Most popular girl names in the 40s in North Carolina

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 North Carolina 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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#30. Phyllis

Phyllis is a name of Greek origin meaning "green leaf".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,118
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 84 (#195 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 76,107 (#38 most common name)

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#29. Judith

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,139
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 92 (#905 most common name)

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

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#28. Sarah

Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,275
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,048 (#84 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 39,844 (#75 most common name)

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#27. Virginia

Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,340
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 371 (#287 most common name)

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

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#26. Rebecca

Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "servant of God".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,371
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 384 (#275 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 45,186 (#64 most common name)

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#25. Carol

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,568
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#2,798 most common name)

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

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#24. Gloria

Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,613
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 144 (#644 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 105,028 (#27 most common name)

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#23. Alice

Alice is a name of German origin meaning "noble".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,760
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 960 (#91 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,381 (#40 most common name)

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#22. Helen

Helen is a name of Greek origin meaning "shining light".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,873
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 255 (#422 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 90,739 (#32 most common name)

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#21. Janice

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,962
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,502 most common name)

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

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#20. Frances

Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,344
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 261 (#411 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,421 (#35 most common name)

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#19. Doris

Doris is a name of Greek origin meaning gift of the ocean.

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,461
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#2,502 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 64,109 (#42 most common name)

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#18. Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,738
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,069 (#10 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)

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#17. Annie

Annie is a name of English origin meaning "grace".

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,980
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 433 (#236 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 38,387 (#78 most common name)

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#16. Peggy

Peggy is a name of English origin meaning pearl.

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,080
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 433 (#236 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,044 (#41 most common name)

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#15. Martha

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,406
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 120 (#762 most common name)

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

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#14. Dorothy

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,005
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 217 (#475 most common name)

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

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#13. Joyce

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,171
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#1,198 most common name)

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

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#12. Margaret

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,332
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 870 (#108 most common name)

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

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#11. Sandra

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,379
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 57 (#1,210 most common name)

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

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#10. Nancy

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,519
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#1,040 most common name)

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

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#9. Judy

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,942
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 19 (#1,839 most common name)

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

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#8. Shirley

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,321
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 32 (#1,551 most common name)

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

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#7. Carolyn

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,602
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 111 (#797 most common name)

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

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#6. Patricia

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,616
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 77 (#1,032 most common name)

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

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#5. Betty

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 11,830
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 46 (#1,341 most common name)

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

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#4. Brenda

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,161
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#1,131 most common name)

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

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#3. Barbara

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 13,099
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 31 (#1,574 most common name)

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

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#2. Linda

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 19,028
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 92 (#905 most common name)

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

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#1. Mary

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

North Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 23,554
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,034 (#86 most common name)

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