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 California 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.
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1 / 30Christine is a name of English origin meaning "follower of Christ".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,419
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 425 (#772 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 54,483 (#51 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
2 / 30Diana is a name of Roman origin meaning "goddess of the hunt".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,449
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 2,463 (#140 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 53,668 (#52 most common name)
ucchie79 // Shutterstock
3 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,207
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 67 (#2,613 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 70,811 (#43 most common name)
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4 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,211
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 520 (#673 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
5 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,383
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 161 (#1,550 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)
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6 / 30Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,484
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 345 (#908 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,995 (#28 most common name)
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7 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,694
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 215 (#1,267 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)
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8 / 30Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,032
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 919 (#403 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#29 most common name)
Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock
9 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,199
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 284 (#1,041 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#23 most common name)
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10 / 30Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,299
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 755 (#496 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 105,028 (#27 most common name)
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11 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,726
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 251 (#1,145 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
12 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,104
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 186 (#1,396 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 73,030 (#39 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,119
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 262 (#1,107 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
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14 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,201
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 194 (#1,347 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)
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15 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,324
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,223 (#306 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
16 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,123
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 141 (#1,679 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
17 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 11,357
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 193 (#1,352 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
18 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,128
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 461 (#731 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
Oleggg // Shutterstock
19 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,141
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 254 (#1,136 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
20 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,256
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 761 (#491 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)
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21 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,735
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 284 (#1,041 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
22 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 15,167
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 476 (#716 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
javi_indy // Shutterstock
23 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 16,396
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 464 (#727 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
24 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 18,340
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 152 (#1,602 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
25 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 18,467
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 304 (#988 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
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26 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 19,489
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 202 (#1,317 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
27 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 22,302
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 392 (#819 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
28 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 24,567
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 362 (#874 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
29 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 28,387
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,247 (#303 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
30 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
California
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 38,381
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 589 (#606 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
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