North dakota's most popular baby names in 1938

In the year 1938, the state of North Dakota saw a number of popular baby names. For baby girls, Mary was the most popular name, followed by Janice and Shirley. Mary has been a common name for centuries and continues to be a popular choice for parents. Janice, on the other hand, was a relatively new name at the time, having been first used in the 20th century. Shirley, which means "bright meadow," was also a popular choice among parents.

For baby boys, the top three names in North Dakota in 1938 were Robert, James, and Donald. Robert, which means "bright fame," has been a popular name for centuries and continues to be so even today. James, which means "supplanter," is a classic name that has been used for centuries. Donald, which means "ruler of the world," was also a popular choice among parents in North Dakota in 1938.

Overall, these names reflect the trends of the time and the cultural influences of the era. While some of these names have fallen out of favor in recent years, they remain an important part of the state's history and the traditions of North Dakota families.

Most popular baby girl names in North dakota in 1938

According to the records of North Dakota in 1938, Mary was the most popular name for baby girls with 204 occurrences. Janice followed closely with 170 occurrences, while Shirley ranked third with 153 occurrences. Carol and Betty completed the top five with 135 and 122 occurrences, respectively. These names were the most commonly given to baby girls in North Dakota during that year.

  1. Mary

    204 baby girls born in North dakota (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.

  2. Janice

    170 baby girls born in North dakota (1938) named Janice

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

  3. Shirley

    153 baby girls born in North dakota (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.

  4. Carol

    135 baby girls born in North dakota (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".

  5. Betty

    122 baby girls born in North dakota (1938) named Betty

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

  6. Sharon

    119 baby girls born in North dakota (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.

  7. Patricia

    112 baby girls born in North dakota (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.

  8. Beverly

    106 baby girls born in North dakota (1938) named Beverly

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

  9. Barbara

    104 baby girls born in North dakota (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.

  10. Darlene

    96 baby girls born in North dakota (1938) 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.

  11. Donna

    86 baby girls born in North dakota (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.

  12. Margaret

    85 baby girls born in North dakota (1938) named Margaret

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

  13. Marlene

    82 baby girls born in North dakota (1938) named Marlene

    The name Marlene is a combination of the names Mary and Magdalene. It is of German origin and means "bitter" or "rebellious".

  14. Karen

    78 baby girls born in North dakota (1938) named Karen

    Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".

  15. Joyce

    69 baby girls born in North dakota (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.

  16. Arlene

    68 baby girls born in North dakota (1938) named Arlene

    The name Arlene is of uncertain origin and meaning. It is believed to be a variant of the name Arline, which may be a diminutive of the name Arlene, derived from the name Arline or Airlia, which means "pledge" or "oath" in Old German. Another theory suggests that it may be a variant of the name Eileen, which means "bright shining one" in Irish Gaelic. However, the exact meaning and origin of the name Arlene remain unknown.

  17. Delores

    67 baby girls born in North dakota (1938) named Delores

  18. Marilyn

    66 baby girls born in North dakota (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".

  19. Janet

    63 baby girls born in North dakota (1938) named Janet

    The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".

  20. Phyllis

    62 baby girls born in North dakota (1938) named Phyllis

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

Most popular baby boy names in North dakota in 1938

According to the records of North Dakota in 1938, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, James, Donald, Richard, and John. Robert was the most favored name with 280 occurrences, followed by James with 249, Donald with 231, Richard with 196, and John with 179. These names were the top choices for parents in North Dakota during that year.

  1. Robert

    280 baby boys born in North dakota (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.

  2. James

    249 baby boys born in North dakota (1938) named James

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

  3. Donald

    231 baby boys born in North dakota (1938) named Donald

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

  4. Richard

    196 baby boys born in North dakota (1938) named Richard

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

  5. John

    179 baby boys born in North dakota (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.

  6. Ronald

    124 baby boys born in North dakota (1938) named Ronald

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

  7. David

    121 baby boys born in North dakota (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.

  8. Gary

    118 baby boys born in North dakota (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.

  9. William

    107 baby boys born in North dakota (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.

  10. Kenneth

    106 baby boys born in North dakota (1938) named Kenneth

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

  11. Gerald

    106 baby boys born in North dakota (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.

  12. Larry

    95 baby boys born in North dakota (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.

  13. Dennis

    95 baby boys born in North dakota (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.

  14. Charles

    88 baby boys born in North dakota (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.

  15. Roger

    76 baby boys born in North dakota (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".

  16. Duane

    74 baby boys born in North dakota (1938) named Duane

  17. Thomas

    70 baby boys born in North dakota (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.

  18. Raymond

    66 baby boys born in North dakota (1938) named Raymond

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

  19. Dale

    62 baby boys born in North dakota (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.

  20. Paul

    58 baby boys born in North dakota (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.