Illinois's most popular baby names in 1936

In the year 1936, the state of Illinois saw a surge in the popularity of traditional names for baby boys and girls. Topping the charts for baby girls were the evergreen names Mary, Barbara, and Shirley, while for baby boys, the names Robert, John, and James were the most popular choices.

Mary, a name with biblical roots, has been a popular choice for baby girls for centuries, and it's not surprising that it held the top spot in Illinois in 1936. Barbara and Shirley, two names that were popular in the early 20th century, also made it to the top three. Meanwhile, for baby boys, Robert, John, and James, all classic names with strong historical significance, were the most preferred names among parents in Illinois.

Most popular baby girl names in Illinois in 1936

In 1936, the most popular baby girl name in Illinois was Mary, with 2681 babies being given that name. Barbara came in second place with 1950 babies being named that, followed by Shirley with 1864 babies. Patricia was the fourth most popular name with 1811 babies being given that name, and Carol came in fifth place with 1273 babies being named that. These were the top 5 baby girl names in Illinois in 1936.

Mary

2681 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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

1950 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Shirley

1864 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Patricia

1811 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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

1273 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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
1151 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Joan
1093 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Marilyn
1092 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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".
Betty
989 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Dorothy
809 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Donna
750 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Joyce
739 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Margaret
715 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Beverly
604 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Helen
549 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Phyllis
531 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Ruth
512 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Dolores
495 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Virginia
495 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Sandra
485 baby girls born in Illinois (1936) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Illinois in 1936

In 1936, Robert was the most popular baby boy name in Illinois with 3723 babies given that name. John came in second with 2831 babies, followed closely by James with 2692 babies. Richard was the fourth most popular name with 2413 babies, and Donald was the fifth most popular name with 2219 babies. These were the top 5 baby boy names in Illinois in 1936.

Robert

3723 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) 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

2831 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) 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

2692 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

2413 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Donald

2219 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
William
2156 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) 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
1648 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Charles
1541 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Thomas
1129 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) 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
957 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Joseph
951 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
David
919 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Edward
900 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) 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".
Kenneth
878 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Frank
638 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) named Frank
The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".
Gerald
628 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Paul
627 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) 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.
Raymond
622 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Jack
538 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
Jerry
528 baby boys born in Illinois (1936) 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.