Iowa's most popular baby names in 1937

In the year 1937, Iowa saw a rise in popularity of some classic names for baby girls and boys. Mary continued to hold its top spot as the most popular name for baby girls, with Shirley and Patricia following closely behind. These names exude a sense of timeless elegance and grace, and it's no surprise that they remain popular even today.

For baby boys, Robert took the lead as the most popular name, followed by Richard and James. These names have a strong and classic feel to them, and they have stood the test of time as they continue to be popular choices for parents across generations. It's clear that in Iowa, parents in 1937 were drawn to traditional names that have a timeless appeal.

Most popular baby girl names in Iowa in 1937

In 1937, Mary was the most popular baby girl name in Iowa with 1100 babies being named so. Shirley came in second place with 615 babies, followed by Patricia with 534 babies. Barbara was the fourth most popular name with 527 babies, and Janice was the fifth most popular with 430 babies.

Mary

1100 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Shirley

615 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) 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

534 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Barbara

527 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Janice

430 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Donna
419 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Betty
412 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Marilyn
406 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) 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".
Beverly
405 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Carol
372 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) 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".
Janet
334 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Sandra
308 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Nancy
306 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Joyce
296 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Dorothy
269 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Sharon
255 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Margaret
243 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Joan
237 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Phyllis
230 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Marlene
217 baby girls born in Iowa (1937) named Marlene
The name Marlene is a combination of the names Mary and Magdalene. It is of German origin and means "bitter" or "rebellious".

Most popular baby boy names in Iowa in 1937

According to the data from 1937, the most popular baby boy names in Iowa were Robert, Richard, James, John, and Donald. Robert was the most popular name with 1164 babies being named so, followed by Richard with 926, James with 902, John with 782, and Donald with 747. These names were the top choices for parents in Iowa during that year.

Robert

1164 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Richard

926 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
James

902 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
John

782 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Donald

747 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Larry
730 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Ronald
569 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
William
513 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.
David
484 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Gary
445 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) named Gary
The name Gary is of English origin and means "spear rule" or "spear carrier". It was originally a surname but became popular as a given name in the 20th century. People with this name are believed to be independent, practical, and analytical.
Charles
435 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Jerry
392 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Kenneth
310 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Paul
286 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Roger
281 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) named Roger
The name Roger means "famous spearman" or "renowned warrior". It is of Old German origin, derived from the words "hrod" meaning "fame" and "ger" meaning "spear".
Thomas
260 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Gerald
257 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.
Jack
247 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
Harold
207 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.
George
202 baby boys born in Iowa (1937) 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.