NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1939

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1939, from Social Security card applications.

In 1939, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 54,900 girls, and Robert the most popular boys' name, given to 59,666 boys. New to the top 100 since 1938: Brenda, Yvonne, Julia and Sue for girls; Tom, Curtis, Jesse and Vernon for boys. The biggest climbers were Susan for girls, up 27 places to #44, and Dennis for boys, up 15 places to #34.

Girls, 1939

  1. 1Mary54,900
  2. 2Barbara37,257
  3. 3Patricia29,701
  4. 4Betty23,639
  5. 5Shirley20,447
  6. 6Carol20,166
  7. 7Nancy19,723
  8. 8Judithup 416,625
  9. 9Dorothydown 115,169
  10. 10Margaretdown 114,949
  11. 11Joandown 114,143
  12. 12Joycedown 113,394
  13. 13Sandraup 111,970
  14. 14Carolynup 111,290
  15. 15Lindaup 1610,713
  16. 16Helendown 310,420
  17. 17Janetdown 110,120
  18. 18Elizabethdown 19,709
  19. 19Marilyn9,538
  20. 20Donna9,371
  21. 21Virginiaup 19,227
  22. 22Ruthdown 19,062
  23. 23Sharonup 79,014
  24. 24Janice8,778
  25. 25Beverlydown 78,706
  26. 26Francesdown 38,577
  27. 27Marthadown 18,493
  28. 28Judyup 138,081
  29. 29Dorisdown 47,687
  30. 30Phyllisdown 27,590
  31. 31Alicedown 27,365
  32. 32Jeandown 57,292
  33. 33Anndown 16,551
  34. 34Peggyup 16,050
  35. 35Loisdown 26,034
  36. 36Gloria5,939
  37. 37Marie5,890
  38. 38Normadown 45,827
  39. 39Karenup 115,541
  40. 40Evelyndown 25,332
  41. 41Geraldineup 45,160
  42. 42Rosedown 35,040
  43. 43Annadown 34,929
  44. 44Susanup 274,887
  45. 45Elainedown 34,785
  46. 46Janedown 24,771
  47. 47Caroledown 14,679
  48. 48Kathleenup 104,656
  49. 49Catherinedown 14,577
  50. 50Wandadown 14,557
  51. 51Dianeup 134,340
  52. 52Sallyup 24,244
  53. 53Joanneup 44,225
  54. 54Anniedown 74,155
  55. 55Mildreddown 34,137
  56. 56Patsydown 14,111
  57. 57Joannup 113,994
  58. 58Doloresdown 153,980
  59. 59Louise3,956
  60. 60Marjoriedown 73,907
  61. 61Bonnieup 43,887
  62. 62Sylviadown 63,870
  63. 63Eleanordown 33,810
  64. 64Marlenedown 133,773
  65. 65Lorettadown 33,769
  66. 66Charlotteup 43,739
  67. 67Rubydown 63,712
  68. 68Sarahdown 13,671
  69. 69Arlenedown 63,578
  70. 70Joup 83,524
  71. 71Robertaup 23,409
  72. 72Jacquelinedown 33,388
  73. 73Gailup 43,355
  74. 74Irenedown 23,331
  75. 75Darleneup 13,287
  76. 76Kayup 53,260
  77. 77Juanitaup 33,212
  78. 78Ritadown 43,188
  79. 79Deloresdown 43,018
  80. 80Ellenup 93,005
  81. 81Ednaup 12,904
  82. 82Jeanetteup 92,893
  83. 83Junedown 42,867
  84. 84Josephinedown 12,837
  85. 85Annedown 12,769
  86. 86Brendanew2,756
  87. 87Wilmadown 22,701
  88. 88Thelmadown 22,696
  89. 89Emmaup 72,685
  90. 90Yvonnenew2,648
  91. 91Julianew2,635
  92. 92Suenew2,623
  93. 93Rosemaryup 22,612
  94. 94Theresadown 22,611
  95. 95Lorrainedown 22,593
  96. 96Florencedown 72,592
  97. 97Anitaup 22,588
  98. 98Audreydown 112,569
  99. 99Lilliandown 112,551
  100. 100Etheldown 62,496

Boys, 1939

  1. 1Robert59,666
  2. 2James59,636
  3. 3John51,025
  4. 4William42,071
  5. 5Richard35,386
  6. 6Charles30,789
  7. 7Davidup 125,360
  8. 8Donalddown 124,056
  9. 9Thomas22,129
  10. 10Ronald19,837
  11. 11George17,886
  12. 12Joseph17,722
  13. 13Kennethup 114,715
  14. 14Larryup 214,532
  15. 15Edwarddown 214,427
  16. 16Jerryup 113,729
  17. 17Pauldown 213,337
  18. 18Michaelup 310,828
  19. 19Gerald10,057
  20. 20Frankdown 29,991
  21. 21Garyup 19,684
  22. 22Raymonddown 29,252
  23. 23Harold8,299
  24. 24Billy7,474
  25. 25Walterup 17,322
  26. 26Jackdown 17,306
  27. 27Joeup 17,189
  28. 28Rogerup 37,155
  29. 29Bobbydown 27,057
  30. 30Carldown 16,593
  31. 31Henrydown 16,561
  32. 32Arthur6,380
  33. 33Willieup 16,308
  34. 34Dennisup 156,212
  35. 35Ralph5,959
  36. 36Lawrence5,882
  37. 37Eugenedown 45,869
  38. 38Danielup 15,797
  39. 39Wayneup 15,653
  40. 40Freddown 25,538
  41. 41Albertdown 45,477
  42. 42Roydown 15,156
  43. 43Jimmyup 24,753
  44. 44Normandown 14,742
  45. 45Harrydown 14,661
  46. 46Peterup 24,639
  47. 47Howarddown 54,613
  48. 48Anthonydown 24,610
  49. 49Louisdown 24,224
  50. 50Earl3,896
  51. 51Melvinup 33,853
  52. 52Marvin3,758
  53. 53Francisdown 23,721
  54. 54Leonardup 33,711
  55. 55Ernest3,688
  56. 56Dondown 43,589
  57. 57Stanleyup 23,570
  58. 58Douglasup 23,564
  59. 59Daledown 33,531
  60. 60Clarencedown 23,482
  61. 61Leroy3,388
  62. 62Johnnyup 13,371
  63. 63Samueldown 13,254
  64. 64Bruceup 23,233
  65. 65Stephenup 93,176
  66. 66Philipdown 23,174
  67. 67Bill3,161
  68. 68Herbert3,097
  69. 69Genedown 43,014
  70. 70Alfreddown 12,990
  71. 71Frederick2,972
  72. 72Allenup 12,928
  73. 73Russelldown 32,833
  74. 74Raydown 22,709
  75. 75Jimup 62,636
  76. 76Bernarddown 12,624
  77. 77Tommy2,622
  78. 78Leeup 22,589
  79. 79Patrickup 92,530
  80. 80Jimmiedown 42,524
  81. 81Eddiedown 22,511
  82. 82Gordondown 42,508
  83. 83Terryup 32,444
  84. 84Andrewdown 22,440
  85. 85Alanup 62,330
  86. 86Leondown 12,327
  87. 87Glenndown 42,303
  88. 88Cliffordup 12,290
  89. 89Bobup 52,244
  90. 90Theodoredown 62,196
  91. 91Martindown 42,192
  92. 92Phillipup 32,175
  93. 93Jerome2,153
  94. 94Floydup 22,094
  95. 95Lloyddown 32,087
  96. 96Edwindown 62,063
  97. 97Tomnew2,028
  98. 98Curtisnew2,012
  99. 99Jessenew2,010
  100. 100Vernonnew1,994

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1938. 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, 1939”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1939, updated 20 October 2026.