Most popular baby names of 1935

The top three names for American girls remained remarkably stable from 1934 to 1935, with Mary holding firmly to the #1 spot both years. However, there was a notable shift in the next two positions, with Betty dropping from second place to fourth, allowing Barbara to move up from third to second. Shirley made an impressive climb from fourth to claim the third position in 1935. For boys, the top three names showed complete stability across both years, with Robert, James, and John maintaining their respective first, second, and third positions.

Among the top 10 girls' names in 1935, Nancy made the most significant gain, climbing from tenth place to ninth. Patricia held steady at fifth place, while Dorothy dropped from fifth to sixth place. Joan, Margaret and Helen maintained consistent popularity with minimal movement. The traditional name Mary continued its reign as America's favorite girl's name, demonstrating its enduring appeal through the mid-1930s. Names beginning with "M" were particularly prominent among girls, with Mary and Margaret both appearing in the top 10.

The top 10 boys' names in 1935 showed remarkable consistency compared to the previous year. Robert, James, and John firmly held the top three spots, continuing their long-standing popularity. The only significant movement was Donald dropping from sixth to seventh place, while Charles moved up from seventh to sixth. William, Richard, George, Thomas, and Joseph rounded out the top 10, all maintaining relatively stable positions. Traditional, biblical names continued to dominate boys' naming patterns, with John, Thomas, and Joseph reflecting this trend.

Looking at the broader naming patterns, short, traditional names remained the preference for both genders in the mid-1930s. For girls, names ending in "-y" sounds were particularly prevalent (Mary, Betty, Shirley, Dorothy), while boys' names often featured strong consonant endings like Robert and Richard. There was a noticeable preference for classic English and biblical names across both genders. The data shows that parents in this era generally favored time-tested, conventional names over more novel choices, with very few new entries appearing in the top 50 for either gender between 1934 and 1935.

Top baby names of 1935