US first names, 1930–1939
Random names from the 1930s
First names on this page come from Social Security Administration records of U.S. births in the 1930s. That period holds 10,662,744 girls across 8,816 distinct names and 10,566,388 boys across 6,841 distinct names. The three most common names were for girls: Mary, Betty, Barbara; for boys: Robert, James, John. Names are picked in proportion to how often they were given, and last names come from the 2000 U.S. Census, so the mix looks like real American full names.
More options — middle names, no repeats, realism, seed
1 gives real frequencies. 0 makes every name equally likely.
What the data says
- About 1 in 4 girls born in the 1930s got one of just 10 names. Those 10 names hold 22.9% of all recorded girls.
- Names for girls behave like 343 equally common names out of 8,816 in use (effective number of names).
- The average girl's name has 5.8 letters.
- About 1 in 3 boys born in the 1930s got one of just 10 names. Those 10 names hold 33.3% of all recorded boys.
- Names for boys behave like 217 equally common names out of 6,841 in use (effective number of names).
- The average boy's name has 5.7 letters.
- Fastest riser for girls: Shelby, from 95 births in 1920 to 1929 to 6,077 in 1930 to 1939.
- Biggest fall for girls: Stephania, from 340 births in 1920 to 1929 to 33 in 1930 to 1939.
- Fastest riser for boys: Gary, from 1,515 births in 1920 to 1929 to 43,596 in 1930 to 1939.
- Biggest fall for boys: Coolidge, from 328 births in 1920 to 1929 to 6 in 1930 to 1939.
Girls: Top 20 names
| # | Name | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mary | 573,000 | 5.37% |
| 2 | Betty | 300,409 | 2.82% |
| 3 | Barbara | 296,420 | 2.78% |
| 4 | Shirley | 229,380 | 2.15% |
| 5 | Patricia | 220,582 | 2.07% |
| 6 | Dorothy | 210,415 | 1.97% |
| 7 | Joan | 173,439 | 1.63% |
| 8 | Margaret | 157,369 | 1.48% |
| 9 | Nancy | 142,488 | 1.34% |
| 10 | Helen | 140,426 | 1.32% |
| 11 | Carol | 117,731 | 1.10% |
| 12 | Joyce | 115,506 | 1.08% |
| 13 | Doris | 110,658 | 1.04% |
| 14 | Ruth | 109,204 | 1.02% |
| 15 | Virginia | 103,089 | 0.97% |
| 16 | Marilyn | 98,531 | 0.92% |
| 17 | Elizabeth | 96,480 | 0.90% |
| 18 | Jean | 94,189 | 0.88% |
| 19 | Frances | 92,117 | 0.86% |
| 20 | Beverly | 80,846 | 0.76% |
Boys: Top 20 names
| # | Name | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert | 590,810 | 5.59% |
| 2 | James | 547,479 | 5.18% |
| 3 | John | 487,950 | 4.62% |
| 4 | William | 416,730 | 3.94% |
| 5 | Richard | 330,502 | 3.13% |
| 6 | Charles | 303,218 | 2.87% |
| 7 | Donald | 283,718 | 2.69% |
| 8 | George | 192,289 | 1.82% |
| 9 | Thomas | 183,878 | 1.74% |
| 10 | Joseph | 180,566 | 1.71% |
| 11 | David | 164,701 | 1.56% |
| 12 | Edward | 147,849 | 1.40% |
| 13 | Ronald | 140,332 | 1.33% |
| 14 | Paul | 125,774 | 1.19% |
| 15 | Kenneth | 125,111 | 1.18% |
| 16 | Frank | 108,090 | 1.02% |
| 17 | Raymond | 99,585 | 0.94% |
| 18 | Jack | 96,396 | 0.91% |
| 19 | Harold | 95,467 | 0.90% |
| 20 | Billy | 88,341 | 0.84% |
Girls: 1920 to 1929 → 1930 to 1939
Rising fastest
- Shelby 95 → 6,077
- Marlene 774 → 37,355
- Deanna 127 → 5,840
- Saundra 31 → 1,419
- Sharron 32 → 1,244
Falling fastest
- Stephania 340 → 33
- Leocadia 335 → 48
- Eris 524 → 80
- Pearle 523 → 103
- Yetta 919 → 181
Boys: 1920 to 1929 → 1930 to 1939
Rising fastest
- Gary 1,515 → 43,596
- Ronnie 350 → 8,709
- Ron 36 → 810
- Darryl 124 → 1,558
- Jon 540 → 6,364
Falling fastest
- Coolidge 328 → 6
- Harding 695 → 44
- Chas 421 → 79
- Meyer 1,033 → 197
- Hyman 1,671 → 331
Questions and answers
What was the most common girl's name in the 1930s?
Mary. 573,000 girls received it, 5.37% of all recorded girls born in the 1930s.
What was the most common boy's name in the 1930s?
Robert. 590,810 boys received it, 5.59% of all recorded boys born in the 1930s.
How concentrated are names in the 1930s?
Among girls the 10 most common names cover 22.9% of births; among boys 33.3%. In this period boys' names were the more concentrated set.
Which names grew fastest compared with 1920 to 1929?
Among names with at least 300 births in 1930 to 1939, the biggest gains were for girls, Shelby (95 births in 1920 to 1929, 6,077 in 1930 to 1939); for boys, Gary (1,515 births in 1920 to 1929, 43,596 in 1930 to 1939).
How long is the average first name in the 1930s?
Weighted by how often each name was given: 5.8 letters for girls, 5.7 letters for boys.