Names that belong entirely to the 1930s
Every decade signs its name in the records. These reached their all-time top-100 peak in the 1930s — the years of silver-screen matinees in hard times — and have since stepped out of the mainstream.
Choose one to honor that generation, or simply enjoy the most concentrated time capsule the records can offer.
Girls
- Shirley#2 in 1935 · rare today
- Barbara#2 in 1937 · rare today
- Patricia#3 in 1937 · rare today
- Joan#5 in 1931 · rare today
- Joyce#11 in 1937 · rare today
- Marilyn#13 in 1936 · rare today
- Dolores#13 in 1930 · rare today
- Beverly#14 in 1937 · rare today
- Janet#16 in 1938 · rare today
- Norma#22 in 1931 · rare today
- Ann#28 in 1936 · rare today
- Peggy#31 in 1937 · rare today
- Geraldine#38 in 1931 · rare today
- Marlene#39 in 1935 · rare today
- Elaine#42 in 1938 · rare today
- Rita#42 in 1930 · rare today
- Joanne#44 in 1935 · rare today
- Wanda#47 in 1934 · rare today
- Joann#50 in 1934 · rare today
- Delores#51 in 1934 · rare today
- Patsy#52 in 1936 · rare today
- Sally#52 in 1939 · rare today
- Arlene#53 in 1934 · rare today
- Loretta#62 in 1938 · rare today
Boys
- Donald#6 in 1934 · rare today
- Billy#19 in 1931 · rare today
- Gerald#19 in 1936 · rare today
- Bobby#23 in 1934 · rare today
- Franklin#33 in 1933 · rare today
- Norman#36 in 1931 · rare today
- Marvin#44 in 1931 · rare today
- Don#50 in 1934 · rare today
- Bill#57 in 1931 · rare today
- Gene#61 in 1937 · rare today
- Jimmie#68 in 1934 · rare today
- Gordon#70 in 1935 · rare today
- Bob#75 in 1934 · rare today
- Gilbert#90 in 1930 · rare today
- Jerome#93 in 1938 · rare today
How this list is built: Names whose all-time top-100 peak fell in the 1930s and which now rank outside the national top-300 (or are unranked). Source: US Social Security birth records, refreshed yearly.
Found two you love?
Put them side by side — full stats, history and a verdict.
Compare two names