Illinois's most popular baby names in 1934

In the year 1934, the state of Illinois saw a surge in popularity of classic baby names for both boys and girls. Mary, Barbara, and Patricia topped the list of most popular baby girl names, while Robert, John, and James were the top choices for baby boys.

Mary, a timeless name of Hebrew origin meaning "bitter," held the number one spot for baby girls for the 20th consecutive year in Illinois. Barbara, a Greek name meaning "strange or foreign," was a close second, followed by Patricia, a Latin name meaning "noble." For baby boys, Robert, a Germanic name meaning "bright fame," claimed the top spot, followed by John, a Hebrew name meaning "God is gracious," and James, an English name meaning "supplanter." These classic names continue to be popular choices for parents in Illinois and around the world.

Most popular baby girl names in Illinois in 1934

In 1934, the most popular baby girl name in Illinois was Mary, with 2671 babies given that name. The next most popular names were Barbara (1903), Patricia (1556), Shirley (1448), and Joan (1385). These names were very common during that time period and were likely chosen for their traditional and classic sound.

Mary

2671 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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

1903 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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

1556 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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

1448 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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

1385 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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.
Betty
1306 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Dorothy
1058 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Marilyn
964 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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".
Carol
945 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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
869 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Margaret
702 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Donna
693 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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.
Dolores
693 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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.
Joyce
673 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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.
Helen
587 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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.
Jean
572 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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.
Phyllis
570 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Lois
545 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) named Lois
The name Lois is of Greek origin and means "better, more desirable".
Doris
540 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) 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.
Beverly
514 baby girls born in Illinois (1934) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".

Most popular baby boy names in Illinois in 1934

In 1934, the most popular baby boy names in Illinois were Robert, John, James, Richard, and Donald. Robert was the most popular name with 3571 babies being given that name. John came in second with 2746 babies, followed closely by James with 2656 babies. Richard and Donald were the fourth and fifth most popular names with 2486 and 2439 babies respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular cultural figures and historical events of the time.

Robert

3571 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) 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

2746 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) 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

2656 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

2486 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Donald

2439 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
William
2049 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) 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
1511 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) 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.
Ronald
1396 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
George
999 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) 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.
Thomas
969 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) 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
901 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) 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
890 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Kenneth
767 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
David
743 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) 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.
Jack
688 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
Paul
623 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) 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
617 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) named Frank
The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".
Raymond
598 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Gerald
536 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) named Gerald
The name Gerald means "ruler with a spear" or "rule of the spear". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobles.
Harold
517 baby boys born in Illinois (1934) 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.