Most Popular Baby Names Of The 1930s

The top 100 girls’ and boys’ names across 1930–1939. Explore their meanings, histories, and popularity today.

Name & meaning	Babies 2025 · rank	5-year rank movement	Peak year
Russell Little red one	944#345	Up 25 rank positions in five years	1960
Irene Peace	442#651	Down 31 rank positions in five years	1921
Wayne Wagon maker	422#655	Up 120 rank positions in five years	1947
Howard Several surname origins: Hughard, Hávarðr, or ewe herder	226#1,004	Up 40 rank positions in five years	1921
Philip Friend of horses	568#528	Down 75 rank positions in five years	1953
Fred Peaceful ruler in the Frederick family; elf counsel in the Alfred family	80#1,936	Down 134 rank positions in five years	1924
Florence Flowering, flourishing	796#391	Up 372 rank positions in five years	1918
Eleanor From Occitan Alienòr; deeper meaning disputed	7,649#12	Up 10 rank positions in five years	1920
Louise Famous in battle, through Louis	579#516	Up 165 rank positions in five years	1921
Lois Possibly better or more desirable in Greek; Galician form of Louis	124#1,670	Up 176 rank positions in five years	1927
Josephine He will add, through Joseph	4,126#53	Up 34 rank positions in five years	1918
Bonnie Fine, beautiful	785#396	Up 210 rank positions in five years	1947
Anne Grace in the Anna family; eagle in the Frisian masculine name	472#619	Up 7 rank positions in five years	1959
Phyllis Foliage	7#12,869	Down 6,846 rank positions in five years	1947
Johnny Yahweh is gracious, through John	682#458	Down 70 rank positions in five years	1947
Theodore Gift of God	13,355#4	Up 19 rank positions in five years	2025
Martin Of Mars	1,009#335	Down 42 rank positions in five years	1963
Bobby Bright fame, through Robert	195#1,097	Down 247 rank positions in five years	1937
Audrey Noble strength	2,919#86	Down 26 rank positions in five years	2015
Clarence From the town of Clare	117#1,500	Down 173 rank positions in five years	1921
Hazel Hazel tree; light brown colour	6,318#21	Up 10 rank positions in five years	1918
Ernest Serious, earnest; older Germanic vigor or strife	213#1,040	Down 31 rank positions in five years	1921
Stanley Stone clearing	278#863	Down 128 rank positions in five years	1954
Clara Clear; bright; famous	3,601#63	Up 40 rank positions in five years	1918
Edna Pleasure, delight; also an English form of Eithne	72#2,463	Down 378 rank positions in five years	1918
Leonard Brave lion	438#637	Down 2 rank positions in five years	1921
Peggy Pearl, through Margaret	12#8,738	Down 2,718 rank positions in five years	1958
Francis Frenchman	769#420	Up 62 rank positions in five years	1918
Earl Nobleman, warrior; from the title earl	63#2,236	Down 161 rank positions in five years	1921
Jimmy Traditionally supplanter, through James	291#847	Down 120 rank positions in five years	1947
Rita Pearl in the Margaret family; also a South Asian name	174#1,287	Down 53 rank positions in five years	1949
Wanda Possibly a Wend; Polish legendary name	20#6,095	Up 519 rank positions in five years	1957
Ethel Noble	34#4,210	Up 721 rank positions in five years	1918
Dale Valley	129#1,410	Down 54 rank positions in five years	1958
Norma Possibly rule or pattern; also a feminine form of Norman	95#2,012	Up 360 rank positions in five years	1931
Ellen Possibly torch or moon (Helen); also an Eleonora familiar form	230#1,062	Down 253 rank positions in five years	1951
Marjorie Pearl, through Margery	246#1,019	Up 117 rank positions in five years	1921
Allen Uncertain; possibly little rock or noble, through Alan	507#578	Down 115 rank positions in five years	1951
Esther Possibly star in Persian or a derivative of Ishtar	2,277#119	Up 29 rank positions in five years	1918
Edith Wealth or fortune + battle	595#499	Down 27 rank positions in five years	1918
Gladys Possibly country; alternatively a Welsh form of Claudia	49#3,224	Down 931 rank positions in five years	1920
Frederick Peaceful ruler	728#435	Up 49 rank positions in five years	1951
Elaine Possibly torch or moon, through Helen	1,007#305	Up 214 rank positions in five years	1947
Leo Lion	8,173#19	Up 17 rank positions in five years	2022
Marvin Famous friend (Old English); Welsh Merfyn meaning uncertain	385#699	Down 92 rank positions in five years	1928
Norman Northman	169#1,200	Down 72 rank positions in five years	1928
Glenn Valley	124#1,443	Down 42 rank positions in five years	1962
Edwin Wealth or fortune + friend	798#398	Down 54 rank positions in five years	1922
Sylvia Forest	1,017#300	Up 202 rank positions in five years	1937
Melvin Bad settlement, through Melville	243#959	Down 207 rank positions in five years	1928

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Year by year in the 1930s

1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939

This list includes the top 100 girls’ and boys’ names by total use across 1930–1939. Table birth counts and ranks show 2025, and rank movement covers the latest five years. Search, filters, and sorting stay within this decade’s name list.

Counts are based on U.S. births and are tracked separately for girls and boys. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year aren’t published for that year, so totals here are a floor — the shortfall is largest in the sparse early years.