Washington's most popular baby names in 1936

In the year 1936, the state of Washington saw a rise in popularity of traditional names for baby girls. Mary held the top spot for the most popular baby girl name, followed closely by Barbara and Shirley. These classic names were likely influenced by the popularity of Hollywood stars such as Barbara Stanwyck and Shirley Temple.

For baby boys, the top names were Robert, James, and John. These names have been popular for generations and continue to be popular today. It is interesting to note that these names were also popular during the Great Depression, a time when families were looking for stability and tradition.

Overall, the top baby names in Washington in 1936 reflect a desire for classic and traditional names. These names have stood the test of time and continue to be popular choices for parents today.

Most popular baby girl names in Washington in 1936

According to records from 1936, the most popular baby girl names in Washington were Mary, Barbara, Shirley, Patricia, and Carol. Mary was the most popular name with 351 babies given that name, followed closely by Barbara with 340, Shirley with 307, Patricia with 300, and Carol with 267. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and societal trends of the time.

Mary

351 baby girls born in Washington (1936) 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

340 baby girls born in Washington (1936) 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

307 baby girls born in Washington (1936) 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.
Patricia

300 baby girls born in Washington (1936) 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

267 baby girls born in Washington (1936) 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".
Donna
262 baby girls born in Washington (1936) 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
225 baby girls born in Washington (1936) 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".
Nancy
208 baby girls born in Washington (1936) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Betty
189 baby girls born in Washington (1936) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Joan
184 baby girls born in Washington (1936) 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.
Beverly
158 baby girls born in Washington (1936) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Sharon
156 baby girls born in Washington (1936) 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.
Janet
151 baby girls born in Washington (1936) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Margaret
138 baby girls born in Washington (1936) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Joyce
129 baby girls born in Washington (1936) 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.
Dorothy
125 baby girls born in Washington (1936) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Marlene
124 baby girls born in Washington (1936) named Marlene
The name Marlene is a combination of the names Mary and Magdalene. It is of German origin and means "bitter" or "rebellious".
Janice
124 baby girls born in Washington (1936) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Arlene
110 baby girls born in Washington (1936) 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.
Joanne
109 baby girls born in Washington (1936) named Joanne
The name Joanne is a variant of the name Joan, which is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a feminine name that has been popular in English-speaking countries since the 20th century.

Most popular baby boy names in Washington in 1936

According to records from 1936, the most popular baby boy names in Washington were Robert, James, John, Richard, and Donald. Robert was the most common name with 633 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 464 babies. John was the third most popular name with 455 babies, while Richard and Donald rounded out the top five with 445 and 368 babies given those names, respectively.

Robert

633 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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.
James

464 baby boys born in Washington (1936) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
John

455 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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

445 baby boys born in Washington (1936) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Donald

368 baby boys born in Washington (1936) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
William
351 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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.
Ronald
270 baby boys born in Washington (1936) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
David
268 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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.
Charles
222 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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.
Gary
210 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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.
Larry
206 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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.
Jack
173 baby boys born in Washington (1936) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
Kenneth
170 baby boys born in Washington (1936) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Jerry
170 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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.
George
169 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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.
Gerald
164 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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
141 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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.
Michael
118 baby boys born in Washington (1936) 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.
Don
110 baby boys born in Washington (1936) named Don
The name Don is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "dunn," which means "brown" or "dark-colored." It is also believed to be a shortened version of the name Donald, which means "ruler of the world" in Scottish Gaelic. The name Don has been used as a given name for boys since the 19th century.
Frank
110 baby boys born in Washington (1936) named Frank
The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".