Names of US

Illinois's most popular baby names in 1939

In the year 1939, the state of Illinois witnessed a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Mary, Barbara, and Patricia emerged as the top three most popular names for baby girls, while Robert, James, and John were the most favored names for baby boys.

Mary, a name that has been popular for centuries, continued to reign supreme in 1939. Barbara, a name that had been gaining popularity in recent years, climbed up to the second spot. Patricia, a name of Latin origin, rounded off the top three. On the other hand, Robert, a name of German origin, was the most popular name for baby boys in Illinois in 1939. James, a name that has been popular for centuries, was a close second. John, a name that has been popular for over a millennium, completed the top three. These names were a reflection of the cultural and historical influences of the time and continue to be popular even today.

Most popular baby girl names in Illinois in 1939

In 1939, Mary was the most popular baby girl name in Illinois with 2634 babies being given the name. Barbara came in second with 2176 babies named, followed by Patricia with 1999 babies named. Judith and Carol were tied for fourth place with 1628 and 1625 babies named respectively. These were the top 5 most popular baby girl names in Illinois in 1939.

  1. Mary

    2634 baby girls born in Illinois (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.

  2. Barbara

    2176 baby girls born in Illinois (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.

  3. Patricia

    1999 baby girls born in Illinois (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.

  4. Judith

    1628 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) named Judith

    The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".

  5. Carol

    1625 baby girls born in Illinois (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".

  6. Nancy

    1265 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) named Nancy

    The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".

  7. Sandra

    955 baby girls born in Illinois (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.

  8. Shirley

    945 baby girls born in Illinois (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.

  9. Sharon

    895 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) named Sharon

    The name Sharon means "a plain or flat area" in Hebrew. It is also a biblical name, referring to a fertile plain near the coast of Israel.

  10. Joyce

    878 baby girls born in Illinois (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.

  11. Betty

    821 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) named Betty

    The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".

  12. Donna

    819 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) 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.

  13. Joan

    805 baby girls born in Illinois (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.

  14. Marilyn

    802 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) 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".

  15. Janet

    711 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) named Janet

    The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".

  16. Margaret

    705 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) named Margaret

    The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".

  17. Judy

    699 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) named Judy

  18. Linda

    633 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) named Linda

    The name Linda means "beautiful" or "pretty" in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and other Romance languages. It is also derived from the Germanic word "lind," which means "gentle" or "soft."

  19. Dorothy

    628 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) named Dorothy

    The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".

  20. Beverly

    618 baby girls born in Illinois (1939) 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 1939

In Illinois in 1939, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, James, John, Richard, and William. Robert was the most popular name with 3676 babies given that name. James and John followed closely behind with 3034 and 2951 babies respectively. Richard was the fourth most popular name with 2500 babies given that name, and William rounded out the top five with 2260 babies given that name.

  1. Robert

    3676 baby boys born in Illinois (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.

  2. James

    3034 baby boys born in Illinois (1939) named James

    The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".

  3. John

    2951 baby boys born in Illinois (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.

  4. Richard

    2500 baby boys born in Illinois (1939) named Richard

    The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".

  5. William

    2260 baby boys born in Illinois (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.

  6. Ronald

    1725 baby boys born in Illinois (1939) named Ronald

    The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.

  7. Donald

    1570 baby boys born in Illinois (1939) named Donald

    Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".

  8. Charles

    1551 baby boys born in Illinois (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.

  9. David

    1384 baby boys born in Illinois (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.

  10. Thomas

    1350 baby boys born in Illinois (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.

  11. Larry

    1057 baby boys born in Illinois (1939) named Larry

    The name Larry is a shortened form of the name Lawrence, which comes from the Latin name Laurentius meaning "from Laurentum" or "crowned with laurel". The name was popularized in the Middle Ages due to the fame of St. Lawrence, a Christian martyr who was roasted alive on a gridiron. The name Larry has been used as a given name since the 19th century and has been a popular name in the United States.

  12. Kenneth

    1003 baby boys born in Illinois (1939) named Kenneth

    The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".

  13. Joseph

    914 baby boys born in Illinois (1939) named Joseph

    The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".

  14. Edward

    865 baby boys born in Illinois (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".

  15. George

    834 baby boys born in Illinois (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.

  16. Jerry

    790 baby boys born in Illinois (1939) 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.

  17. Michael

    768 baby boys born in Illinois (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.

  18. Gerald

    738 baby boys born in Illinois (1939) 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.

  19. Paul

    665 baby boys born in Illinois (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.

  20. Frank

    592 baby boys born in Illinois (1939) named Frank

    The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".