Most popular girl names in the 40s in Maryland

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 Maryland 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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#30. Virginia

Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,499
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 105 (#518 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,995 (#28 most common name)

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#29. Catherine

Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,534
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 261 (#213 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 62,047 (#43 most common name)

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#28. Ruth

Ruth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "friend".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,606
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 313 (#176 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,639 (#34 most common name)

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#27. Beverly

Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,662
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,387 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,106 (#31 most common name)

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#26. Diane

Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,681
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,840 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)

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#25. Frances

Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,686
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 112 (#490 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,421 (#35 most common name)

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#24. Helen

Helen is a name of Greek origin meaning "shining light".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,695
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 217 (#263 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 90,739 (#32 most common name)

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#23. Kathleen

Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,725
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#987 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)

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#22. Brenda

Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,840
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,113 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 112,335 (#26 most common name)

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#21. Janet

Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,918
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#1,163 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)

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#20. Gloria

Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,930
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 119 (#463 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 105,028 (#27 most common name)

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#19. Donna

Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,174
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 119 (#463 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)

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#18. Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,212
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,504 (#12 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)

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#17. Judith

Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,261
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#1,028 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)

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#16. Dorothy

Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,487
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 100 (#539 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)

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#15. Joan

Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,570
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 100 (#539 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)

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#14. Betty

Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,637
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,840 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)

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#13. Susan

Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,805
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1,061 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)

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#12. Shirley

Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,884
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,443 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)

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#11. Joyce

Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,978
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#732 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)

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#10. Sharon

Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,109
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#893 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)

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#9. Carolyn

Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,117
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#1,044 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)

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#8. Sandra

Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,289
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#881 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)

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#7. Margaret

Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,647
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 455 (#110 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)

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#6. Carol

Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,769
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 455 (#110 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)

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#5. Nancy

Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,183
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#780 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)

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#4. Linda

Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,026
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 52 (#798 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)

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#3. Patricia

Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,309
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#1,028 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)

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#2. Barbara

Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,534
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 28 (#1,028 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)

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#1. Mary

Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".

Maryland
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,699
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 362 (#146 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)

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