Wisconsin's most popular baby names in 1931

In the year 1931, Wisconsin saw a surge in the popularity of traditional names for baby girls. Mary, a name that has been a favorite for centuries, topped the charts as the most popular name for baby girls in the state. Betty and Joan followed closely behind, with parents opting for classic and timeless names for their little princesses.

For baby boys, the trend was similar, with parents choosing strong and traditional names for their sons. Robert, Donald, and Richard were the top three most popular names for baby boys in Wisconsin in 1931. These names have stood the test of time and continue to be popular choices for parents today, a testament to their enduring appeal.

Most popular baby girl names in Wisconsin in 1931

In Wisconsin in 1931, the most popular baby girl name was Mary, with 1089 babies given that name. Following Mary were Betty with 739, Joan with 664, Patricia with 633, and Dorothy with 561. These were the top 5 baby girl names in Wisconsin in 1931.

Mary

1089 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Betty

739 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Joan

664 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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

633 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Dorothy

561 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Shirley
513 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Joyce
489 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Carol
484 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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".
Barbara
433 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Jean
398 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Donna
395 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Lois
394 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) named Lois
The name Lois is of Greek origin and means "better, more desirable".
Beverly
390 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Marilyn
386 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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".
Ruth
379 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) named Ruth
The name Ruth means "friend" or "companion" in Hebrew. It is also associated with the character Ruth in the Bible, who was known for her loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi.
Dolores
356 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Margaret
355 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Helen
346 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Nancy
333 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Doris
314 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1931) 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 Wisconsin in 1931

In Wisconsin during 1931, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, Donald, Richard, James, and John. Robert was the most popular name with 1747 babies given that name, followed by Donald with 1271, Richard with 1098, James with 1045, and John with 1042. These names were likely influenced by popular cultural figures and historical events of the time.

Robert

1747 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Donald

1271 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Richard

1098 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
James

1045 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
John

1042 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) 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
796 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Kenneth
500 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Gerald
466 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) 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
450 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) 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
419 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
George
381 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Eugene
368 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) named Eugene
The name Eugene means "well-born" or "noble" and has Greek origins. It was a popular name in the early 20th century but has since declined in popularity.
Edward
362 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) 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".
David
342 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.
Roger
317 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) 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".
Joseph
317 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Raymond
314 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Ronald
312 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Harold
271 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) named Harold
The name Harold is of Old English origin and means "ruler of the army". It was a popular name among the Anglo-Saxons and was borne by several kings of England.
Paul
230 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1931) 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.