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 South 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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1 / 30Alice is a name of German origin meaning "noble".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,556
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 460 (#80 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,381 (#40 most common name)
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2 / 30Ruth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "friend".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,565
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#234 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,639 (#34 most common name)
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3 / 30Willie is a name of English origin meaning "resolute".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,573
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#234 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 17,907 (#137 most common name)
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4 / 30Mildred is a name of Old English origin meaning "gentle strength".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,592
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#234 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 32,927 (#91 most common name)
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5 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,620
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#234 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
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6 / 30Peggy is a name of English origin meaning pearl.
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,844
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#234 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,044 (#41 most common name)
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7 / 30Rosa is a name of Latin origin meaning "rose".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,916
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 58 (#639 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 16,517 (#141 most common name)
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8 / 30Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,994
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 179 (#261 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,995 (#28 most common name)
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9 / 30Doris is a name of Greek origin meaning gift of the ocean.
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,031
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 179 (#261 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 64,109 (#42 most common name)
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10 / 30Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,227
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 43 (#750 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 105,028 (#27 most common name)
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11 / 30Helen is a name of Greek origin meaning "shining light".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,407
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 119 (#392 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 90,739 (#32 most common name)
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12 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,461
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 119 (#392 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
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13 / 30Sarah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,607
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 526 (#68 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 39,844 (#75 most common name)
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14 / 30Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,771
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 131 (#362 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,421 (#35 most common name)
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15 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,844
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 131 (#362 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)
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16 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,029
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,498 (#8 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
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17 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,265
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 26 (#908 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
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18 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,357
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 22 (#963 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
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19 / 30Annie is a name of English origin meaning "grace".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,548
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 193 (#240 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 38,387 (#78 most common name)
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20 / 30Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,562
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 40 (#775 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,365 (#30 most common name)
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21 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,871
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 572 (#59 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
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22 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,976
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 48 (#716 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)
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23 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,206
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,396 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 112,335 (#26 most common name)
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24 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,449
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 88 (#503 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
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25 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,545
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 88 (#503 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
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26 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,572
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#1,328 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
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27 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,612
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#1,162 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
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28 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,319
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,257 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)
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29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,860
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,057 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
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30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
South Carolina
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 16,195
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 716 (#37 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
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