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 Louisiana 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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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
1 / 30Annie is a name of English origin meaning "grace".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,741
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 311 (#142 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 38,387 (#79 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
2 / 30Geraldine is a name of German origin meaning "ruler with a spear".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,746
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 311 (#142 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 47,867 (#61 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
3 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,800
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,327 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
4 / 30Marie is a name of French origin meaning "star of the sea".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,800
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 120 (#418 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 57,511 (#47 most common name)
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5 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,809
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 120 (#418 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#23 most common name)
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6 / 30Alice is a name of German origin meaning "noble".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,830
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 450 (#87 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,381 (#41 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
7 / 30Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,832
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 135 (#374 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,421 (#35 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
8 / 30Doris is a name of Greek origin meaning gift of the ocean.
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,860
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 135 (#374 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 64,109 (#43 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
9 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,950
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,740 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
10 / 30Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,974
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,740 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,106 (#31 most common name)
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11 / 30Rose is a name of Latin origin, derived from the word "rosa" which refers to the flower.
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,003
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 281 (#167 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 51,626 (#53 most common name)
riggleton // Shutterstock
12 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,097
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1,012 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
Bodler // Shutterstock
13 / 30Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,116
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,279 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,365 (#30 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
14 / 30Helen is a name of Greek origin meaning "shining light".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,232
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 88 (#524 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 90,739 (#32 most common name)
Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock
15 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,299
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,108 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
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Darren Brode // Shutterstock
16 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,837
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,108 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
17 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,894
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 340 (#126 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
18 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,031
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,548 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
19 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,230
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,548 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
20 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,677
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,548 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 112,335 (#26 most common name)
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Nina Buday // Shutterstock
21 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,996
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,548 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
22 / 30Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,088
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#952 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 105,028 (#27 most common name)
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
23 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,354
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#651 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
24 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,663
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 34 (#901 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,720
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,388 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
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26 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,354
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,222 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
27 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,444
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,222 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".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,163
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#1,222 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,103
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,740 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Louisiana
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 15,584
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 568 (#60 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
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