Illinois's most popular baby names in 1926

In the year 1926, the state of Illinois saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Among the top baby girl names were Mary, Betty, and Dorothy. Mary, a timeless classic, was the most popular name for baby girls in Illinois that year. Betty, a diminutive of Elizabeth, and Dorothy, meaning "gift of God," were also favored choices for new parents.

For baby boys, the top names in Illinois were Robert, John, and William. Robert, meaning "bright fame," was the most popular name for baby boys in the state that year. John, a name with biblical origins, and William, meaning "resolute protector," were also popular choices for new parents looking for strong, traditional names for their sons. These names reflect the cultural and historical influences of the time period and continue to be popular choices for parents today.

Most popular baby girl names in Illinois in 1926

Based on the data from Illinois in 1926, the most popular baby girl names were Mary, Betty, Dorothy, Helen, and Shirley. Mary was the most popular name with 3337 babies being named that. Betty and Dorothy were the second and third most popular names with 2415 and 2352 babies being named that respectively. Helen and Shirley were the fourth and fifth most popular names with 1609 and 1164 babies being named that respectively.

Mary

3337 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) 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

2415 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Dorothy

2352 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Helen

1609 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Shirley

1164 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Margaret
1071 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Ruth
1059 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Virginia
1044 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Doris
842 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Jean
794 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Patricia
778 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Dolores
776 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Lorraine
775 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) named Lorraine
The name Lorraine is of French origin and is derived from the region of Lorraine in France. The meaning of the name is "from Lorraine" or "dweller of Lorraine".
Evelyn
749 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) named Evelyn
The name Evelyn is of English origin and is derived from the French name Aveline, which means "hazelnut". It is also believed to have roots in the Germanic name Avelina, which means "wished-for child" or "longed-for child". Overall, the name Evelyn is associated with sweetness, charm, and grace.
Lois
744 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) named Lois
The name Lois is of Greek origin and means "better, more desirable".
Mildred
690 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) named Mildred
The name Mildred means "gentle strength" or "mild strength".
Barbara
672 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Frances
640 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) named Frances
Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man" or "from France".
Norma
632 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) named Norma
The name Norma is of Latin origin and means "rule" or "standard". It was popularized by the Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini's opera "Norma" in the 19th century. The name has been in use since the Middle Ages and continues to be used today.
Alice
621 baby girls born in Illinois (1926) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Illinois in 1926

In Illinois in 1926, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, John, William, James, and Richard. Robert was the most popular name with 4497 babies given that name, followed by John with 3383 babies, William with 2983 babies, James with 2399 babies, and Richard with 1947 babies.

Robert

4497 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) 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

3383 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) 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.
William

2983 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) 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.
James

2399 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

1947 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Charles
1652 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) 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
1624 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
George
1563 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Edward
1478 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) 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".
Joseph
1244 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Frank
907 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) named Frank
The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".
Raymond
887 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Thomas
835 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Harold
832 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) named Harold
The name Harold is of Old English origin and means "ruler of the army". It was a popular name among the Anglo-Saxons and was borne by several kings of England.
Jack
741 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
Kenneth
728 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Paul
705 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Walter
697 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) named Walter
Walter is a Germanic name that means "ruler of the army" or "powerful warrior".
Eugene
656 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) 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.
Arthur
589 baby boys born in Illinois (1926) named Arthur
The name Arthur is of Celtic origin and means "bear". It was a popular name among the kings and nobles of medieval England, and has since become a classic name that is still in use today.