Most popular girl names in the 40s in Missouri

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 Missouri 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.

You may also like: Coldest Marches in Missouri since 1895

Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock

1 / 30

#30. Connie

Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,387
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,034 (#86 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 56,507 (#49 most common name)

New Africa // Shutterstock

2 / 30

#29. Joan

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,425
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,460 most common name)

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

Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

3 / 30

#28. Martha

Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,543
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#607 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,365 (#30 most common name)

photoDiod // Shutterstock

4 / 30

#27. Virginia

Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,637
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 126 (#471 most common name)

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

Max Bukovski // Shutterstock

5 / 30

#26. Ruth

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,881
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 317 (#191 most common name)

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

You may also like: Coldest Octobers in Missouri since 1895

Maria Evseyeva // Shutterstock

6 / 30

#25. Brenda

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,965
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,865 most common name)

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

Coy_Creek // Shutterstock

7 / 30

#24. Dorothy

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,036
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 165 (#374 most common name)

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

CroMary // Shutterstock

8 / 30

#23. Beverly

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,154
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#1,120 most common name)

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

DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

9 / 30

#22. Kathleen

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,183
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#943 most common name)

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

Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

10 / 30

#21. Marilyn

Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,489
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#799 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#29 most common name)

Lopolo // Shutterstock

11 / 30

#20. Janice

Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,692
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#799 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#23 most common name)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

12 / 30

#19. Margaret

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,836
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 632 (#81 most common name)

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

Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock

13 / 30

#18. Susan

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,500
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#865 most common name)

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

javi_indy // Shutterstock

14 / 30

#17. Janet

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,657
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#865 most common name)

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

Studio Romantic // Shutterstock

15 / 30

#16. Karen

Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,947
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 31 (#1,060 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)

Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock

16 / 30

#15. Joyce

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,269
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#1,207 most common name)

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

Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

17 / 30

#14. Betty

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,604
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 73 (#702 most common name)

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

Fuller Photography // Shutterstock

18 / 30

#13. Shirley

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,773
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 73 (#702 most common name)

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

Nina Buday // Shutterstock

19 / 30

#12. Judy

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,788
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 73 (#702 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

20 / 30

#11. Nancy

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,995
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#989 most common name)

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

You may also like: The 20 most competitive housing markets in Missouri

phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

21 / 30

#10. Donna

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,176
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,460 most common name)

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

Darren Brode // Shutterstock

22 / 30

#9. Carolyn

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,343
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#752 most common name)

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

Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock

23 / 30

#8. Judith

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,592
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 50 (#857 most common name)

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

Matva // Shutterstock

24 / 30

#7. Sandra

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,866
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#1,249 most common name)

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

Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

25 / 30

#6. Carol

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,280
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#1,249 most common name)

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

Mcimage // Shutterstock

26 / 30

#5. Sharon

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,133
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 25 (#1,134 most common name)

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

Durganand // Shutterstock

27 / 30

#4. Patricia

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,188
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#933 most common name)

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

Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

28 / 30

#3. Barbara

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 11,230
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#723 most common name)

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

FreelySky // Shutterstock

29 / 30

#2. Linda

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 14,871
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#827 most common name)

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

DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

30 / 30

#1. Mary

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

Missouri
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 18,433
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 604 (#86 most common name)

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

You may also like: Most commonly seen birds in Missouri