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 Mexico 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 / 30Marie is a name of French origin meaning "star of the sea".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 480
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#349 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 57,511 (#45 most common name)
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2 / 30Irene is a name of Greek origin meaning "peace".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 501
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#349 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 31,772 (#94 most common name)
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3 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 511
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#349 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
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4 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 515
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#349 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
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5 / 30Patsy is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 516
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 37 (#349 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 40,162 (#70 most common name)
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6 / 30Rita is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 521
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#810 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 49,796 (#55 most common name)
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7 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 561
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#810 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
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8 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 572
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#810 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)
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9 / 30Alice is a name of German origin meaning "noble".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 584
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 158 (#84 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,381 (#39 most common name)
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10 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 589
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 361 (#21 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
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11 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 652
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 361 (#21 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
12 / 30Rose is a name of Latin origin, derived from the word "rosa" which refers to the flower.
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 653
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 89 (#180 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 51,626 (#51 most common name)
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13 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 695
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 89 (#180 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)
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14 / 30Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 698
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 89 (#180 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,365 (#29 most common name)
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15 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 705
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#810 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
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16 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 719
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#810 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
17 / 30Dolores is a name of Latin origin meaning "sorrows".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 730
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#810 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 32,974 (#87 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
18 / 30Helen is a name of Greek origin meaning "shining light".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 760
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#552 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 90,739 (#31 most common name)
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19 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 771
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#552 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
20 / 30Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 786
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#552 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,995 (#27 most common name)
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21 / 30Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 827
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#714 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,421 (#34 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
22 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 835
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#714 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
Michael Pettigrew // Shutterstock
23 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,005
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 31 (#390 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
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24 / 30Maria is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "sea of bitterness".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,026
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#94 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 35,234 (#81 most common name)
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25 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,109
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 150 (#94 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)
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26 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,288
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#810 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
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27 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,321
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 9 (#661 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 30Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,341
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#566 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 105,028 (#26 most common name)
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29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,809
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#566 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
Marko Poplasen // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
New Mexico
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,227
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 75 (#212 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
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