Decade dossier

1930s baby names

The names that defined the 1930s: Robert and Mary led the decade, but the full roster tells a richer story.

The 1930s were defined by names that now read as cultural artifacts. Robert and Mary dominated the decade — names that crossed class lines and regional divides. Some have become vintage revival candidates; others remain frozen in time. Browse the full rankings below to see which names defined the 1930s classroom.

Girls

#1Mary573,000
#2Betty300,409
#3Barbara296,420
#4Shirley229,380
#5Patricia220,582
#6Dorothy210,415
#7Joan173,439
#8Margaret157,369
#9Nancy142,488
#10Helen140,426
#11Carol117,731
#12Joyce115,506
#13Doris110,658
#14Ruth109,204
#15Virginia103,089
#16Marilyn98,531
#17Elizabeth96,480
#18Jean94,189
#19Frances92,117
#20Beverly80,846
#21Lois80,713
#22Alice78,968
#23Donna78,846
#24Martha77,697
#25Dolores77,139

Boys

#1Robert590,810
#2James547,479
#3John487,950
#4William416,730
#5Richard330,502
#6Charles303,218
#7Donald283,718
#8George192,289
#9Thomas183,878
#10Joseph180,566
#11David164,701
#12Edward147,849
#13Ronald140,332
#14Paul125,774
#15Kenneth125,111
#16Frank108,090
#17Raymond99,585
#18Jack96,396
#19Harold95,467
#20Billy88,341
#21Gerald82,821
#22Walter80,908
#23Jerry80,690
#24Joe71,470
#25Eugene70,938