These Vintage Baby Names From the 1930s Are Due for a Comeback
It's the 1930s: The Great Depression was in full force, jazz and swing music was taking the youth by storm and the Silent Generation was born, rocketing these baby names to the top of the charts. For anyone in the process of choosing a baby name, it helps to remember that name trends are cyclical, and the 1930s are a great decade to look back to for inspiration. (The 1920s names have some beautiful choices, too.)
The Social Security Administration (SSA) keeps a ranked list of the most popular baby names going back to the year 1879. Here are the SSA's most popular names of the 1930s, along with where those same names rank today. Some names — mostly the traditional boy names — have stuck around, while others have gone out of favor and are due for a comeback.
Mary
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 1
SSA ranking today: 135
Meaning: "drop of the sea," "bitterness," or "beloved"
To say the name Mary is a powerhouse is an understatement: The Social Security Administration has tracked the top 5 baby names of every year going back to 1924, and Mary was somewhere in there every year all the way up to 1967. In that time, it landed in the top spot 32 times, the most of any girl name. And yet today, it's sitting in that sweet spot just outside the 100 most popular names. Perhaps those 1930s Marys were inspired by Mary Astor, who acted in a whopping 40+ movies throughout the '30s, and went on to star in The Maltese Falcon in 1941.
Robert
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 1
SSA ranking today: 89
Meaning:
"bright fame"
Staying true to its meaning of "bright fame," Robert is a name that can be traced all the way back to kings in the 900s (Robert I of France). And yet, nothing about Robert feels stuffy or old-fashioned. It could be because there are always new celebrities to reinvigorate the name. In the '30s, that was done by men like Robert Montgomery, an actor who later enlisted to serve his country in World War II and became a war hero after driving ambulances at Dunkirk.
Betty
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 2
SSA ranking today: unranked
Meaning: "pledged to God"
Betty could be a nickname for Elizabeth, but in the 1930s, it stood all on its own. Thirties celebs from Betty Grable, once the highest-paid woman in America, to cartoon star Betty Boop imbue this name with sultry glamor. And yet, the name Betty currently does not rank on the SSA list of the top 1000 baby names (Elizabeth is No. 15), so it's a good choice for those looking for a unique and uncommon name.
James
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 2
SSA ranking today: 4
Meaning: "supplanter"
James is a name that is just as popular today as it was in the 1930s — a good choice for those looking for a classic name that stands the test of time. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington star James Stewart also went by Jimmy, so it's a name that offers some flexibility when it comes to nicknames. Interestingly, the name Semaj — or James spelled backwards — is a name flagged by the SSA as the sixth fastest-rising name in terms of popularity today.
Barbara
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 3
SSA ranking today: 877
Meaning: "foreigner"
After a slow and steady decline starting in the '50s and '60s, could Barbara be ready for big comeback? The SSA also flagged this one as a fast up-and-comer, jumping 87 places in rank in the last year. And with namesakes like Barbara Stanwyck, who got an Oscar nomination for her performance of Stella Dallas in 1937, it's easy to see why it's climbing again.
John
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 3
SSA ranking today: 26
Meaning: "God is gracious"
Great American novelist John Steinbeck, Western director John Ford and star John Wayne, even notorious bank robber John Dillinger — the 1930s were awash in famous men named John. Today, John, Johnny, Jonathan and even Johnathan are all on the SSA list of the most popular 1,000 names, so its popularity endures.
Shirley
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 4
SSA ranking today: unranked
Meaning: "bright meadow"
Shirley Temple, the actress and dancer who lifted the nation's mood during the Great Depression, vaulted this name to the top of the charts in the 1930s. And yet today Shirley has fallen off the SSA list entirely, which means it's up for grabs for anyone who wants to reclaim it.
William
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 4
SSA ranking today: 10
Meaning: "resolute protector"
Right now, the shortened Liam has overtaken the more classic William, but William is still hanging in the top 10. Looking back, though, William — as embodied by novelist William Faulkner, who published both As I Lay Dying and Light in August in the '30s — has always had the upper hand, landing somewhere in the top 5 names for 37 years since 1974. (Liam has only been in the top 5 a total of 11 times.)
Patricia
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 5
SSA ranking today: unranked
Meaning: "noble"
There were plenty of women named Patricia on stage and screen in the 1930s, including Patricia Huston, Patricia Morison and 1939 Miss America winner Patricia Donnelly, but the woman who perhaps embodied the noble meaning of the name was Princess Patricia of Connaught, granddaughter of Queen Victoria. While Patrick has remained popular — it's currently No. 224 on the SSA list — Patricia has fallen off entirely, turning it into a surprisingly uncommon name.
Richard
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 5
SSA ranking today: 221
Meaning: "strong ruler"
Though the name evokes a king who sits on a throne, men name Richard are often considered to be paragons of bravery, from Richard the Lionheart in England to Richard E. Byrd, an explorer who discovered Mount Sidley in Antarctica. Richard is another good choice for parents who want options, because it comes with a wealth of nicknames built in, like Rick, Richie and Dick.
Dorothy
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 6
SSA ranking today: 467
Meaning: "gift of God"
There's no question who the most famous Dorothy of the 1930s was: Dorothy Gale of The Wizard of Oz, which came out in 1939. And before her, Dorothy Parker was making waves with her writing, earning herself an Academy Award nomination for the screenplay for A Star Is Born in 1938. (That version of A Star Is Born starred Janet Gaynor; Judy Garland would revive the role later in 1954.) Today, Dorothy — sitting in the middle of the pack in terms of popularity — is slowly making its way up the charts, having jumped 22 places in rank last year.
Charles
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 6
SSA ranking today: 54
Meaning: "free man"
In the 1930s, the most famous man in the world was named Charles: Charles Lindbergh. The 1934 kidnapping of his first-born son was called the "Crime of the Century" and captivated the public for the decade and beyond. But he wasn't the only Charles making headlines: In 1936 an actor named Charlie Chaplain released his cinematic masterpiece, Modern Times, considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.
Joan
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 7
SSA ranking today: unranked
Meaning: "God is gracious"
Joan Crawford was ubiquitous on the silver screen in the 1930s; The MGM mainstay starred in four films in 1931 alone, and around that time she teamed up with co-star Clark Gable three times. No wonder the name Joan was on everyone's mind. It's not really on anyone's lips anymore, having fallen off the SSA list entirely, so it's ready for someone to give it a new turn in the spotlight.
Donald
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 7
SSA ranking today: 657
Meaning: "great chief"
Today, when people think of the name Donald, they probably picture our current president, Donald Trump. But in the 1930s, the name belonged to Donald Duck, who was introduced to the world in the short "The Wise Little Hen" in 1934. Donald is once again moving up in the world, having jumped 22 places in rank on the SSA list of most popular names.
Margaret
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 8
SSA ranking today: 132
Meaning: "pearl"
Call them Midge, Maggie or even Peggy, women named Margaret definitely made their mark on the 1930s. Take, for instance, Margaret Bourke-White, a trailblazing female photojournalist who chronicled the Great Depression and Soviet Russia. Other Margarets of the era include Margaret Fishback, the highest-paid female advertising copywriter in her day; Margaret Lockwood, star of The Lady Vanishes and Princess Margaret, who was born in 1930.
George
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 8
SSA ranking today: 136
Meaning: "farmer"
George may mean "farmer," but one of the most famous Georges of the 1930s was a composer: George Gershwin, who released the opera Porgy and Bess in 1935. For something a little more upbeat, his "I Got Rhythm" was also a hit in the '30s. The name George saw a slight uptick in the last year, advancing just six places, but that could be a sign that there are more Georges to come.
Nancy
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 9
SSA ranking today: 942
Meaning: "grace" or "pure"
Nancy is just hanging it at the very bottom of the SSA 1,000, but the name is on its way back up: Even though it's ranked at 942, it's 51 place higher than it was the year before. And with role models like Nancy Mitford, writer and chronicler of upper-class life in England in the '30s, why wouldn't the name circle back arund?
Thomas
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 9
SSA ranking today: 41
Meaning: "twin"
Thomas is a name for trailblazers, be it Thomas Alva Edison, who died in the 1930s, or radio broadcaster Lowell Thomas, who had the first national nightly news program (and also narrated the newsreels that played in cinemas). Since the name has been decreasing in popularity since the '30s before bottoming out at No. 63 in 2011 and 2012, we'd say it's more on its way out than in — but then again, we wouldn't want anyone to call us a doubting Thomas.
Helen
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 9
SSA ranking today: 397
Meaning: "torch" or "shining light"
Acting powerhouse Helen Hayes was the second person ever to EGOT, starting off with an Academy Award for 1931's The Sin of Madelon Claudet. If that's not an embodiment of the meaning behind Helen — which is "shining light" — I don't know what is. Helens throughout history have also been known for their beauty, like Helen of Troy, whose charm is said to have started the Trojan War.
Joseph
SSA ranking in the 1930s: 10
SSA ranking today: 29
Meaning: "God adds"
Joseph Cotten was a Broadway star in the 1930s before going on to work with Orson Welles in movies like Citizen Kane and The Magnificent Ambersons. And just as he's an adaptable actor, Joseph is a versatile name, since it can be shortened to Joe or Joey — two name that are also on the SSA 1,000 (at No. 908 and No. 909, respectively).
Feeling stuck looking for baby-name inspiration?
Check out these Good Housekeeping lists:
Nature Baby Names | Disney Baby Names | Indian/Hindu Boy Names | Indian/Hindu Girl Names | Italian Baby Names | Japanese Baby Names | French Baby Names | Hispanic Boy Names | Hispanic Girl Names | Irish Boy Names | Irish Girl Names | Long Names for Boys | Long Names for Girls | Short Names for Boys | Short Names for Girls | Gender-Neutral Names
You Might Also Like
