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 New Hampshire 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 / 30Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 376
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 297 (#182 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 105,028 (#27 most common name)
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2 / 30Joanne is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 378
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 297 (#182 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 51,613 (#50 most common name)
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3 / 30Ann is a name of Latin origin meaning "grace".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 380
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 297 (#182 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 76,783 (#36 most common name)
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4 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 389
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#269 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
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5 / 30Lorraine is a name of French origin meaning "from the region of Lorraine".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 395
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#269 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 32,968 (#76 most common name)
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6 / 30Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 418
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#269 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 53,092 (#48 most common name)
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7 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 435
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#269 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 112,335 (#26 most common name)
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8 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 460
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#269 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
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9 / 30Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 462
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#269 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,106 (#31 most common name)
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10 / 30Pauline is a name of Latin origin meaning "humble".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 473
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#269 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 21,820 (#98 most common name)
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11 / 30Jane is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 475
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#298 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,483 (#38 most common name)
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12 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 477
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#298 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
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13 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 479
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 260 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
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14 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 492
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
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15 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 533
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
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16 / 30Elaine is a name of French origin meaning shining light.
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 545
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 60,072 (#42 most common name)
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17 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 575
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)
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18 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 575
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
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19 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 592
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)
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20 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 628
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)
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21 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 843
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
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22 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,021
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
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23 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,119
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
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24 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,123
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
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25 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,218
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
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26 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,263
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#76 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
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27 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,318
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#136 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
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28 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,338
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#136 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
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29 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,456
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#136 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
30 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
New Hampshire
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,923
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#136 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
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