Utah's most popular baby names in 1938

In the year 1938, the state of Utah saw a surge in the popularity of some timeless baby names. For baby girls, Carol was the most popular name, followed closely by Mary and Barbara. These names have remained popular over the years and are still commonly used today.

For baby boys, Robert was the top name in 1938, followed by Richard and John. These classic names have stood the test of time and continue to be popular choices for parents in Utah and beyond. It's interesting to note that many of these names have biblical origins, reflecting the strong religious influence in the state of Utah.

Most popular baby girl names in Utah in 1938

In Utah, 1938, the most popular baby girl names were Carol, Mary, Barbara, Karen, and Sharon. Carol was the most popular with 167 newborns given that name, followed closely by Mary with 165. Barbara, Karen, and Sharon rounded out the top five with 129, 117, and 115 newborns given those names, respectively.

Carol

167 baby girls born in Utah (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".
Mary

165 baby girls born in Utah (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

129 baby girls born in Utah (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.
Karen

117 baby girls born in Utah (1938) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Sharon

115 baby girls born in Utah (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
94 baby girls born in Utah (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.
Marilyn
88 baby girls born in Utah (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".
Joan
81 baby girls born in Utah (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
79 baby girls born in Utah (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.
Janet
74 baby girls born in Utah (1938) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Connie
73 baby girls born in Utah (1938) named Connie
The name Connie is a diminutive form of the name Constance, which is derived from the Latin word "constantia" meaning "steadfastness" or "constancy". The name Connie is often used as a standalone name and can also be a nickname for other names such as Constance, Constanza, or Conrad.
Shirley
73 baby girls born in Utah (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.
Sandra
72 baby girls born in Utah (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.
Janice
68 baby girls born in Utah (1938) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Deanna
67 baby girls born in Utah (1938) named Deanna
The name Deanna is a variant of the name Diana, which is derived from the Roman goddess of the moon and hunting. The name Deanna is of Latin origin and means "divine" or "heavenly". It is a feminine name commonly given to girls.
Betty
64 baby girls born in Utah (1938) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Joyce
59 baby girls born in Utah (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.
Nancy
58 baby girls born in Utah (1938) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Helen
51 baby girls born in Utah (1938) 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.
Margaret
50 baby girls born in Utah (1938) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".

Most popular baby boy names in Utah in 1938

In 1938, the most popular baby boy names in Utah were Robert, Richard, John, David, and James. Robert was the most popular name with 272 babies given that name, followed by Richard with 207, John with 193, David with 189, and James with 181. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and traditional family names.

Robert

272 baby boys born in Utah (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

207 baby boys born in Utah (1938) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
John

193 baby boys born in Utah (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.
David

189 baby boys born in Utah (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.
James

181 baby boys born in Utah (1938) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Gary
168 baby boys born in Utah (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
141 baby boys born in Utah (1938) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
William
130 baby boys born in Utah (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.
Larry
129 baby boys born in Utah (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.
Jerry
87 baby boys born in Utah (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.
Paul
85 baby boys born in Utah (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.
Charles
80 baby boys born in Utah (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
76 baby boys born in Utah (1938) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Dennis
65 baby boys born in Utah (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.
Jack
61 baby boys born in Utah (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
61 baby boys born in Utah (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.
Joseph
61 baby boys born in Utah (1938) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Gerald
60 baby boys born in Utah (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.
Lynn
58 baby boys born in Utah (1938) named Lynn
The name Lynn is of English origin and is derived from the Welsh word "llyn" which means "lake". It is also a short form of the name Linda, which means "beautiful" in Spanish. Lynn is a unisex name and has been in use since the 19th century. People with this name are said to be creative, intuitive, and have a strong desire for independence.
Donald
58 baby boys born in Utah (1938) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".