Kansas's most popular baby names in 1938

In the year 1938, the state of Kansas saw a surge in newborns and with that came a variety of popular baby names. Mary, Barbara, and Shirley were among the top picks for baby girls, while Robert, James, and Larry were the most popular names for baby boys.

Mary has been a beloved name for centuries and it's no surprise that it was a top choice for parents in Kansas in 1938. Barbara and Shirley, both of English origin, were also popular names for baby girls. For baby boys, Robert, James, and Larry were the most favored names, each with their own unique charm. These names have stood the test of time and are still popular choices for parents today.

Most popular baby girl names in Kansas in 1938

Based on the data from 1938, Mary was the most popular baby girl name in Kansas with a total of 738 babies given that name. The second most popular name was Barbara with 441 babies, followed by Shirley with 359 babies. Patricia and Betty were the fourth and fifth most popular names with 357 and 301 babies respectively.

Mary

738 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) 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

441 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) 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

359 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) 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

357 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Betty

301 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Carol
281 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) 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".
Donna
272 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Marilyn
226 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) 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".
Nancy
211 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Janice
209 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Sharon
202 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Carolyn
199 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Beverly
196 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Joyce
193 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Judith
184 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Karen
176 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Sandra
161 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Phyllis
155 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Margaret
152 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Dorothy
143 baby girls born in Kansas (1938) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".

Most popular baby boy names in Kansas in 1938

In Kansas in 1938, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, James, Larry, John, and Donald. Robert was the most popular name with 667 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 578 babies. Larry came in third with 570 babies, while John and Donald rounded out the top five with 526 and 466 babies respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular cultural figures and trends of the time.

Robert

667 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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.
James

578 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Larry

570 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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.
John

526 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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

466 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Richard
447 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Gary
401 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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.
William
380 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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
361 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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
313 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Ronald
312 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
David
243 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Kenneth
241 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Gerald
177 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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.
George
169 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Harold
158 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Jack
141 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
Paul
134 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Thomas
134 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) 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.
Don
112 baby boys born in Kansas (1938) named Don
The name Don is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "dunn," which means "brown" or "dark-colored." It is also believed to be a shortened version of the name Donald, which means "ruler of the world" in Scottish Gaelic. The name Don has been used as a given name for boys since the 19th century.