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 Delaware 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 / 30Jane is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 225
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#293 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,483 (#35 most common name)
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2 / 30Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 227
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#293 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,421 (#31 most common name)
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3 / 30Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 232
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#293 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,106 (#27 most common name)
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4 / 30Phyllis is a name of Greek origin meaning "green leaf".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 237
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#293 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 76,107 (#34 most common name)
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5 / 30Doris is a name of Greek origin meaning gift of the ocean.
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 243
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#293 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 64,109 (#38 most common name)
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6 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 247
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#293 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#15 most common name)
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7 / 30Joanne is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 262
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#293 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 51,613 (#45 most common name)
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8 / 30Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 286
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 16 (#293 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,995 (#26 most common name)
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9 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 295
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#448 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#18 most common name)
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10 / 30Ruth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "friend".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 303
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#323 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,639 (#30 most common name)
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11 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 308
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#323 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#10 most common name)
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12 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 311
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#323 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#19 most common name)
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13 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 312
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#323 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#20 most common name)
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14 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 325
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#323 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
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15 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 357
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#323 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#16 most common name)
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16 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 369
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#323 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#11 most common name)
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17 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 376
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#323 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#13 most common name)
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18 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 393
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 219 (#16 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#23 most common name)
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19 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 401
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 219 (#16 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#8 most common name)
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20 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 410
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 219 (#16 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#22 most common name)
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21 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 441
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 219 (#16 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#17 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
22 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 469
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 219 (#16 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#9 most common name)
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23 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 598
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 219 (#16 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
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24 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 607
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#176 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#12 most common name)
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25 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 641
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#176 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
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26 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 662
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#176 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
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27 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 768
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#176 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
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28 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 966
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#176 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
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29 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,162
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#176 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Delaware
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,299
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#187 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
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