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 Pennsylvania 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. Joanne
Joanne is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,649
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#1,846 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 51,613 (#54 most common name)
#29. Judy
Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,863
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#2,092 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)
#28. Jean
Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,995
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,451 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 80,344 (#36 most common name)
#27. Helen
Helen is a name of Greek origin meaning "shining light".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,071
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 167 (#630 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 90,739 (#32 most common name)
#26. Beverly
Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,133
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,729 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,106 (#31 most common name)
#25. Bonnie
Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,146
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#1,106 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 86,868 (#33 most common name)
#24. Carolyn
Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,360
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 179 (#586 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)
#23. Betty
Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,160
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 94 (#911 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)
#22. Ruth
Ruth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "friend".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,207
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 531 (#220 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,639 (#34 most common name)
#21. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,701
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#966 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
#20. Diane
Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,790
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#1,931 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)
#19. Shirley
Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,467
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 36 (#1,474 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
#18. Dorothy
Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,634
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 251 (#441 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
#17. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,805
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,835 (#16 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
#16. Joyce
Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,148
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#932 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
#15. Karen
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 11,086
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 127 (#759 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)
#14. Janet
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 11,090
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#2,038 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
#13. Joan
Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 11,843
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#1,209 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)
#12. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 14,479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,724 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
#11. Kathleen
Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 14,577
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 163 (#645 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)
#10. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 15,193
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 277 (#394 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
#9. Margaret
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 15,801
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 970 (#100 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
#8. Judith
Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 18,297
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#1,049 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
#7. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 19,842
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 33 (#1,521 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
#6. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 21,159
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 253 (#436 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
#5. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 27,871
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,451 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".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 31,224
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 342 (#334 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
#3. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 33,452
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 306 (#370 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
#2. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 33,480
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 70 (#1,098 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
#1. Mary
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Pennsylvania
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 42,678
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,152 (#84 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)