Massachusetts's most popular baby names in 1933

In 1933, the state of Massachusetts saw a surge in popularity of traditional names for baby girls. Mary, Barbara, and Joan took the top spots in the rankings, reflecting a preference for classic and timeless names. Mary, a name with biblical origins, has been a popular choice for centuries and continues to be favored by parents to this day.

For baby boys, Robert, John, and Richard were the most commonly chosen names in Massachusetts. These names also have a long history of popularity, with Robert being a name of Germanic origin meaning "bright fame," John being a biblical name meaning "God is gracious," and Richard meaning "brave ruler." These names reflect a preference for strong and masculine names that have stood the test of time.

Most popular baby girl names in Massachusetts in 1933

In 1933, the most popular baby girl names in Massachusetts were Mary, Barbara, Joan, Dorothy, and Patricia. Mary was the most popular name with 1513 babies being named Mary that year, followed closely by Barbara with 1439 babies. Joan was the third most popular name with 1142 babies, while Dorothy and Patricia rounded out the top five with 742 and 725 babies respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends of the time.

Mary

1513 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) 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

1439 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
Joan

1142 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
Dorothy

742 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Patricia

725 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
Jean
587 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
Nancy
527 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Margaret
515 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Ann
509 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) named Ann
The name Ann is a variant of the name Anne, which is derived from the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning "grace" or "favor". The name has been popular throughout history and is often associated with strong and independent women.
Elizabeth
473 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) named Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my oath" or "my God is abundance". It is a name that has been popular for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures in history and literature.
Helen
465 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
Lorraine
417 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) named Lorraine
The name Lorraine is of French origin and is derived from the region of Lorraine in France. The meaning of the name is "from Lorraine" or "dweller of Lorraine".
Shirley
402 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
Ruth
402 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
Marilyn
393 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) 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".
Eleanor
367 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) named Eleanor
The name Eleanor means "bright, shining one" or "compassionate" and is of Old French and Greek origin. It was originally derived from the name Aliénor, which was the Old French form of the name Helen.
Janet
353 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Marie
343 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) named Marie
The name Marie is the French variant of Mary, which means "bitter" in Hebrew. It is a popular name among Christians and has been used for centuries. The name is often associated with purity, grace, and elegance.
Claire
331 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) named Claire
The name Claire is of French origin and means "clear" or "bright". It is derived from the Latin word "clarus". The name is often associated with a person who is intelligent, kind, and honest.
Phyllis
331 baby girls born in Massachusetts (1933) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.

Most popular baby boy names in Massachusetts in 1933

In 1933, the most popular baby boy name in Massachusetts was Robert, with 2513 babies given this name. The second most popular name was John, with 2087 babies given this name. Richard came in third with 1687 babies, followed by William with 1355 babies and James with 1150 babies. These were the top five baby boy names in Massachusetts in 1933.

Robert

2513 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
John

2087 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) 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

1687 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
William

1355 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
James

1150 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Joseph
1061 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Donald
956 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Edward
783 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) 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".
Charles
776 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
Paul
754 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) 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
734 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
Thomas
654 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
David
513 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) 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.
Francis
496 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) named Francis
The name Francis is derived from the Latin name Franciscus, which means "Frenchman" or "free man". It has been a popular name throughout history, particularly among Christians due to its association with Saint Francis of Assisi. The name is often associated with humility, kindness, and a love for nature and animals.
Ronald
392 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Raymond
391 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Arthur
390 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) named Arthur
The name Arthur is of Celtic origin and means "bear". It was a popular name among the kings and nobles of medieval England, and has since become a classic name that is still in use today.
Frank
351 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) named Frank
The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".
Walter
297 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) named Walter
Walter is a Germanic name that means "ruler of the army" or "powerful warrior".
Albert
295 baby boys born in Massachusetts (1933) named Albert
The name Albert is of Germanic origin and means "noble and bright".