Nebraska's most popular baby names in 1938

In the year 1938, the state of Nebraska saw a rise in popularity of traditional names for baby girls. Mary, Barbara, and Shirley were the top three names for baby girls born that year. Mary, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bitter," has been a popular name for girls for centuries. Barbara, of Greek origin meaning "foreign woman," was also a popular choice for parents in Nebraska. Shirley, a name of English origin meaning "bright meadow," was a newer addition to the popular baby names list.

For baby boys born in Nebraska in 1938, the top three names were Robert, Richard, and Larry. Robert, of German origin meaning "bright fame," has been a popular name for boys for centuries. Richard, of English origin meaning "brave power," was also a top choice for parents in Nebraska. Larry, a name of English origin meaning "crowned with laurel," was a newer addition to the popular baby names list in 1938.

Overall, parents in Nebraska in 1938 favored traditional and timeless names for their newborns, with Mary and Robert being the most popular choices for baby girls and boys, respectively.

Most popular baby girl names in Nebraska in 1938

In Nebraska, 1938, Mary was the most popular name for baby girls with 510 occurrences. The next four most popular names were Barbara with 279 occurrences, Shirley with 275 occurrences, Sharon with 273 occurrences, and Patricia with 242 occurrences. These names were very common and popular among parents naming their newborn baby girls in Nebraska during that time.

Mary

510 baby girls born in Nebraska (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

279 baby girls born in Nebraska (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

275 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Sharon

273 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Patricia

242 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Donna
216 baby girls born in Nebraska (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
197 baby girls born in Nebraska (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".
Betty
195 baby girls born in Nebraska (1938) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Janice
195 baby girls born in Nebraska (1938) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Carol
191 baby girls born in Nebraska (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".
Karen
177 baby girls born in Nebraska (1938) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Beverly
164 baby girls born in Nebraska (1938) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Nancy
149 baby girls born in Nebraska (1938) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Sandra
149 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Janet
135 baby girls born in Nebraska (1938) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Margaret
130 baby girls born in Nebraska (1938) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Joan
127 baby girls born in Nebraska (1938) 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.
Carolyn
127 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Joyce
125 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Phyllis
113 baby girls born in Nebraska (1938) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.

Most popular baby boy names in Nebraska in 1938

In Nebraska, 1938, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, Richard, Larry, James, and John. Robert was the most popular name with 585 babies being given that name, followed by Richard with 464 babies. Larry came in third with 406 babies, James was fourth with 396 babies, and John rounded out the top five with 367 babies. These names were likely chosen for their traditional and classic sound, as well as their popularity at the time.

Robert

585 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Richard

464 baby boys born in Nebraska (1938) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Larry

406 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
James

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

367 baby boys born in Nebraska (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
351 baby boys born in Nebraska (1938) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
William
285 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Gary
284 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Ronald
266 baby boys born in Nebraska (1938) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Charles
216 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Kenneth
187 baby boys born in Nebraska (1938) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Jerry
178 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
David
172 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Gerald
164 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Thomas
140 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Roger
131 baby boys born in Nebraska (1938) 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".
Jack
122 baby boys born in Nebraska (1938) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
George
108 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Dennis
102 baby boys born in Nebraska (1938) 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.
Dale
102 baby boys born in Nebraska (1938) 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.