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 Oregon 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.
You may also like: See how Oregon ranks for auto mechanic pay
DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock
1 / 30Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 725
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 896 (#117 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 80,344 (#36 most common name)
FreelySky // Shutterstock
2 / 30Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 767
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 61 (#516 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,995 (#28 most common name)
Nolte Lourens // Shutterstock
3 / 30Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 900
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 79 (#431 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 86,868 (#33 most common name)
Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
4 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 905
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 79 (#431 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)
Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock
5 / 30Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 961
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#953 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,106 (#31 most common name)
You may also like: Renters in Oregon aren't moving. Here's what the data shows.
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
6 / 30Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,017
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 14 (#953 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 73,030 (#39 most common name)
Durganand // Shutterstock
7 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,072
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#904 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
New Africa // Shutterstock
8 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,096
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 272 (#120 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock
9 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,109
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 29 (#742 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)
Dasha Muller // Shutterstock
10 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,176
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 29 (#742 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)
You may also like: Best draft picks in Portland Trail Blazers history
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
11 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,181
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 29 (#742 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 70,811 (#42 most common name)
Impact Photography // Shutterstock
12 / 30Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,237
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 53 (#556 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#29 most common name)
Aaron Amat // Shutterstock
13 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,274
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,058 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)
Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock
14 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,332
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,058 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
15 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,498
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,058 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#23 most common name)
You may also like: Cities with the most UFO sightings in Oregon
Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock
16 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,653
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,058 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
Coy_Creek // Shutterstock
17 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,840
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,058 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)
Natalia Kirichenko // Shutterstock
18 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,982
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,058 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
George Rudy // Shutterstock
19 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,221
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#938 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
CroMary // Shutterstock
20 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,269
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#938 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)
You may also like: Costs of long-term care and senior living in Oregon
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
21 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,369
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 25 (#791 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)
Oleggg // Shutterstock
22 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,544
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#806 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
Surne1shots // Shutterstock
23 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,688
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#968 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
24 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,873
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,108 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
Krystyna Taran // Shutterstock
25 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,013
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,108 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
You may also like: Best colleges in Oregon
Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock
26 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,085
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,108 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
27 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,215
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,023 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
28 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,462
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#1,023 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
Africa Studio // Shutterstock
29 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,791
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 164 (#231 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock
30 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Oregon
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,886
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#992 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
You may also like: 48% of Oregon children with ADHD receive behavior treatment. Why experts recommend it