Vintage 1930s Girl Names: Stylish Ruby, Rare Betty

1930s girl names should be on the upswing right about now.

After all, it usually takes around a century for any popular name to fall out of favor, hibernate for a generation or two, and then come back around, feeling fresh and exciting once more.

In real life, though, names don’t follow an orderly cycle. Some stay near the top of the charts for ages, blurring the lines between, say, a 1910s name and a 1940s favorite. Others stage a revival way ahead of time. Some languish, remaining in style limbo even while the rest of their generation is back.

The good news? There’s opportunity in EVERY one of those categories. Plenty of 1930s girl names feel traditional, others daring, and some simply remain under the radar by 2020s standards.

As is often the case, the most popular girls’ names of the era feel more subject to trends. The most popular baby names for boys – Robert, James, John, William, and Richard – feel more timeless. (Though for every David and Joseph, there’s a Harold and Raymond – there are trends, but they’re not quite as dramatic.)

This list includes my choices for what’s back and what’s next. Scroll to the bottom for the Top 100 girls’ names of 1935 to see if there are any that you would’ve considered adding to this list!

ALICE (#65 in 2023; #25 in 1935)

Storybook Alice brings to mind white rabbits and red queens. It’s a traditional name worn by royals and saints with a fresh, airy appeal.

ANN (unranked in 2023; #30 in 1935)

Anne with an E ranks a chilly #581, but the sparest of them all, just Ann, fails to break the Top 1000 today.

ANNA (#79 in 2023; #34 in 1935)

Our love of two-syllable, ends-with-a girl names helps propel Anna ahead of Ann, Anne, and Annie.

ANNIE (#202 in 2023; #38 in 1935)

Thanks to Broadway, Annie shines with sunny optimism. It’s got gumption, too, a name for a pioneer or a celebrated sharpshooter. Longer Ann- names abound, but just Annie works, too.

AUDREY (#74 in 2023; #64 in 1935)

Style icon Audrey Hepburn lends this name some Hollywood glam. It feels gently old-fashioned and nicely nickname-proof.

BARBARA (#877 in 2023; #3 in 1935)

A legendary saint and a name with a long history of use, Barbara rocketed to the top of the charts in the 1920 and stayed there. The Barbie Doll was introduced in 1959 and the Beach Boys scored a hit with “Barbara Ann” in 1965, tying this name to middle of twentieth century pop culture. But it remains an enduring choice, and the blockbuster success of 2023’s Barbie doesn’t hurt, either.

BETTY (unranked in 2023; #3 in 1935)

Elizabeth is a staple, while short forms come and go. Betty sounds like a sparky, retro possibility. Betty Grable makes it Hollywood glam and Betty White proves it has staying power. Mad Men boosted Betty’s profile, too. Design Mom has a Betty, and now so do Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.

BEVERLY (unranked in 2023; #20 in 1935)

An English place name turned surname, Beverly is the forerunner of current favorite Everly. And yet, Bev is that nice older lady across the street, while Everly is the neighbor’s new baby.

BONNIE (#502 in 2023; #62 in 1935)

Bonnie has doubled in use over the last decade, bringing the Scottish word name back into favor. It literally means pretty, from the French word bon – good. Toy Story fans know that Bonnie is the little girl who inherited Andy’s toys.

CAROL (unranked in 2023; #11 in 1935)

A unisex name, Carol can be short for Caroline – from Charles, via the Latin Carolus. Or it might refer to Christmas carols – songs.

CAROLYN (unranked in 2023; #28 in 1935)

Today it’s Caroline that ranks in the Top 100, but back in the 1930s? Carolyn ranked far higher.

CATHERINE (#332 in 2023; #42 in 1935)

At first glance, Catherine has fallen out of use. But it’s simply that today’s parents prefer Katherine-with-a-K. Nickname-rich, worn by saints and queens, Catherine makes an enduring choice, regardless of spelling.

CHARLOTTE (#3 in 2023; #65 in 1935)

Credit Sex and the City’s Charlotte York for putting this name back on parents’ radar. Factor in a British princess, and Charlotte has become a Top Ten favorite.

CLARA (#99 in 2023; #81 in 1935)

Saintly, strong, and sweet, the star of The Nutcracker, and a nicely pan-European name, Clara appeals for so many reasons.

DOLORES (unranked in 2023; #26 in 1935)

The spelling Dolores also made the Top 100 back in the 1930s. A deeply religious name, borrowed from a Spanish title of Mary – Mary of Sorrows – Dolores became a style star in the early twentieth century.

DONNA (unranked in 2023; #23 in 1935)

The Italian word for lady, Donna was just beginning to climb in the 1930s. It spiked in 1959, the year Ritchie Valens’ “Donna” topped the charts.

DORIS (unranked in 2023; #13 in 1935)

Doris sounds like a grandma name – and the numbers bear that out. But Doris is actually an ancient name, originally given to a sea nymph in Greek myth.

DOROTHY (#467 in 2023; #6 in 1935)

Dorothy takes us over the rainbow, a storybook hero name, complete with the ruby slippers. It might be among the hottest of the 1930s girl names. Dorothy has more than doubled in use over the last decade, a possible successor to long-time favorites like Emily.

EDITH (#504 in 2023; #87 in 1935)

An Anglo-Saxon favorite revived in the nineteenth century, Edith is both literary and historic. Lady Edith of Downton Abbey gave the name a boost, and built-in nickname Edie is a bonus.

ELAINE (#381 in 2023; #51 in 1935)

An Old French form of Helen, Elaine offers two appealing qualities: ties to the Tales of King Arthur, and especially, the white-hot nickname name of our moment, Lainey.

ELEANOR (#14 in 2023; #48 in 1935)

Strong and maybe a little bit serious, Eleanor feels capable. Women of accomplishment, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Eleanor Roosevelt, make this name powerful and enduring.

ELIZABETH (#15 in 2023; #17 in 1935)

Regal and saintly, Elizabeth might be the most enduring of the classic girls’ names. It’s one of the few to hover around the Top 20 pretty much every single year. That makes it evergreen – at home in 1932, 2025, and well beyond. Favored nicknames come and go, but the formal version remains at the top.

ELLEN (unranked in 2023; #95 in 1935)

Edith Wharton’s Age of Innocence makes this name literary and romantic. Read the novel, and more current Ellens – DeGeneres, Pompeo, Barkin – might fade into the background. It’s a spare, classic name with plenty of appeal.

ELSIE (#163 in 2023; #113 in 1935)

Strictly speaking, Elsie peaked at the turn of the twentieth century. But it’s still among the most popular names in the 1930s, and it’s steadily climbing the popularity charts now.

EMMA (#2 in 2023; #89 in 1935)

A nineteenth century favorite, the name Emma was still going strong in the 1930s. With ties to history and literature, Emma’s appeal continues to endure across the generations.

ESTHER (#138 in 2023; #94 in 1935)

Once a fashionable favorite, Esther had started slipping by the 1930s. But the name remained in steady use, putting it among the 1930s girl names – and plenty of other decades, too.

EVELYN (#9 in 2023; #31 in 1935)

Parents are wild for Ev- names, from elaborate Evangeline to modern Everly. Evelyn has risen highest, a tailored name at home in the twenty-first century, but with plentiful history to root the name in the past.

FLORENCE (#521 in 2023; #74 in 1935)

Big in the UK, Florence lingered in obscurity until very recently in the US. It returned to the US Top 1000 in May 2018. Classic and refined, shared with a legendary city, with plenty of notable namesakes and nicknames galore, Florence feels like a logical revival choice.

FRANCES (#405 in 2023; #19 in 1935)

Lady-like Frances lagged behind energetic, Italian Francesca for a while. But now, it’s the short, sweet, and slightly more classic Frances on the rise. It’s a sister name for Alice, an alternative to Eleanor. Nicknames range from boyish Frankie to retro Frannie, both used by high profile parents in recent years. Francis, the spelling preferred for boys, has risen slightly in use, too. 

GEORGIA (#128 in 2023; #123 in 1935)

The feminine form of classic George is exactly as at-home now as it was a century in the past.

GERALDINE (unranked in 2023; #40 in 1935)

If Josephine is back, could Geraldine catch on? It was coined by a poet in the sixteenth century, written in praise of Lady Elizabeth FitzGerald. For boys, Jerry was a 1930s staple, and Gerald feels traditional, but is equally uncommon now.

GLORIA (#671 in 2023; #32 in 1935)

There’s U2’s soaring single from the 1980s, and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s second daughter, Gloria Ray, born in 2012. Add in an -ia ending, like Amelia and Sophia, and it’s easy to imagine Gloria fitting right in circa 2025.

GRACE (#39 in 2023; #83 in 1935)

Virtuous Grace makes a meaning-rich choice, while Gracie sounds as down-to-earth as any name can be. Like Emma, this name’s heyday was in the 1800s, but it remained popular into the 1930s, proving that Grace has enduring appeal.

HARRIET (unranked in 2023; #157 in 1935)

A feminine form of Harry and Henry, Harriet has never been quite as popular as the masculine versions. The same holds true in 2025. Henry is a Top Ten favorite once again, but Harriet remains surprisingly uncommon.

HAZEL (#19 in 2023; #92 in 1935)

Ecovintage Hazel has been boosted by celebrity parents and fictional characters alike. It’s a nature name more traditional than Willow, slightly less expected than Rose. Once dismissed as too old-fashioned, it’s a white hot choice for a daughter today.

HELEN (#397 in 2023; #10 in 1935)

Now that Hazel and Eleanor are back on top, what’s a 1930s-loving parent to do? Consider Helen. The mythological queen’s face launched a thousand ships and inspired countless namesakes over the century. Today Helen feels classic, frills-free, and fresh at the same time.

IRENE (#674 in 2023; #87 in 1935)

For so many years, it was “Goodnight Irene,” as this name fell from a peak in the early twentieth century. But the name is slowly inching back into favor, helped by a spare, tailored sound and a great meaning – peace.

JACQUELINE (#539 in 2023; #79 in 1935)

A feminine form of James – via the French Jacques – Jacqueline was just beginning to climb in use in the 1930s. It peaked in the 1960s when Jacqueline Kennedy – born in 1929 – served as First Lady.

JANE (#281 in 2023; #43 in 1935)

Jane reads literary – think Austen – spare, and energetic. Still, you’re more likely to meet a Grace, or even a Jade. It’s old-fashioned and romantic, mid-century modern, and at-home in the twenty-first century – a versatile choice. Fans of Mary Poppins might think of her charges, Jane and Michael Banks.

JANET (unranked in 2023; #22 in 1935)

Could Janet follow Scarlett and Juliette into wider use? Originally a medieval nickname for Jane, Janet has long stood on its own.

JEAN (unranked in 2023; #18 in 1935)

Yet another feminine form of John, it’s spelled Jeanne in French. Girls’ choices like Gina are as out of favor now as Eugene for boys. But the English and Scottish spelling has always been Jean, a spare and sophisticated possibility.

JOAN (unranked in 2023; #7 in 1935)

Hollywood icon Joan Crawford became a household name in the 1930s as the name soared into the Top Ten. Joan of Arc makes it perpetually heroic.

JOANNE (unranked in 2023; #45 in 1935)

Yet another feminine form of John, Joanne now trails behind Joanna. But among 1930s girl names, Joanne was the star. Joanna comes in at #339 in 2023.

JOSEPHINE (#64 in 2023; #75 in 1935)

Romantic, elaborate, and oh so very French, Josephine continues to rise. Maybe it’s all of the nicknames, from Josie to less-expected options. Or maybe it’s the name in full, spunky and sophisticated at the same time.

JOYCE (unranked in 2023; #12 in 1935)

Originally a masculine name, Joyce has long been a feminine staple. It sounds a little like a virtue name, inspired by rejoice. Inside Out has given the similar-sounding Joy a (tiny) bump.

JUDITH (#903 in 2023; #54 in 1935)

Judy is a Jetson, but Judith is an Old Testament heroine, capable and rather fierce. Like Charlie and Alex, Jude might be a possible unisex nickname. If you love strong, traditional girl names in the key of Eleanor and Katherine, but want something less expected, Judith could be exactly what you seek.

JUNE (#171 in 2023; #55 in 1935)

Sweet and summery, June belongs with so many ecovintage names in favor today, from Lily to Hazel. It’s as compact as classic Jane, but somehow less expected. Longer June names, like Juniper, are rising in use, too, but it’s June that belongs with the 1930s girl names.

LILLIAN (#55 in 2023; #66 in 1935)

Lil- names come and go. In the 1930s, parents preferred Lillie. Today, it’s the more floral Lily. But one constant is Lillian, a name used in English for centuries. Fun fact: Lillian is an elaboration of Lily, which started out as a pet name for Elizabeth.

LOIS (unranked in 2023; #21 in 1935)

Originally a New Testament name, Lois almost always brings to mind one figure. She’s the courageous and intelligent journalist, Lois Lane. Lois falls for Superman, and she’s been part of his story since the start. This name peaked around 1930, but remains in style limbo today.

LORETTA (#764 in 2023; #69 in 1935)

Ever since Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick gave this name to a daughter in 2009, it’s been mentioned as a possible revival-ready favorite. It finally returned to the US Top 1000 in 2020, suggesting that the time might be now.

LORRAINE (unranked in 2023; #68 in 1935)

A place name, a French name, a name that starts with L? Lorraine should be as fashion-forward as they come. Yes, there’s the quiche, but hey, Clementine and Olive are equally edible. Lorraine peaked in the 1930s, meaning that it might be almost time for a comeback.

LOUISE (#586 in 2023; #44 in 1935)

After years in style limbo, Louise is back. And why not? Lucy and Luna are Top 100 favorites. It shortens to Lulu, Lou, and Lula, but requires no nickname. Louise Brooks remains a style icon, and it sounds serious enough for a chemist or a Congresswoman, too.

LUCILLE (#285 in 2023; #85 in 1935)

Lucia became Lucilla, and then, in French, Lucille. It all goes back to the Latin lux, light. Legendary comic Lucille Ball lends it plenty of spirit. After many years in limbo, Lucille returned to the US Top 1000 in 2003. Lucy remains far more common, but then, that’s been the case for over 120 years.

MARGARET (#132 in 2023; #8 in 1935)

As classic as Katherine, as enduring as Eleanor, no question Margaret belongs with the classics. A former Top Ten favorite, the name fell after the 1960s. Today it seems to be in the midst of revival. And yet, no name as consistently used as Margaret can ever be considered truly out of favor. A lovely meaning – pearl – is another bonus.

MARIE (#649 in 2023; #33 in 1935)

French names for girls are perpetually stylish. But how about Marie? It’s every bit as timeless as Mary, a middle name for a huge number of women – and yet, still underused.

MARILYN (#742 in 2023; #14 in 1935)

Adalyn, Madelyn – why not Marilyn? It’s as Hollywood a name as Audrey or Ava. And, given our love for Evelyn, it’s easily to imagine parents embracing Marilyn, too.

MARION (unranked in 2023; #88 in 1935)

This was the spelling in vogue in the 1930s, though Marian, Mariam, Marianne and many a tailored Mar- name has seen use in the US.

MARJORIE (unranked in 2023; #46 in 1935)

Medieval English added a -y to everything: Cecilia became Cecily, Maria became Mary, and Margaret became Margery. Then it was re-spelled to resemble marjoram, the herb. Marjoram was long considered a symbol of happiness, from the ancient world into the Victorian era.

MARTHA (#673 in 2023; #24 in 1935)

Classic, Biblical Martha has plummeted in use. A Top 100 favorite through 1965, Martha has been rare for decades. As with all of these names, it can make a great opportunity for a familiar-but-seldom-heard name.

MARY (#135 in 2023; #1 in 1935)

Few think of Mary as unusual, but this 1930s chart-topper is the ultimate familiar-but-uncommon choice. Simple, feminine, and strong, Mary hits the mark many parents are after. But after so many decades at #1, we often don’t see it that way.

NANCY (#942 in 2023; #9 in 1935)

Dauntless girl detective Nancy Drew immediately comes to mind. First used as a medieval form of Agnes, Nancy was later associated with Ann. Today the name stands on its own. If choices like Sadie and Maisie are fashion-forward, is Nancy really so far behind?

NORMA (unranked in 2023; #29 in 1935)

Invented for the main character in 1831 tragic opera Norma, this name feels like a feminine form of Norman. While both are out of favor today, they were 1930s favorites.

PATRICIA (unranked in 2023; #5 in 1935)

A go-to name for our daughters across the generations, Patricia is the feminine form of Patrick. It feels slightly Irish and thoroughly traditional.

PEGGY (unranked in 2023; #36 in 1935)

While Margaret is back, the go-to short form is Maggie. Peggy has potential, though – especially for parents looking for casual choices like Molly, but after something distinctively different.

PHYLLIS (unranked in 2023; #27 in 1935)

A name straight out of Greek myth, but seldom heard today.

RITA (unranked in 2023; #63 in 1935)

Sparky, retro Rita brings to mind glamorous actor and World War II actress Rita Hayworth.

ROSE (#124 in 2023; #37 in 1935)

Spare and elegant, Rose has become the go-to middle name for a generation. But it really deserves a promotion to the first spot, which it occupied in big numbers way back in the 1930s. It’s climbing once more, a feminine, restrained name at home in the modern world. Longer Rose names abound, but this is the classic.

ROSEMARY (#311 in 2023; #97 in 1935)

Speaking of longer Rose names, Rosemary might be one of the most promising of the bunch. It’s a spice name like Saffron, and a three-syllable, ends-with-y choice like Dorothy. While some smooshes of classic names, like Marianne or Annabeth, feel like combinations, Rosemary sounds like something distinctive and different.

RUBY (#66 in 2023; #41 in 1935)

As colorful as Scarlett, as borrowed from the natural world as River or Skye, Ruby could have been discovered in the year 2000. Instead, it’s been around for ages, never out of the US Top 1000. A bonus? The Rolling Stones and the Kaiser Chefs, Rancid and Kenny Rogers have all recorded songs with Ruby in the title.

RUTH (#187 in 2023; #15 in 1935)

We love Lucy and Ruby, Cooper and Jude. That same ‘oo’ sound gives us Ruth, a Biblical favorite from the decade. It’s gained steadily in use over the last five years, and is poised to continue to rise. While Ruth sounds intelligent and strong-willed, nickname Ruthie is all kinds of darling.

SALLY (unranked in 2023; #58 in 1935)

Like the fashionable Sadie, Sally is a Sarah short form that now stands on its own. But while Sadie is a mainstream retro darling, Sally remains in limbo. Mad Men made the name familiar, but that’s part of the problem – Sally remained a Top 100 name from the 1930s into the 1950s, meaning that it might take a few more years to feel truly novel again.

SARAH (#91 in 2023; #61 in 1935)

Odds are you know a Sarah (or maybe a Sara) in nearly every age range. It’s Biblical, feminine, and truly timeless. Because it spent over three decades in the US Top Ten, though, it’s easy to miss the name’s staying power. Reviewing the 1930s names data reminds us of Sarah’s classic status.

SHIRLEY (unranked in 2023; #2 in 1935)

Ages before Ashley, Charlotte Bronte borrowed masculine surname name Shirley for a character in a novel. Then came Shirley Temple and the name became a 1930s chart-topping sensation.

SYLVIA (#426 in 2023; #60 in 1935)

Take the wildly popular Sophia, add the equally compelling middle ‘v’ sound, and you have Sylvia. An ancient name with a woodsy meaning – it comes from silva, forest – Sylvia peaked a little later than Sophia, which might explain why it’s only beginning to rise now. Another factor: Sylvia is competing with sleek Sylvie.

VIRGINIA (#560 in 2023; #16 in 1935)

A place name with ties to Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, Virginia has long been considered a near-classic for our daughters. Virginia Dare and Virginia Woolf are two more famous bearers.

WANDA (unranked in 2023; #49 in 1935)

Marvel’s Scarlet Witch has yet to give Wanda a bump. This bewitching Germanic name last appeared in the US Top 1000 back in the year 1990.

YVONNE (unranked in 2023; #98 in 1935)

One of many names related to Ivo and Yves – referring to the yew tree – Yvonne surged in the 1930s before retreating towards obscurity in recent years. The name’s peak popularity actually came in the 1950s and 60s, perhaps explaining why we love Evelyn and company, but have yet to rediscover sharp and elegant Yvonne.

THE TOP 100 GIRL NAMES of 1935

1. Mary
2. Shirley
3. Barbara
4. Betty
5. Patricia
6. Dorothy
7. Joan
8. Margaret
9. Nancy
10. Helen
11. Carol
12. Joyce
13. Doris
14. Marilyn
15. Ruth
16. Virginia
17. Elizabeth
18. Jean
19. Frances
20. Beverly
21. Lois
22. Janet
23. Donna
24. Martha
25. Alice
26. Dolores
27. Phyllis
28. Carolyn
29. Norma
30. Ann
31. Evelyn
32. Gloria
33. Marie
34. Anna
35. Mildred
36. Peggy
37. Rose
38. Annie
39. Marlene
40. Geraldine
41. Ruby
42. Catherine
43. Jane
44. Joanne
45. Louise
46. Marjorie
47. Janice
48. Eleanor
49. Wanda
50. Sandra
51. Elaine
52. Irene
53. Joann
54. Judith
55. June
56. Patsy
57. Delores
58. Sally
59. Arlene
60. Sylvia
61. Sarah
62. Bonnie
63. Rita
64. Audrey
65. Charlotte
66. Lillian
67. Edna
68. Lorraine
69. Loretta
70. Wilma
71. Kathleen
72. Juanita
73. Jo
74. Florence
75. Josephine
76. Thelma
77. Roberta
78. Gladys
79. Jacqueline
80. Pauline
81. Clara
82. Ethel
83. Grace
84. Anne
85. Lucille
86. Theresa
87. Edith
88. Marion
89. Emma
90. Bernice
91. Darlene
92. Hazel
93. Carole
94. Esther
95. Ellen
96. Sharon
97. Rosemary
98. Yvonne
99. Willie
100. Margie

Do you have any favorite 1930s names? 

First published on January 24, 2014, this post was revised on March 11, 2019; November 27, 2021; July 14, 2022; and January 22, 2024.