Rhode island's most popular baby names in 1937

In the year 1937, the state of Rhode Island saw a surge in popularity for classic baby names. The top baby girl names of the year were Barbara, Joan, and Mary. These names have been popular for generations and continue to be a favorite among parents today. Barbara, a Greek name meaning "foreign," was the most popular baby girl name in Rhode Island that year.

For baby boys, the names Robert, John, and William were the most popular in 1937. Robert, a German name meaning "bright fame," was the top pick for parents. John, a Hebrew name meaning "God is gracious," and William, an English name meaning "resolute protector," were also popular choices among Rhode Island parents.

Overall, the baby names of 1937 in Rhode Island reflect a love for traditional and timeless names that have stood the test of time. These names continue to be popular today, proving that classic names never go out of style.

Most popular baby girl names in Rhode island in 1937

In 1937, the most popular baby girl names in Rhode Island were Barbara with 258 occurrences, followed by Joan with 163 occurrences, and Mary and Patricia tied with 143 occurrences each. The fifth most popular name was Carol with 115 occurrences.

  1. Barbara

    258 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.

  2. Joan

    163 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.

  3. Patricia

    143 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.

  4. Mary

    143 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.

  5. Carol

    115 baby girls born in Rhode island (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".

  6. Margaret

    91 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) named Margaret

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

  7. Shirley

    82 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.

  8. Marie

    81 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) 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.

  9. Ann

    80 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) 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.

  10. Dorothy

    78 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) named Dorothy

    The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".

  11. Nancy

    77 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) named Nancy

    The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".

  12. Elizabeth

    76 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) 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.

  13. Jean

    72 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.

  14. Beverly

    68 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) named Beverly

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

  15. Helen

    63 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) 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.

  16. Dolores

    60 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) named Dolores

    The name Dolores is of Spanish origin and means "sorrows" or "pains". It is derived from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de los Dolores, which translates to "Our Lady of Sorrows". The name was popularized in the 20th century by the famous Mexican actress Dolores del Río.

  17. Pauline

    60 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) named Pauline

    The name Pauline is a feminine name of French origin. It is the feminine form of the name Paul, which means "small" or "humble" in Latin. The name Pauline is often associated with qualities such as intelligence, creativity, and a strong will. It is a classic name that has been popular for centuries and is still widely used today.

  18. Joyce

    57 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.

  19. Frances

    56 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) named Frances

    Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man" or "from France".

  20. Doris

    52 baby girls born in Rhode island (1937) named Doris

    The name Doris means "gift of the ocean" or "from the sea" in Greek. It was also the name of a sea nymph in Greek mythology.

Most popular baby boy names in Rhode island in 1937

In Rhode Island in 1937, the most popular baby boy name was Robert, with 496 babies given that name. John came in second with 302 babies, followed by William with 220 babies. Richard and Joseph rounded out the top five with 216 and 195 babies given those names, respectively.

  1. Robert

    496 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.

  2. John

    302 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.

  3. William

    220 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.

  4. Richard

    216 baby boys born in Rhode island (1937) named Richard

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

  5. Joseph

    195 baby boys born in Rhode island (1937) named Joseph

    The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".

  6. James

    159 baby boys born in Rhode island (1937) named James

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

  7. Edward

    156 baby boys born in Rhode island (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".

  8. Donald

    145 baby boys born in Rhode island (1937) named Donald

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

  9. David

    120 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.

  10. George

    119 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.

  11. Raymond

    109 baby boys born in Rhode island (1937) named Raymond

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

  12. Charles

    106 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.

  13. Paul

    92 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.

  14. Ronald

    90 baby boys born in Rhode island (1937) named Ronald

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

  15. Anthony

    89 baby boys born in Rhode island (1937) named Anthony

    The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".

  16. Thomas

    83 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.

  17. Roger

    70 baby boys born in Rhode island (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".

  18. Arthur

    68 baby boys born in Rhode island (1937) 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.

  19. Frank

    66 baby boys born in Rhode island (1937) named Frank

    The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".

  20. Albert

    61 baby boys born in Rhode island (1937) named Albert

    The name Albert is of Germanic origin and means "noble and bright".