Rhode island's most popular baby names in 1939

In the year 1939, the state of Rhode Island saw a surge in baby girl names like Barbara, Mary, and Joan. These names were popular not just in Rhode Island but across the United States as well. Barbara, meaning "stranger" or "foreigner," was the most popular name for baby girls in Rhode Island that year. Mary, meaning "bitter," was a close second, followed by Joan, meaning "God is gracious."

For baby boys, the top names in Rhode Island were Robert, John, and Richard. Robert, meaning "bright fame," was the most popular name for baby boys in Rhode Island in 1939. John, meaning "God is gracious," was a close second, followed by Richard, meaning "brave ruler." These names were also popular across the United States during that time.

Overall, the most popular baby names in Rhode Island in 1939 were classic and traditional. They were meaningful and had a long history of use, making them timeless choices for parents who wanted to give their children strong and enduring names.

Most popular baby girl names in Rhode island in 1939

Based on the data from Rhode Island in 1939, the most popular baby girl names were Barbara with 225 occurrences, followed by Mary with 180, Joan with 161, Patricia with 157, and Carol with 134. These names were likely influenced by cultural and societal trends of the time, and may have been popular choices for parents seeking traditional and timeless names for their daughters.

Barbara

225 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Mary

180 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Joan

161 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Patricia

157 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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

134 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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".
Judith
105 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Nancy
95 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Sandra
77 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Ann
70 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Elaine
68 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) named Elaine
The name Elaine means "bright, shining light" or "torch" and is of French origin. It is derived from the Old French name Hélène, which is from the Greek name Helene, meaning "torch" or "corposant".
Joyce
68 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Beverly
67 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Elizabeth
66 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Dorothy
66 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Carolyn
64 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Shirley
61 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Margaret
60 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Jean
58 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Claire
54 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Marie
54 baby girls born in Rhode island (1939) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Rhode island in 1939

In Rhode Island, 1939, the most popular baby boy name was Robert, with 444 babies given that name. John was the second most popular name, with 346 babies named John. Richard was the third most popular name, with 276 babies named Richard. William and Joseph rounded out the top five, with 218 and 205 babies given those names, respectively.

Robert

444 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) 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

346 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) 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

276 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
William

218 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Joseph

205 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
James
193 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Edward
138 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) 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".
Raymond
127 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
David
123 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Donald
118 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Ronald
117 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
George
115 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) 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
104 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) 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
100 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) 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
96 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) 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.
Anthony
80 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Peter
67 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) named Peter
The name Peter is derived from the Greek name Petros, meaning "rock" or "stone". It is a common name in many cultures and languages, and is often associated with qualities such as strength, stability, and steadfastness.
Kenneth
67 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Michael
65 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) named Michael
The name Michael means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that is often associated with the archangel Michael, who is considered to be a protector and warrior in many religious traditions. The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.
Arthur
60 baby boys born in Rhode island (1939) 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.