As history tells, the 1940s were a decade that shaped American life. The country faced World War II, ration books, factory work, radio news, and families waiting for letters from loved ones who were overseas. By the end of the decade, the war was completely over, and people were starting fresh, and the first signs of the baby boom were starting to appear.
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 40s in New York using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.
Keep reading to see if your name made the list.
#30. Elaine
Elaine is a name of French origin meaning shining light.
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,418
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 309 (#553 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 60,072 (#46 most common name)
#29. Jean
Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,633
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#2,156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 80,344 (#36 most common name)
#28. Catherine
Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,659
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 799 (#216 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 62,047 (#45 most common name)
#27. Frances
Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,743
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 486 (#375 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,421 (#35 most common name)
#26. Gail
Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,747
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#3,218 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 53,092 (#53 most common name)
#25. Ellen
Ellen is a name of French origin meaning brilliant.
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,990
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 164 (#935 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 45,367 (#64 most common name)
#24. Eileen
Eileen is a name of Irish origin meaning "little bird".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,018
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 404 (#437 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 34,514 (#89 most common name)
#23. Dorothy
Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,498
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 247 (#671 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
#22. Marie
Marie is a name of French origin meaning "star of the sea".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,818
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 236 (#700 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 57,511 (#48 most common name)
#21. Marilyn
Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,949
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 253 (#654 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#29 most common name)
#20. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,361
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#1,502 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
#19. Joyce
Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,417
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 271 (#624 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
#18. Ann
Ann is a name of Latin origin meaning "grace".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,559
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 111 (#1,252 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 76,783 (#37 most common name)
#17. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,110
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 57 (#1,849 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
#16. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 13,627
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 298 (#578 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)
#15. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 13,691
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,789 (#25 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
#14. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 14,565
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#777 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
#13. Diane
Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 16,074
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#1,833 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)
#12. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 17,678
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 142 (#1,058 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
#11. Margaret
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 18,492
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,031 (#163 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
#10. Joan
Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 19,472
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#1,422 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)
#9. Judith
Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 20,520
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 190 (#834 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
#8. Kathleen
Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 20,722
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 178 (#873 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)
#7. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 20,987
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 193 (#827 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
#6. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 27,814
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 186 (#847 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
#5. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 33,117
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#1,816 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
#4. Linda
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 39,033
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 219 (#742 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
#3. Mary
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 43,258
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 810 (#212 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
#2. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 43,341
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 161 (#950 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
#1. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 45,346
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 200 (#798 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
