Kansas's most popular baby names in 1937

In the year 1937, the state of Kansas saw a surge in the popularity of traditional and timeless names. The top baby girl names were Mary, Shirley, and Barbara, while the top baby boy names were Robert, James, and Donald.

Mary, a name of biblical origin, held the top spot for baby girls in Kansas. Shirley and Barbara, both names of English origin, followed closely behind. For baby boys, Robert, a name of German origin meaning "bright fame," was the most popular, followed by James, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter," and Donald, a name of Scottish origin meaning "ruler of the world." These classic names continue to be popular choices for parents today, reflecting a desire for timeless and traditional names.

Most popular baby girl names in Kansas in 1937

In Kansas, 1937, Mary was the most popular name for baby girls with 649 babies given this name. Shirley followed closely behind with 463 babies named after it. The third most popular name was Barbara with 407 babies, while Patricia was the fourth with 358 babies. Betty rounded out the top five with 294 babies named after it.

  1. Mary

    649 baby girls born in Kansas (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.

  2. Shirley

    463 baby girls born in Kansas (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.

  3. Barbara

    407 baby girls born in Kansas (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.

  4. Patricia

    358 baby girls born in Kansas (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.

  5. Betty

    294 baby girls born in Kansas (1937) named Betty

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

  6. Carol

    262 baby girls born in Kansas (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".

  7. Donna

    256 baby girls born in Kansas (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.

  8. Marilyn

    255 baby girls born in Kansas (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".

  9. Beverly

    228 baby girls born in Kansas (1937) named Beverly

    The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".

  10. Nancy

    197 baby girls born in Kansas (1937) named Nancy

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

  11. Virginia

    173 baby girls born in Kansas (1937) 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.

  12. Janice

    171 baby girls born in Kansas (1937) named Janice

    The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".

  13. Dorothy

    170 baby girls born in Kansas (1937) named Dorothy

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

  14. Joyce

    168 baby girls born in Kansas (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.

  15. Carolyn

    163 baby girls born in Kansas (1937) named Carolyn

    The name Carolyn is a feminine given name of English origin. It is a variant of Caroline, which is derived from the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man" or "strong". The name Carolyn has been in use since the 19th century and has been a popular name for girls in the United States.

  16. Phyllis

    160 baby girls born in Kansas (1937) named Phyllis

    The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.

  17. Margaret

    158 baby girls born in Kansas (1937) named Margaret

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

  18. Sharon

    144 baby girls born in Kansas (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.

  19. Norma

    139 baby girls born in Kansas (1937) 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.

  20. Helen

    139 baby girls born in Kansas (1937) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Kansas in 1937

According to the records of baby boy names in Kansas in the year 1937, the most popular names were Robert with 763 occurrences, followed by James with 539 occurrences, Donald with 526 occurrences, John with 509 occurrences, and Larry with 446 occurrences. These names were the top choices among parents during that time period.

  1. Robert

    763 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  2. James

    539 baby boys born in Kansas (1937) named James

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

  3. Donald

    526 baby boys born in Kansas (1937) named Donald

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

  4. John

    509 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  5. Larry

    446 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  6. Richard

    431 baby boys born in Kansas (1937) named Richard

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

  7. Charles

    423 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  8. Gary

    344 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  9. William

    339 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  10. Kenneth

    270 baby boys born in Kansas (1937) named Kenneth

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

  11. Jerry

    235 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  12. David

    227 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  13. Ronald

    211 baby boys born in Kansas (1937) named Ronald

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

  14. George

    185 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  15. Gerald

    159 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  16. Harold

    156 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  17. Paul

    150 baby boys born in Kansas (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.

  18. Jack

    146 baby boys born in Kansas (1937) named Jack

    The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".

  19. Raymond

    134 baby boys born in Kansas (1937) named Raymond

    The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".

  20. Edward

    121 baby boys born in Kansas (1937) 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".