby girl name was Mary, with 101 babies given that name. Following closely behind were Betty with 73, Joan and Margaret tied with 58, and Jean with 51 babies given those names.

Mary

101 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) 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.
Betty

73 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Margaret

58 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Joan

58 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) 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.
Jean

51 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Jean
The name Jean is a variant of the name John, which means "God is gracious" in Hebrew. It is a gender-neutral name that has been used for both boys and girls.
Dorothy
48 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Helen
48 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Helen
Helen is a name of Greek origin and means "bright, shining one" or "torchbearer". It is also sometimes associated with the meaning "sunray" or "ray of light". The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.
Doris
45 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Doris
The name Doris means "gift of the ocean" or "from the sea" in Greek. It was also the name of a sea nymph in Greek mythology.
Elizabeth
43 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my oath" or "my God is abundance". It is a name that has been popular for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures in history and literature.
Barbara
42 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) 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.
Ruth
35 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Ruth
The name Ruth means "friend" or "companion" in Hebrew. It is also associated with the character Ruth in the Bible, who was known for her loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi.
Alice
32 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Alice
The name Alice is of German origin and means "noble" or "of noble birth". It is a popular name that has been used for centuries and has been the name of many notable fictional characters in literature and film.
Frances
30 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Frances
Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man" or "from France".
Dolores
29 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Dolores
The name Dolores is of Spanish origin and means "sorrows" or "pains". It is derived from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, which translates to "Our Lady of Sorrows". The name was popularized in the 20th century by the famous Mexican actress Dolores del Río.
Shirley
27 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) 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.
Nancy
23 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Louise
21 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Louise
The name Louise is derived from the Old German name Ludwig, which means "renowned warrior" or "famous in battle". It is a feminine form of the name Louis.
Ann
21 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Ann
The name Ann is a variant of the name Anne, which is derived from the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning "grace" or "favor". The name has been popular throughout history and is often associated with strong and independent women.
Eleanor
21 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Eleanor
The name Eleanor means "bright, shining one" or "compassionate" and is of Old French and Greek origin. It was originally derived from the name Aliénor, which was the Old French form of the name Helen.
Catherine
20 baby girls born in Delaware (1931) named Catherine
The name Catherine is of Greek origin and means "pure". It is a popular name that has been used for centuries and has various forms and spellings in different languages.

Most popular baby boy names in Delaware in 1931

According to records from Delaware in 1931, the top 5 most popular baby boy names were William with 132 occurrences, followed by John with 127, Robert with 125, James with 108, and Charles with 77. These names were likely influenced by popular cultural figures and historical figures of the time.

William

132 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) 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.
John

127 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) 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.
Robert

125 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) 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.
James

108 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Charles

77 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) 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.
Donald
52 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Joseph
51 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
George
51 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) 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.
Richard
47 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Thomas
38 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) 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.
Edward
36 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) 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".
Raymond
27 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Harry
26 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) named Harry
The name Harry is of English origin and is a variation of the name Henry. Its meaning is "ruler of the household" or "estate ruler".
Paul
25 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) 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.
Frank
25 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) named Frank
The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".
Francis
24 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) named Francis
The name Francis is derived from the Latin name Franciscus, which means "Frenchman" or "free man". It has been a popular name throughout history, particularly among Christians due to its association with Saint Francis of Assisi. The name is often associated with humility, kindness, and a love for nature and animals.
David
21 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) 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.
Ralph
21 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) named Ralph
The name Ralph means "wolf counsel" or "counselor wolf".
Norman
19 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) named Norman
The name Norman means "man of the north" or "man from the north". It is of Old German origin and was originally used to describe Vikings who had settled in the northern regions of France. The name became popular in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Louis
19 baby boys born in Delaware (1931) named Louis
The name Louis is of French origin and means "famous warrior" or "renowned fighter". It is derived from the Germanic name Ludwig, which is composed of the elements "hlud" meaning "famous" and "wig" meaning "warrior".