Washington's most popular baby names in 1937

In the year 1937, the state of Washington saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, the top names were Barbara, Mary, and Patricia. Barbara, which means "stranger" or "foreigner," was the most popular name of the year. Mary, a timeless classic which means "bitter" or "beloved," came in second place. Patricia, which means "noble" or "patrician," rounded out the top three.

For baby boys, the top names were Robert, James, and Richard. Robert, which means "bright fame," was the most popular name for boys in Washington in 1937. James, which means "supplanter" or "one who follows," was a close second. Richard, which means "brave ruler," came in third place.

Overall, these names reflect the popular trends and values of the time period. Parents in Washington in 1937 favored traditional, classic names with strong meanings. Today, many of these names have stood the test of time and remain popular choices for parents around the world.

Most popular baby girl names in Washington in 1937

In Washington in 1937, the most popular baby girl names were Barbara, Mary, Patricia, Carol, and Donna. Barbara was the most popular name with 388 babies given that name, followed closely by Mary with 378 babies. Patricia was the third most popular name with 357 babies, while Carol was fourth with 320 babies. Donna rounded out the top five with 242 babies given that name.

Barbara

388 baby girls born in Washington (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.
Mary

378 baby girls born in Washington (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.
Patricia

357 baby girls born in Washington (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.
Carol

320 baby girls born in Washington (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".
Donna

242 baby girls born in Washington (1937) 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.
Shirley
242 baby girls born in Washington (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.
Sharon
226 baby girls born in Washington (1937) 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.
Nancy
211 baby girls born in Washington (1937) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Janet
194 baby girls born in Washington (1937) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Betty
189 baby girls born in Washington (1937) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Joan
188 baby girls born in Washington (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.
Marilyn
186 baby girls born in Washington (1937) 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".
Janice
170 baby girls born in Washington (1937) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Beverly
144 baby girls born in Washington (1937) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Marlene
135 baby girls born in Washington (1937) named Marlene
The name Marlene is a combination of the names Mary and Magdalene. It is of German origin and means "bitter" or "rebellious".
Darlene
135 baby girls born in Washington (1937) 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.
Margaret
133 baby girls born in Washington (1937) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Sandra
130 baby girls born in Washington (1937) 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.
Dorothy
129 baby girls born in Washington (1937) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Joyce
120 baby girls born in Washington (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.

Most popular baby boy names in Washington in 1937

In Washington, 1937, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, James, Richard, John, and Donald. Robert was the most common name with 660 babies given that name, followed by James with 507, Richard with 470, John with 464, and Donald with 379. These names were likely influenced by popular cultural figures and family traditions at the time.

Robert

660 baby boys born in Washington (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.
James

507 baby boys born in Washington (1937) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

470 baby boys born in Washington (1937) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
John

464 baby boys born in Washington (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.
William

379 baby boys born in Washington (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.
Donald
379 baby boys born in Washington (1937) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
David
315 baby boys born in Washington (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.
Ronald
293 baby boys born in Washington (1937) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Gary
270 baby boys born in Washington (1937) 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.
Charles
248 baby boys born in Washington (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.
Larry
234 baby boys born in Washington (1937) 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
179 baby boys born in Washington (1937) 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.
Kenneth
176 baby boys born in Washington (1937) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Gerald
176 baby boys born in Washington (1937) 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.
George
173 baby boys born in Washington (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.
Thomas
162 baby boys born in Washington (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.
Jack
159 baby boys born in Washington (1937) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
Michael
151 baby boys born in Washington (1937) 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.
Edward
142 baby boys born in Washington (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".
Frank
119 baby boys born in Washington (1937) named Frank
The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".