Wisconsin's most popular baby names in 1939

In the year 1939, the state of Wisconsin saw a surge of newborns with some of the most popular names of the time. The top baby girl names were Mary, Judith, and Patricia, while the top baby boy names were Robert, James, and Richard.

Mary, a timeless classic, held the top spot for baby girl names in Wisconsin in 1939. Judith and Patricia followed closely behind, both names that were gaining popularity during that time. For baby boys, Robert was the most popular name, followed by James and Richard, both of which were also trending names in the late 1930s. These names were not only popular in Wisconsin but across the United States, reflecting the cultural and social trends of the era.

Most popular baby girl names in Wisconsin in 1939

In Wisconsin, 1939, Mary was the most popular baby girl name with 1288 occurrences. Judith came in second with 961 occurrences, followed by Patricia with 903, Barbara with 881, and Carol with 845 occurrences. These were the top five most popular baby girl names in Wisconsin in 1939.

Mary

1288 baby girls born in Wisconsin (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.
Judith

961 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1939) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Patricia

903 baby girls born in Wisconsin (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.
Barbara

881 baby girls born in Wisconsin (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.
Carol

845 baby girls born in Wisconsin (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".
Nancy
701 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1939) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Joan
501 baby girls born in Wisconsin (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.
Donna
474 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1939) 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.
Karen
470 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1939) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Shirley
455 baby girls born in Wisconsin (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.
Sharon
440 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1939) 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.
Sandra
431 baby girls born in Wisconsin (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.
Janet
420 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1939) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Janice
339 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1939) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Betty
328 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1939) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Joyce
322 baby girls born in Wisconsin (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
317 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1939) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Marilyn
310 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1939) 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".
Jean
289 baby girls born in Wisconsin (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.
Ruth
276 baby girls born in Wisconsin (1939) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Wisconsin in 1939

In Wisconsin, 1939, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, James, Richard, John, and David. Robert was the most popular name with 1571 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 1489 babies. Richard came in third with 1283 babies, while John and David rounded out the top five with 1155 and 899 babies respectively.

Robert

1571 baby boys born in Wisconsin (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.
James

1489 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

1283 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
John

1155 baby boys born in Wisconsin (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.
David

899 baby boys born in Wisconsin (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.
Thomas
818 baby boys born in Wisconsin (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.
Donald
810 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
William
806 baby boys born in Wisconsin (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.
Ronald
797 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Gerald
569 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) 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.
Kenneth
536 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Roger
441 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) 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".
Charles
403 baby boys born in Wisconsin (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.
Dennis
366 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) 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.
Gary
348 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) 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.
Michael
340 baby boys born in Wisconsin (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.
Larry
309 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) 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.
Paul
306 baby boys born in Wisconsin (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.
Joseph
291 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Wayne
286 baby boys born in Wisconsin (1939) named Wayne
The name Wayne means "wagon maker" or "wagon driver". It has Old English origins and was originally a surname before becoming a first name.