Minnesota's most popular baby names in 1937

In the year 1937, the state of Minnesota saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Mary, Patricia, and Carol emerged as the top baby girl names, while Robert, James, and Richard were the most popular baby boy names. These names were chosen by parents across the state, reflecting the cultural and societal trends of the time.

The name Mary, which means "bitter" or "beloved," has been a popular choice for baby girls for centuries. Patricia, which means "noble," was also a popular choice, perhaps reflecting a desire for traditional and classic names. Meanwhile, the names Robert, James, and Richard were strong and masculine choices for baby boys, reflecting a desire for names that exuded power and strength. These names continue to be popular choices for parents today, reflecting their enduring appeal and timeless qualities.

Most popular baby girl names in Minnesota in 1937

In Minnesota in the year 1937, the most popular baby girl name was Mary, with a total of 962 babies given that name. Patricia came in second place with 650 babies, followed closely by Carol with 643 babies. Barbara was the fourth most popular name, given to 623 baby girls, and Shirley rounded out the top five with 546 babies receiving that name.

Mary

962 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Patricia

650 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Carol

643 baby girls born in Minnesota (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".
Barbara

623 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Shirley

546 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Janice
422 baby girls born in Minnesota (1937) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Darlene
368 baby girls born in Minnesota (1937) 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.
Donna
358 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Beverly
356 baby girls born in Minnesota (1937) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Joan
352 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Janet
338 baby girls born in Minnesota (1937) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Marilyn
335 baby girls born in Minnesota (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".
Margaret
331 baby girls born in Minnesota (1937) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Betty
319 baby girls born in Minnesota (1937) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Marlene
310 baby girls born in Minnesota (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".
Nancy
302 baby girls born in Minnesota (1937) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Dorothy
282 baby girls born in Minnesota (1937) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Joyce
277 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Jean
259 baby girls born in Minnesota (1937) 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.
Sharon
254 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.

Most popular baby boy names in Minnesota in 1937

In Minnesota, 1937, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, James, Richard, John, and Donald. Robert was the most popular name with 1193 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 1104 babies. Richard, John, and Donald were also popular choices for parents, with 1020, 977, and 835 babies given those names, respectively. These classic names have remained popular over the years and are still commonly used today.

Robert

1193 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
James

1104 baby boys born in Minnesota (1937) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

1020 baby boys born in Minnesota (1937) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
John

977 baby boys born in Minnesota (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

835 baby boys born in Minnesota (1937) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
David
746 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
William
568 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Ronald
558 baby boys born in Minnesota (1937) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Roger
486 baby boys born in Minnesota (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".
Gerald
484 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Thomas
421 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Charles
384 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Kenneth
381 baby boys born in Minnesota (1937) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Dennis
302 baby boys born in Minnesota (1937) named Dennis
The name Dennis is of Greek origin and means "follower of Dionysius", the Greek god of wine and fertility. It was a popular name in ancient Greece and was later adopted by the Romans. The name has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history.
Gary
274 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
George
246 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Paul
239 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Larry
234 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Edward
232 baby boys born in Minnesota (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".
Dale
230 baby boys born in Minnesota (1937) 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.