District of columbia's most popular baby names in 1939

In the year 1939, the District of Columbia saw a surge in the popularity of traditional names for baby boys and girls. The top three baby girl names were Mary, Barbara, and Patricia. Mary, a timeless name of biblical origin, held the top spot for the fourth consecutive year. Barbara, a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign woman," and Patricia, derived from the Latin word for "noble," were also popular choices for baby girls.

For baby boys, the top three names were John, James, and Robert. John, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious," held the top spot for the third consecutive year. James, another biblical name meaning "supplanter," and Robert, a name of Germanic origin meaning "bright fame," were also popular choices for baby boys. These names reflect a trend towards traditional and timeless names that have remained popular throughout the years.

Most popular baby girl names in District of columbia in 1939

Based on the data from the District of Columbia in 1939, Mary was the most popular baby girl name with 367 occurrences. The second and third most popular names were Barbara (354) and Patricia (259), respectively. Shirley (143) and Joan (131) were also among the top five most popular baby girl names in the District of Columbia in 1939. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and societal trends of the time.

Mary

367 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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

354 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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

259 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Shirley

143 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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

131 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Margaret
130 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Nancy
121 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Carol
116 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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".
Dorothy
103 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Elizabeth
101 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Joyce
90 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Betty
89 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Judith
80 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Helen
79 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Frances
78 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) named Frances
Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man" or "from France".
Ann
70 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Jean
69 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Sandra
69 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Gloria
59 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) named Gloria
The name Gloria means "glory" or "fame" in Latin.
Ruth
59 baby girls born in District of columbia (1939) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in District of columbia in 1939

Based on the data from 1939, the most popular baby boy names in the District of Columbia were John, James, Robert, William, and Charles. John was the most popular name with 421 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 416 babies. Robert and William were also popular choices with 387 and 376 babies given those names, respectively. Charles rounded out the top five with 225 babies named that.

John

421 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
James

416 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Robert

387 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
William

376 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Charles

225 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Richard
216 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Thomas
185 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
George
170 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
David
147 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Joseph
144 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Donald
125 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Edward
115 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) 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".
Ronald
104 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Michael
103 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Paul
81 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) 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.
Kenneth
72 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Raymond
70 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Lawrence
50 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) named Lawrence
The name Lawrence is derived from the Latin name Laurentius, which means "from Laurentum" or "crowned with laurel". It has been a popular name throughout history and is often associated with strength, honor, and victory.
Walter
48 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) named Walter
Walter is a Germanic name that means "ruler of the army" or "powerful warrior".
Eugene
46 baby boys born in District of columbia (1939) named Eugene
The name Eugene means "well-born" or "noble" and has Greek origins. It was a popular name in the early 20th century but has since declined in popularity.