Iowa's most popular baby names in 1928

The year 1928 marked a significant time in the state of Iowa, as it saw the birth of many newborns with names that would become popular for generations to come. The most popular baby girl names of that year were Mary, Betty, and Dorothy, while the top baby boy names were Robert, Donald, and John.

Mary, a timeless classic, held the top spot for baby girl names in Iowa in 1928. Betty and Dorothy followed closely behind, both names that were popular in the early 20th century. For baby boys, Robert was the most popular name, followed by Donald and John, all of which remain popular choices for parents today. These names reflect the trends and traditions of the time and continue to be popular choices for parents looking for classic and timeless names for their children.

Most popular baby girl names in Iowa in 1928

In 1928, Mary was the most popular baby girl name in Iowa with a total of 1100 babies being named Mary. Betty was the second most popular name with 959 babies being given the name. Dorothy came in third with 667 babies being named Dorothy. Shirley was the fourth most popular name with 520 babies being given the name and Helen rounded out the top five with 419 babies being named Helen.

Mary

1100 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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

959 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Dorothy

667 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Shirley

520 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Helen

419 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Ruth
347 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Doris
342 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Lois
339 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) named Lois
The name Lois is of Greek origin and means "better, more desirable".
Patricia
338 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Margaret
335 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Phyllis
322 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Donna
306 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Barbara
300 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Norma
294 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Marjorie
285 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) named Marjorie
The name Marjorie is derived from the herb called marjoram. Its meaning is "pearl" or "bitter".
Beverly
279 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Virginia
277 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Darlene
263 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) named Darlene
The name Darlene means "darling" or "beloved" and is of English origin. It was first used as a given name in the early 20th century in the United States.
Marilyn
254 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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".
Jean
232 baby girls born in Iowa (1928) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Iowa in 1928

Based on the data from Iowa in 1928, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, Donald, John, Richard, and James. Robert was the most popular name with 1405 babies being given that name, followed by Donald with 977 babies. John came in third with 878 babies, while Richard and James were fourth and fifth with 838 and 714 babies respectively.

Robert

1405 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Donald

977 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
John

878 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Richard

838 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
James

714 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
William
686 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) 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
493 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Kenneth
389 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Harold
372 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Paul
313 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) 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.
George
308 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Jack
303 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
Dale
231 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) named Dale
The name Dale means valley or dale, which is a piece of land between hills or mountains. It is of Old English origin and is often used as a masculine given name.
Raymond
227 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Marvin
208 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) named Marvin
The name Marvin is of Welsh origin and means "sea hill" or "great hill near the sea".
Wayne
207 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) named Wayne
The name Wayne means "wagon maker" or "wagon driver". It has Old English origins and was originally a surname before becoming a first name.
Edward
206 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) 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".
Eugene
204 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Gerald
203 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) 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.
Thomas
174 baby boys born in Iowa (1928) 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.