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 York 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 / 30Elaine is a name of French origin meaning shining light.
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,418
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 309 (#553 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 60,072 (#46 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
2 / 30Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,633
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#2,156 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 80,344 (#36 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
3 / 30Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,659
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 799 (#216 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 62,047 (#45 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
4 / 30Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,743
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 486 (#375 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,421 (#35 most common name)
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5 / 30Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,747
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#3,218 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 53,092 (#53 most common name)
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6 / 30Ellen is a name of French origin meaning brilliant.
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,990
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 164 (#935 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 45,367 (#64 most common name)
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7 / 30Eileen is a name of Irish origin meaning "little bird".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,018
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 404 (#437 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 34,514 (#89 most common name)
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8 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,498
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 247 (#671 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
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9 / 30Marie is a name of French origin meaning "star of the sea".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,818
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 236 (#700 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 57,511 (#48 most common name)
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10 / 30Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,949
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 253 (#654 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#29 most common name)
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11 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,361
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#1,502 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
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12 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,417
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 271 (#624 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
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13 / 30Ann is a name of Latin origin meaning "grace".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,559
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 111 (#1,252 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 76,783 (#37 most common name)
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14 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,110
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 57 (#1,849 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
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15 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 13,627
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 298 (#578 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)
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16 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 13,691
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,789 (#25 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
17 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 14,565
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#777 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
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18 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 16,074
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#1,833 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)
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19 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 17,678
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 142 (#1,058 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
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20 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 18,492
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,031 (#163 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 York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 19,472
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 91 (#1,422 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)
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22 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 20,520
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 190 (#834 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
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23 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 20,722
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 178 (#873 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)
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24 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 20,987
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 193 (#827 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
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25 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 27,814
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 186 (#847 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
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26 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 33,117
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#1,816 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
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27 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 39,033
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 219 (#742 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
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28 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 43,258
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 810 (#212 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
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29 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 43,341
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 161 (#950 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
30 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
New York
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 45,346
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 200 (#798 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
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