| Baby boy names and baby girl names of | | | | Joseph (Hebrew) means "supported by |
| 1930 to 1939 reflected art, music, and | | | | God." |
| literature. Perhaps new parents tried to | | | | From 1930 to 1939, the top baby girl |
| spare their children the tough times by | | | | names were a big change from the names |
| naming their babies for a more gentle | | | | of the previous decade. New entries |
| side of life. This was especially true | | | | included Shirley, Patricia, Joan, and |
| for baby girl names. | | | | Nancy. Most are powerful biblical names, |
| People often name their infants in | | | | names of saints and world leaders. |
| harmony with the world around them. | | | | These names, in order of their |
| The decade of the 1930s was known for | | | | popularity, are Mary, Betty, Barbara, |
| hard times and unemployment. One song | | | | Shirley, Patricia, Dorothy, Joan, |
| that said it all was, "Brother, Can You | | | | Margaret, Nancy, and Helen. |
| Spare a Dime." The stock market crash of | | | | Mary (Hebrew) means "spiritual;" Betty |
| 1929 dragged on and left many people | | | | (Hebrew) from "Elizabeth" means |
| penniless. | | | | "God-loving;" Barbara (Greek) means |
| To get away from it all, people crowded | | | | "unusual;" Shirley (English) is derived |
| around their radios listening to the | | | | from a place name meaning "bright |
| best-known comics of the day - Jack | | | | meadow;" Patricia (Latin) means "of |
| Benny, Gracie Allen, and Fred Allen. In | | | | noble birth;" Dorothy (Greek) means |
| 1934, music producer, Cole Porter, | | | | "gift of God;" Joan (Middle English) is |
| brought the house down with his swinging | | | | the female form of "John," meaning |
| songs, "Anything Goes," and "You're the | | | | "God-loving;" Margaret (Greek) means |
| Tops." For a few precious moments, | | | | "treasured pearl;" Nancy (Medieval |
| people could forget hunger and worry. | | | | English) is the pet form of "Agnes," and |
| The following year, Cole Porter came out | | | | means "generous;" Helen (Greek) means |
| with "Begin the Beguine," and "Just One | | | | "beautiful." |
| of Those Things." Meanwhile, George | | | | People struggled to make it through the |
| Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" made | | | | decade of the 1930s. The stock market |
| everyone feel like dancing. In the art | | | | crash left the whole country shattered. |
| world, Childe Hassam caught the sunlight | | | | Tens of thousands abandoned farms to |
| and placed it in his paintings for all | | | | move into the city and look for jobs |
| to see. | | | | that did not exist. |
| The 10 top baby boy names from 1930 to | | | | On the plus side, there was a new |
| 1939, in order of popularity, were | | | | president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, in |
| Robert, James, John, William, Richard, | | | | the White House. A fast sleek car called |
| Charles, Donald, George, Thomas, and | | | | the "Pierce Arrow" was all the rage. |
| Joseph. They are essentially the same | | | | Artists of the 1930's such as William |
| popular names of the 1920s - with only | | | | Graves Sharp and John Singer Sargent |
| one change. "Thomas" took the place of | | | | produced paintings to lift the heart. |
| "Edward." They are all Christian saints' | | | | Broadway came alive again with the smash |
| names. They are also royal names that go | | | | musical, "Over the Rainbow." Hemingway |
| back in history for centuries. | | | | and Steinbeck were writing masterpieces |
| Robert (English) means "brilliant;" | | | | that have never been matched. |
| James (English) means "steadfast;" John | | | | The glorious baby boy names and baby |
| (Hebrew) means "honorable;" William | | | | girl names of the 1930s may have helped |
| (English) means "staunch protector;" | | | | children weather the storm and dash |
| Richard (Germanic) means "strong ruler;" | | | | happily into the fabulous 1940s. |
| Charles (German) means "well-loved;" | | | | Everyone knew the road ahead was filled |
| Donald (Scots Gaelic) means "world | | | | with sunshine. |
| ruler;" George (Greek) means "loving the | | | | (c) Benedict Manovill. All Rights |
| land;" Thomas (Greek) means "twin;" and | | | | Reserved Worldwide. |