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 Jersey 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 / 30Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,706
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 130 (#575 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,421 (#35 most common name)
Oleggg // Shutterstock
2 / 30Joanne is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,716
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#1,343 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 51,613 (#54 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
3 / 30Eileen is a name of Irish origin meaning "little bird".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,757
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 143 (#539 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 34,514 (#88 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
4 / 30Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,904
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,040 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 80,344 (#36 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
5 / 30Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,938
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#953 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#29 most common name)
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6 / 30Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,054
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#953 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 53,092 (#52 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
7 / 30Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,096
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 72 (#902 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,995 (#28 most common name)
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8 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,160
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#1,219 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)
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9 / 30Marie is a name of French origin meaning "star of the sea".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,216
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#945 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 57,511 (#47 most common name)
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10 / 30Elaine is a name of French origin meaning shining light.
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,250
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 117 (#626 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 60,072 (#45 most common name)
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11 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,261
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,957 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
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12 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,424
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#784 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
Haywiremedia // Shutterstock
13 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,057
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 88 (#775 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
14 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,059
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 135 (#552 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
15 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,099
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,274 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
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16 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,326
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 108 (#672 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock
17 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,731
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,554 (#38 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
Fuller Photography // Shutterstock
18 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,803
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#1,072 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
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19 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,578
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#1,072 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)
riggleton // Shutterstock
20 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,099
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 433 (#188 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
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21 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,667
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,040 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
22 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,354
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#1,137 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
Blend Images // Shutterstock
23 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,458
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#761 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
24 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,760
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 74 (#885 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
25 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,873
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 62 (#976 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
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26 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 11,399
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 65 (#953 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
27 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 11,846
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,875 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
28 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,831
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 313 (#266 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
29 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 16,080
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#1,063 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
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30 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
New Jersey
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 16,619
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 36 (#1,264 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
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