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 Kentucky 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 / 30Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,435
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 119 (#372 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,995 (#28 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
2 / 30Ruth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "friend".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,508
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#228 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,639 (#34 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
3 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,515
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#228 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
4 / 30Helen is a name of Greek origin meaning "shining light".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,624
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#478 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 90,739 (#32 most common name)
Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock
5 / 30Peggy is a name of English origin meaning pearl.
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,691
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#478 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,044 (#42 most common name)
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Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
6 / 30Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,797
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#580 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 86,868 (#33 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
7 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,804
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#527 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
8 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,814
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,250 (#12 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
9 / 30Anna is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,142
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 721 (#41 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 41,220 (#70 most common name)
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10 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,569
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 341 (#121 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
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11 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,632
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#614 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
12 / 30Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,636
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 99 (#435 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,365 (#30 most common name)
Coy_Creek // Shutterstock
13 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,644
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 99 (#435 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#23 most common name)
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
14 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,874
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 99 (#435 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
15 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,940
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,194 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
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16 / 30Phyllis is a name of Greek origin meaning "green leaf".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,997
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,194 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 76,107 (#38 most common name)
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17 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,008
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,194 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
18 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,573
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#910 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
19 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,626
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#679 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
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20 / 30Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,681
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#679 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 50,663 (#55 most common name)
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21 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,021
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,449 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
22 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,225
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
23 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,875
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
24 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,992
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#740 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
25 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,315
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#952 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 112,335 (#26 most common name)
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26 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,195
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,012 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
27 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,638
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#1,103 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)
Impact Photography // Shutterstock
28 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,119
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#580 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
FreelySky // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,625
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#635 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
Max Bukovski // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 16,761
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 530 (#68 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
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