NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1938

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1938, from Social Security card applications.

In 1938, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 56,225 girls, and Robert the most popular boys' name, given to 62,271 boys. New to the top 100 since 1937: Karen, Rosalie, Ellen and Rosemary for girls; Terry and Alan for boys. The biggest climbers were Judy for girls, up 49 places to #41, and Stephen for boys, up 18 places to #74.

Girls, 1938

  1. 1Mary56,225
  2. 2Barbara39,277
  3. 3Patricia27,560
  4. 4Bettyup 125,506
  5. 5Shirleydown 123,766
  6. 6Carol19,421
  7. 7Nancy18,951
  8. 8Dorothy16,358
  9. 9Margaretup 115,330
  10. 10Joandown 114,303
  11. 11Joyce12,698
  12. 12Judithup 2210,878
  13. 13Helendown 110,837
  14. 14Sandraup 1210,806
  15. 15Carolynup 510,586
  16. 16Janetup 29,870
  17. 17Elizabeth9,803
  18. 18Beverlydown 49,770
  19. 19Marilyndown 69,745
  20. 20Donnaup 19,693
  21. 21Ruthdown 69,303
  22. 22Virginiadown 69,269
  23. 23Francesdown 48,921
  24. 24Janiceup 18,711
  25. 25Dorisdown 38,603
  26. 26Marthadown 28,578
  27. 27Jeandown 47,764
  28. 28Phyllisdown 17,644
  29. 29Alicedown 17,490
  30. 30Sharonup 117,244
  31. 31Lindaup 187,047
  32. 32Anndown 26,990
  33. 33Loisdown 46,502
  34. 34Normadown 16,368
  35. 35Peggydown 46,343
  36. 36Gloriadown 46,299
  37. 37Mariedown 25,958
  38. 38Evelyndown 25,688
  39. 39Rosedown 15,292
  40. 40Annadown 15,145
  41. 41Judyup 494,992
  42. 42Elaineup 34,835
  43. 43Doloresdown 64,809
  44. 44Janedown 24,786
  45. 45Geraldinedown 14,652
  46. 46Caroleup 104,616
  47. 47Anniedown 14,562
  48. 48Catherinedown 14,525
  49. 49Wandaup 64,513
  50. 50Karennew4,508
  51. 51Marlenedown 114,473
  52. 52Mildreddown 94,441
  53. 53Marjorieup 44,318
  54. 54Sallyup 54,278
  55. 55Patsydown 14,260
  56. 56Sylviadown 64,259
  57. 57Joannedown 64,250
  58. 58Kathleenup 34,228
  59. 59Louisedown 114,069
  60. 60Eleanordown 74,049
  61. 61Rubydown 93,942
  62. 62Lorettaup 13,913
  63. 63Arlenedown 33,894
  64. 64Dianeup 123,827
  65. 65Bonniedown 13,773
  66. 66Rosalienew3,758
  67. 67Sarahdown 23,749
  68. 68Joanndown 103,710
  69. 69Jacquelineup 13,633
  70. 70Charlottedown 33,626
  71. 71Susanup 263,555
  72. 72Irenedown 103,554
  73. 73Robertadown 73,547
  74. 74Ritadown 53,357
  75. 75Deloresdown 73,322
  76. 76Darlenedown 43,321
  77. 77Gailup 223,214
  78. 78Jodown 53,172
  79. 79Junedown 83,141
  80. 80Juanitadown 53,129
  81. 81Kaydown 23,114
  82. 82Ednadown 83,080
  83. 83Josephinedown 12,978
  84. 84Anneup 82,887
  85. 85Wilmadown 52,871
  86. 86Thelmadown 82,866
  87. 87Audreydown 22,844
  88. 88Lilliandown 42,825
  89. 89Ellennew2,805
  90. 89Florencedown 82,805
  91. 91Jeanettedown 12,802
  92. 92Theresaup 32,763
  93. 93Lorrainedown 102,740
  94. 94Etheldown 62,726
  95. 95Rosemarynew2,681
  96. 96Emmadown 72,670
  97. 97Paulinedown 102,666
  98. 98Claraup 22,662
  99. 99Anitadown 62,636
  100. 100Gracedown 62,609

Boys, 1938

  1. 1Robert62,271
  2. 2James59,102
  3. 3John50,517
  4. 4William42,433
  5. 5Richard34,385
  6. 6Charles31,151
  7. 7Donald26,677
  8. 8David22,994
  9. 9Thomas21,381
  10. 10Ronaldup 120,295
  11. 11Georgedown 118,435
  12. 12Joseph17,742
  13. 13Edward14,551
  14. 14Kenneth14,399
  15. 15Paul13,360
  16. 16Larry12,394
  17. 17Jerry12,172
  18. 18Frank10,260
  19. 19Geraldup 19,972
  20. 20Raymonddown 19,725
  21. 21Michaelup 69,077
  22. 22Garyup 78,861
  23. 23Harolddown 28,563
  24. 24Billydown 28,253
  25. 25Jackdown 28,144
  26. 26Walter7,560
  27. 27Bobbydown 37,498
  28. 28Joedown 47,438
  29. 29Carldown 16,849
  30. 30Henry6,557
  31. 31Rogerup 56,551
  32. 32Arthurdown 16,525
  33. 33Eugene6,112
  34. 34Williedown 26,081
  35. 35Ralphdown 16,013
  36. 36Lawrenceup 25,873
  37. 37Albert5,796
  38. 38Freddown 35,768
  39. 39Daniel5,583
  40. 40Wayneup 45,226
  41. 41Roydown 15,041
  42. 42Howard5,018
  43. 43Norman4,953
  44. 44Harrydown 34,824
  45. 45Jimmy4,730
  46. 46Anthonyup 14,689
  47. 47Louisdown 14,390
  48. 48Peterup 44,293
  49. 49Dennisup 144,236
  50. 50Earldown 24,007
  51. 51Francisup 43,951
  52. 52Dondown 13,900
  53. 52Marvindown 33,900
  54. 54Melvindown 43,818
  55. 55Ernestdown 23,708
  56. 56Daleup 33,690
  57. 57Leonardup 13,670
  58. 58Clarencedown 43,639
  59. 59Stanleydown 23,544
  60. 60Douglasup 143,508
  61. 61Leroydown 53,491
  62. 62Samuelup 43,243
  63. 63Johnnyup 63,197
  64. 64Philipdown 23,172
  65. 65Genedown 43,149
  66. 66Bruceup 43,127
  67. 67Billdown 33,113
  68. 68Herbertdown 33,014
  69. 69Alfreddown 93,008
  70. 70Russelldown 32,950
  71. 71Frederickdown 32,935
  72. 72Raydown 12,881
  73. 73Allenup 32,834
  74. 74Stephenup 182,726
  75. 75Bernarddown 22,715
  76. 76Jimmiedown 42,693
  77. 77Tommyup 72,667
  78. 78Gordondown 32,657
  79. 79Eddieup 42,616
  80. 80Leedown 22,575
  81. 81Jimup 12,497
  82. 82Andrewdown 32,411
  83. 83Glennup 52,367
  84. 84Theodoreup 22,360
  85. 85Leon2,355
  86. 86Terrynew2,336
  87. 87Martin2,313
  88. 88Patrickup 62,292
  89. 89Cliffordup 12,277
  90. 90Edwindown 12,250
  91. 91Alannew2,241
  92. 92Lloyddown 12,215
  93. 93Jeromeup 72,209
  94. 94Bobdown 132,204
  95. 95Phillipup 32,154
  96. 96Floyddown 162,146
  97. 97Clydedown 42,130
  98. 98Alvinup 12,063
  99. 99Harveydown 42,051
  100. 100Franklindown 232,021

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1937. 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, 1938”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1938, updated 20 October 2026.