Most Popular Baby Names Of The 1940s

The top 100 girls’ and boys’ names across 1940–1949. Explore their meanings, histories, and popularity today.

Name & meaning	Babies 2025 · rank	5-year rank movement	Peak year
Terry Several origins: Terence or Theresa familiar form, or a Thierry surname	192#1,116	Down 183 rank positions in five years	1957
Harry Home ruler, through Henry; also a familiar form of other Har names	329#775	Down 56 rank positions in five years	1918
Gloria Glory	437#655	Down 77 rank positions in five years	1947
Ralph Counsel; advice + wolf	211#1,048	Up 54 rank positions in five years	1921
Roy Red, through Ruadh; also associated with French king	570#525	Up 47 rank positions in five years	1947
Louis Famous in battle	1,391#249	Up 11 rank positions in five years	1921
Janice God is gracious, through Jane	70#2,522	Down 560 rank positions in five years	1951
Theresa Meaning uncertain; Teresa name family	136#1,559	Down 149 rank positions in five years	1961
Bruce Probably from Brix, through the Scottish surname	558#536	Down 38 rank positions in five years	1956
Billy Will + helmet, through William	203#1,068	Down 69 rank positions in five years	1934
Judy Jewish woman; woman from Judea, through Judith	105#1,874	Down 291 rank positions in five years	1947
Eugene Well born	249#943	Down 103 rank positions in five years	1927
Jane God is gracious	1,380#221	Up 43 rank positions in five years	1947
Beverly Beaver clearing or beaver stream, through Beverley	246#1,018	Up 249 rank positions in five years	1953
Marilyn Combination of Mary and the name ending -lyn	356#761	Down 127 rank positions in five years	1947
Diana Divine; goddesslike	1,277#244	Up 1 rank positions in five years	1957
Alan Breton name of uncertain meaning; also a Kurdish tribal name	1,915#191	Up 3 rank positions in five years	1955
Annie Grace; favor, through Anne	1,690#182	Up 107 rank positions in five years	1922
Russell Little red one	944#345	Up 25 rank positions in five years	1960
Wayne Wagon maker	422#655	Up 120 rank positions in five years	1947
Howard Several surname origins: Hughard, Hávarðr, or ewe herder	226#1,004	Up 40 rank positions in five years	1921
Philip Friend of horses	568#528	Down 75 rank positions in five years	1953
Fred Peaceful ruler in the Frederick family; elf counsel in the Alfred family	80#1,936	Down 134 rank positions in five years	1924
Louise Famous in battle, through Louis	579#516	Up 165 rank positions in five years	1921
Kathy Traditionally pure, through Katherine; deeper origin disputed	48#3,274	Down 1,091 rank positions in five years	1958
Lois Possibly better or more desirable in Greek; Galician form of Louis	124#1,670	Up 176 rank positions in five years	1927
Bonnie Fine, beautiful	785#396	Up 210 rank positions in five years	1947
Anne Grace in the Anna family; eagle in the Frisian masculine name	472#619	Up 7 rank positions in five years	1959
Phyllis Foliage	7#12,869	Down 6,846 rank positions in five years	1947
Johnny Yahweh is gracious, through John	682#458	Down 70 rank positions in five years	1947
Theodore Gift of God	13,355#4	Up 19 rank positions in five years	2025
Martin Of Mars	1,009#335	Down 42 rank positions in five years	1963
Bobby Bright fame, through Robert	195#1,097	Down 247 rank positions in five years	1937
Phillip Friend of horses, through Philip	425#651	Down 132 rank positions in five years	1960
Clarence From the town of Clare	117#1,500	Down 173 rank positions in five years	1921
Ernest Serious, earnest; older Germanic vigor or strife	213#1,040	Down 31 rank positions in five years	1921
Stanley Stone clearing	278#863	Down 128 rank positions in five years	1954
Leonard Brave lion	438#637	Down 2 rank positions in five years	1921
Peggy Pearl, through Margaret	12#8,738	Down 2,718 rank positions in five years	1958
Francis Frenchman	769#420	Up 62 rank positions in five years	1918
Earl Nobleman, warrior; from the title earl	63#2,236	Down 161 rank positions in five years	1921
Jimmy Traditionally supplanter, through James	291#847	Down 120 rank positions in five years	1947
Danny God is my judge, through Daniel	445#628	Down 61 rank positions in five years	1954
Rita Pearl in the Margaret family; also a South Asian name	174#1,287	Down 53 rank positions in five years	1949
Wanda Possibly a Wend; Polish legendary name	20#6,095	Up 519 rank positions in five years	1957
Paula Small	318#855	Down 31 rank positions in five years	1963
Dale Valley	129#1,410	Down 54 rank positions in five years	1958
Norma Possibly rule or pattern; also a feminine form of Norman	95#2,012	Up 360 rank positions in five years	1931
Ellen Possibly torch or moon (Helen); also an Eleonora familiar form	230#1,062	Down 253 rank positions in five years	1951
Marjorie Pearl, through Margery	246#1,019	Up 117 rank positions in five years	1921

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Year by year in the 1940s

1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949

This list includes the top 100 girls’ and boys’ names by total use across 1940–1949. Table birth counts and ranks show 2025, and rank movement covers the latest five years. Search, filters, and sorting stay within this decade’s name list.

Counts are based on U.S. births and are tracked separately for girls and boys. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year aren’t published for that year, so totals here are a floor — the shortfall is largest in the sparse early years.