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Top 100 baby names in the US, 1931

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1931, from Social Security card applications.

In 1931, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 60,299 girls, and Robert the most popular boys' name, given to 60,519 boys. New to the top 100 since 1930: Arlene, Joann, Marlene and Loretta for girls; Larry and Jimmy for boys. The biggest climbers were Peggy for girls, up 25 places to #42, and Ronald for boys, up 10 places to #27.

Girls, 1931

  1. 1Mary60,299
  2. 2Betty36,105
  3. 3Dorothy26,524
  4. 4Barbaraup 221,804
  5. 5Joanup 319,119
  6. 6Helendown 217,664
  7. 7Margaretdown 217,332
  8. 8Patriciadown 116,469
  9. 9Shirleyup 214,405
  10. 10Dorisdown 113,629
  11. 11Ruthdown 113,132
  12. 12Virginia11,886
  13. 13Jeanup 111,013
  14. 14Doloresdown 110,807
  15. 15Joyceup 310,580
  16. 16Elizabethdown 110,292
  17. 17Nancyup 710,036
  18. 18Francesdown 29,718
  19. 19Marilynup 39,664
  20. 20Loisdown 39,348
  21. 21Alicedown 18,815
  22. 22Normaup 38,759
  23. 23Gloriaup 78,546
  24. 24Evelyndown 58,492
  25. 25Annadown 28,429
  26. 26Mildreddown 58,169
  27. 27Mariedown 17,549
  28. 28Marthadown 17,481
  29. 29Phyllisdown 17,213
  30. 30Rosedown 16,881
  31. 31Beverlyup 36,789
  32. 32Donnaup 56,600
  33. 33Louisedown 25,897
  34. 34Marjoriedown 25,880
  35. 35Annup 65,858
  36. 36Catherinedown 15,642
  37. 37Irenedown 45,616
  38. 38Geraldineup 55,413
  39. 39Rubydown 35,331
  40. 40Eleanordown 15,255
  41. 41Anniedown 15,090
  42. 42Peggyup 255,076
  43. 43Florencedown 55,011
  44. 44Juneup 35,002
  45. 45Janetup 84,948
  46. 46Carolup 84,892
  47. 47Lilliandown 34,807
  48. 48Ritadown 64,613
  49. 49Lorrainedown 34,588
  50. 50Janeup 54,532
  51. 51Josephinedown 24,497
  52. 52Ednadown 14,461
  53. 53Thelmadown 84,440
  54. 54Wandaup 24,395
  55. 55Gladysdown 74,350
  56. 56Paulinedown 44,192
  57. 57Juanita4,131
  58. 58Deloresup 84,050
  59. 59Theresadown 94,034
  60. 60Carolynup 124,008
  61. 61Claraup 33,899
  62. 62Lucilledown 33,854
  63. 63Bernicedown 53,821
  64. 64Audreydown 13,790
  65. 65Edithdown 43,772
  66. 66Mariondown 63,763
  67. 67Etheldown 23,760
  68. 68Joanneup 133,757
  69. 69Wilmadown 13,741
  70. 70Gracedown 83,712
  71. 71Sarahdown 13,636
  72. 72Elainedown 33,622
  73. 73Bonnieup 53,552
  74. 74Hazeldown 33,508
  75. 75Charlotte3,403
  76. 76Emmadown 33,307
  77. 77Arlenenew3,217
  78. 78Jacquelinedown 43,134
  79. 79Estherdown 23,034
  80. 80Anneup 32,979
  81. 81Billiedown 22,921
  82. 82Vivianup 92,893
  83. 83Patsyup 142,869
  84. 84Mariandown 42,862
  85. 85Beatricedown 92,844
  86. 86Elsieup 22,807
  87. 87Kathleendown 32,799
  88. 88Rosemarydown 62,722
  89. 89Laura2,669
  90. 90Joannnew2,655
  91. 91Juliadown 12,624
  92. 91Katherinedown 62,624
  93. 93Williedown 62,597
  94. 94Evadown 82,591
  95. 95Marlenenew2,585
  96. 96Lorettanew2,581
  97. 97Sallyup 12,557
  98. 98Jeannedown 62,525
  99. 99Ellenup 12,450
  100. 100Idadown 62,419

Boys, 1931

  1. 1Robert60,519
  2. 2James51,212
  3. 3John48,423
  4. 4William43,280
  5. 5Richard31,822
  6. 6Charles29,934
  7. 7Donald29,100
  8. 8George20,685
  9. 9Joseph19,326
  10. 10Thomasup 116,847
  11. 11Edwarddown 115,646
  12. 12Paul12,255
  13. 13Davidup 211,784
  14. 14Kennethup 311,568
  15. 15Jackdown 111,488
  16. 16Frankdown 311,472
  17. 17Raymonddown 110,854
  18. 18Harold10,695
  19. 19Billyup 19,264
  20. 20Walterdown 18,940
  21. 21Eugene8,151
  22. 22Henry7,805
  23. 23Arthur7,525
  24. 24Albert7,131
  25. 25Ralph6,960
  26. 26Geraldup 46,823
  27. 27Ronaldup 106,726
  28. 28Carldown 26,583
  29. 29Joedown 26,456
  30. 30Harrydown 26,045
  31. 31Williedown 25,963
  32. 32Bobbyup 95,858
  33. 33Freddown 15,698
  34. 34Howarddown 35,624
  35. 35Roydown 25,489
  36. 36Normanup 45,426
  37. 37Louisdown 35,423
  38. 38Lawrencedown 25,364
  39. 39Clarence5,062
  40. 40Earldown 25,047
  41. 41Herbertdown 64,788
  42. 42Francis4,735
  43. 43Jerryup 84,371
  44. 44Danielup 34,360
  45. 44Marvinup 44,360
  46. 46Anthonydown 24,310
  47. 47Ernestdown 44,298
  48. 48Leonarddown 34,279
  49. 49Stanley4,202
  50. 50Alfreddown 43,949
  51. 51Melvindown 13,700
  52. 52Leroyup 13,649
  53. 53Rogerup 53,625
  54. 54Bernarddown 23,514
  55. 55Michaeldown 13,489
  56. 56Samueldown 13,379
  57. 57Billup 23,218
  58. 58Wayneup 73,217
  59. 59Donup 93,176
  60. 60Raydown 33,161
  61. 61Peterdown 53,122
  62. 62Daleup 23,008
  63. 63Russelldown 32,942
  64. 64Geneup 62,766
  65. 65Andrewdown 32,714
  66. 66Floyddown 52,707
  67. 67Edwindown 12,704
  68. 67Lloydup 22,704
  69. 69Leodown 62,700
  70. 70Theodoredown 32,666
  71. 71Philipup 42,648
  72. 72Glenndown 12,624
  73. 73Frederickup 12,471
  74. 74Vernondown 22,465
  75. 75Clifforddown 22,452
  76. 76Gordonup 12,396
  77. 77Clydedown 12,336
  78. 78Bobup 102,318
  79. 79Allenup 62,308
  80. 80Alvindown 12,299
  81. 81Jimmieup 52,288
  82. 82Elmerdown 22,265
  83. 83Hermandown 52,263
  84. 84Leondown 32,245
  85. 85Douglasup 42,203
  86. 86Vincentdown 22,162
  87. 87Lewis2,160
  88. 88Larrynew2,147
  89. 89Jimmynew2,126
  90. 90Leedown 82,123
  91. 91Martindown 82,103
  92. 92Gilbertdown 21,993
  93. 93Harveydown 11,978
  94. 94Charliedown 31,975
  95. 95Eddieup 21,959
  96. 96Lesterdown 11,919
  97. 97Jessedown 31,895
  98. 98Arnold1,835
  99. 99Miltondown 61,834
  100. 99Warrendown 31,834

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1930. Each spelling counts as a separate name, as in the official lists.

Other years in the US

Sources

Figures from Popular Baby Names (US Social Security Administration). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.

To cite this page: Nameling, “Top 100 baby names in the US, 1931”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1931, updated 20 October 2026.