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 Rhode Island 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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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
1 / 30Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 562
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,152 (#84 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#28 most common name)
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2 / 30Gail is a name of Hebrew origin meaning joy.
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 579
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,152 (#84 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 53,092 (#48 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
3 / 30Maureen is a name of Gaelic origin meaning "star of the sea".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 595
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,152 (#84 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 30,029 (#86 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
4 / 30Jane is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 601
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#377 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,483 (#38 most common name)
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5 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 646
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#19 most common name)
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6 / 30Marie is a name of French origin meaning "star of the sea".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 647
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 57,511 (#44 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
7 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 650
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#15 most common name)
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8 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 660
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#20 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
9 / 30Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 668
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,106 (#30 most common name)
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10 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 697
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#11 most common name)
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11 / 30Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 707
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 80,344 (#35 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
12 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 804
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#21 most common name)
riggleton // Shutterstock
13 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 829
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#428 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#22 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
14 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 870
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 80 (#106 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#12 most common name)
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15 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 896
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#24 most common name)
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16 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 910
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#16 most common name)
FamVeld // Shutterstock
17 / 30Ann is a name of Latin origin meaning "grace".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 913
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 76,783 (#36 most common name)
s_oleg // Shutterstock
18 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 936
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#18 most common name)
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19 / 30Elaine is a name of French origin meaning shining light.
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 951
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 60,072 (#42 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
20 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,108
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#23 most common name)
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21 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,204
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#17 most common name)
Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock
22 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,301
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#9 most common name)
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23 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,410
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
24 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,512
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#8 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
25 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,513
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 218 (#27 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
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26 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,168
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
Lopolo // Shutterstock
27 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,188
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock
28 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,243
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock
29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,246
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
Mcimage // Shutterstock
30 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Rhode Island
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,412
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
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