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 Wisconsin 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 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,074
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#169 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 70,811 (#43 most common name)
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2 / 30Ruth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "friend".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,385
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 334 (#159 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,639 (#34 most common name)
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3 / 30Darlene is a name of English origin meaning "little dear one".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,418
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,626 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 40,235 (#71 most common name)
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4 / 30Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,582
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 21 (#1,050 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,106 (#31 most common name)
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5 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,731
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 24 (#1,007 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
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6 / 30Jane is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,747
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 162 (#332 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,483 (#40 most common name)
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7 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,764
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 30 (#939 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)
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8 / 30Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,772
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 92 (#545 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#29 most common name)
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9 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,210
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#1,465 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
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10 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,285
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,626 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#23 most common name)
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11 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,403
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 560 (#81 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
12 / 30Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,525
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#767 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 86,868 (#33 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
13 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,532
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#767 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock
14 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,579
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,329 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)
Oleggg // Shutterstock
15 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,810
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,329 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)
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16 / 30Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,822
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,329 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 80,344 (#36 most common name)
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17 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,641
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,626 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
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18 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,217
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,626 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)
Kateryna Gurska // Shutterstock
19 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,276
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#767 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
20 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,198
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 36 (#881 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)
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21 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,224
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#972 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock
22 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,308
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 55 (#739 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
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23 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,364
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 41 (#842 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)
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24 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,468
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#702 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
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25 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,852
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,329 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
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Liudmila Fadzeyeva // Shutterstock
26 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,269
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,329 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
Studio Romantic // Shutterstock
27 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,950
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#1,021 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock
28 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,039
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 34 (#898 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
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29 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,765
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 45 (#806 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
Darren Brode // Shutterstock
30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Wisconsin
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 18,027
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 351 (#151 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
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