"It’s hard to imagine what it must have been like growing your family in the 1940s. Some babies were born against the backdrop of World War II, while others marked the start of a new generation after the war—the Baby Boomers, beginning in 1946. But when it comes to baby names, a few things have remained the same since the 1940s. William and James are still among the top names for boys, and Elizabeth is an enduring girl name. But it might be surprising to see which other names were popular over 80 years ago.
In the 1940s, “traditional” names were the norm when it came to male and female picks. So it was rare to see a girl with a “boy’s name” or gender-neutral names for babies—which are both baby naming trends today. Additionally, while many boy names tend to stay at the top of the charts decade to decade, no female baby names appear in the top 10 for both the 1940s and the 2010s. Showing that girl names tend to be more creative and shift more over time. For example, ’Mary,’ ‘Linda,’ ‘Barbara,’ ‘Patricia,’ ‘Carol,’ and ‘Nancy’ were all in the top 10 in the 1940s but are low on the list today, replaced by popular girl names like ‘Emma,’ ‘Olivia,’ ‘Sophia,’ ‘Isabella,’ ‘Ava,’ and ‘Mia.’
Only time will tell which names become mainstays on the list in the future, but looking in the past for baby name inspiration can be a great place for expecting parents to start. And no doubt many names on this list can be found in your family tree if you are looking to carry on a family name. Here are some favorite 1940s names to consider for babies born this year.
Cute 1940s Names for Baby Girls
Alice
With meanings like “royal” and “exalted,” it’s no surprise this old-fashioned girls’ name is coming back. Alice has followed the 100-year rule for baby names and is as popular today as it was in the 1940s.
Annette
Before Britney Spears came to The Mickey Mouse Club, famous 1940s-born actress and singer Annette Funicello got her start there, too. So if looking for a girl’s name with a little flair, consider the French-derived Annette. Meaning “grace” and “favor,” this pretty name exudes femininity.
Betty
Betty would fit well among the other vintage baby names that have gained popularity in recent years. Not to mention Taylor Swift brought the name back to the zeitgeist thanks to the song on her Folklore album.
Bobbie
Gender-neutral names weren’t completely unheard of in the 1940s, and this nickname for Roberta became popular as a first name on its own. Today Bobbie fits the current trend of boy names for girls and means “bright fame.”
Carolyn
A pretty pick for a little free spirit, Carolyn is a feminine variation of the popular boys’ name Charles and means “free person.”
Dorothy
Wicked-mania and the growing trend of old-fashioned names for girls may have this popular 1940s name, meaning “gift of god,” coming back.
Gwendolyn
This feminine 1940s name is color-inspired, meaning “blessed” and “white ring.” This pick could be perfect for your new little angel.
Peggy
Peggy joins Patsy and Penny as cute girl names that start with “P” from the 1940s. A diminutive of the also-popular Margaret, Peggy is a nickname that became a first name and means “pearl.” Retro-enthusiasts might even consider the middle name ‘Sue’ for a baby Peggy so they can serenade a new little girl with Buddy Holly’s famous tune.
Rosealie
Of French origin, the pretty floral-inspired name Rosealie means “rose garden” and is a more unique pick than Rose or Rosie.
Sylvia
Meaning “spirit of the wood,” your little girl might be prone to a fairy phase in early childhood with this pretty pick. This Latin-derived name could be a more unique alternative to the currently popular ‘Sophia.’ Plus, Livi is an adorable nickname.
Most Popular Girl Names in the 1940s
A few 1940s names have already come back as top girl names, including ‘Eleanor,’ ‘Evelyn,’ and ‘Charlotte.’ For more vintage baby name inspiration, here is the full list of the 200 most popular girl names in the 1940s, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
- Mary
- Linda
- Barbara
- Patricia
- Carol
- Sandra
- Nancy
- Sharon
- Judith
- Susan
- Betty
- Carolyn
- Margaret
- Shirley
- Judy
- Karen
- Donna
- Kathleen
- Joyce
- Dorothy
- Janet
- Diane
- Janice
- Joan
- Elizabeth
- Brenda
- Gloria
- Virginia
- Marilyn
- Martha
- Beverly
- Helen
- Bonnie
- Ruth
- Frances
- Jean
- Ann
- Phyllis
- Pamela
- Jane
- Alice
- Peggy
- Cheryl
- Doris
- Catherine
- Elaine
- Cynthia
- Marie
- Lois
- Connie
- Christine
- Diana
- Gail
- Joanne
- Rose
- Wanda
- Carole
- Rita
- Charlotte
- Jo
- Evelyn
- Geraldine
- Jacqueline
- Ellen
- Sally
- Rebecca
- Kathryn
- Deborah
- Norma
- Suzanne
- Anna
- Sue
- Darlene
- Patsy
- Joann
- Sarah
- Katherine
- Paula
- Annie
- Louise
- Roberta
- Sylvia
- Anne
- Theresa
- Sheila
- Maria
- Laura
- Kathy
- Eileen
- Marcia
- Rosemary
- Glenda
- Dolores
- Mildred
- Lorraine
- Marjorie
- Sherry
- Kay
- Anita
- Dianne
- Ruby
- Irene
- Juanita
- Maureen
- Loretta
- Jeanne
- Constance
- Lynn
- Marlene
- Arlene
- Delores
- Lynda
- Julia
- Marsha
- Charlene
- June
- Jeanette
- Edna
- Josephine
- Eleanor
- Yvonne
- Vicki
- Vivian
- Emma
- Georgia
- Lillian
- Edith
- Pauline
- Wilma
- Victoria
- Ethel
- Lucille
- Florence
- Sara
- Margie
- Thelma
- Clara
- Audrey
- Grace
- Teresa
- Annette
- Claudia
- Gladys
- Julie
- Marion
- Gwendolyn
- Priscilla
- Willie
- Esther
- Eva
- Andrea
- Maryann
- Bernice
- Rosa
- Hazel
- Billie
- Bertha
- Gayle
- Bobbie
- Pat
- Maxine
- Marian
- Ella
- Paulette
- Joy
- Beatrice
- Cathy
- Lillie
- Janis
- Leslie
- Ida
- Lynne
- Deanna
- Faye
- Terry
- Valerie
- Emily
- Rachel
- Lucy
- Janie
- Penny
- Jackie
- Harriet
- Regina
- Rosalie
- Alma
- Angela
- Vera
- Jessie
- Marianne
- Stephanie
- Jill
- Mattie
- Minnie
- Caroline
- Michele
- Veronica
- Patty
- Rosie
- Stella
1940s Names for Baby Boys You’ll Love
The common names ‘William,’ ‘Michael,’ and ‘James’ appear in the top 10 for both the 1940s and today. But if you’re looking for more unique names inspired by the 1940s, here are a few favorites:
Arthur
While children of the ‘80s and ‘90s might associate this name with a bespectacled cartoon aardvark, Arthur is of Welsh origin and has a different animal connection—it means “strong as a bear.”
Dennis
Kids today will be too young to relate to the character Dennis the Menace—though a little guy with this moniker might get this nickname in the toddler years. So it feels like an apt time to give Dennis, of Greek origin, a resurgence. Plus, the name has a fun-loving backstory. Dennis means “follower of Dionysos,” the Greek god of wine, revelry, and fertility.
Earnest/Ernest
Virtue names are a pick for many parents, and this popular 1940s name means “diligent” and “truth seeking.” Plus, the nickname Ernie has an adorable “eclectic grandpa” vibe.
Eugene
No doubt beloved Schitt’s Creek actor Eugene Levy has given this vintage boy name a boost. Meaning “well-borne,” Eugene has French and Greek roots.
George
George was one of the most popular boy names in the 1940s but hasn’t cracked the top 100 baby names for boys since 1992. Meaning “farmer” or “earthworker,” George is a solid name for a new baby boy.
Harry
Prince Harry has yet to bring this old-fashioned boy name back to the top 100 most popular names. Meaning “home ruler” or “estate ruler,” it seems fitting for a new arrival and is a more unique pick than the uber-popular Henry.
Hugh
This posh British name has a smart meaning, too. Hugh means “intellect” and “mind.”
Louis
This royal baby name means “famous warrior,” so it’s no surprise this name was popular for kings in the past. Today, the adorable and feisty Prince Louis, who was born in 2018, is giving the name a modern connection.
Marshall
While Marshall might be giving Paw Patrol when your little guy is a toddler, this surname baby name has staying power. It means “caretaker of horses.”
Roger
Looking for a hardy and powerful name for your little guy? Roger has German roots and means “famous spearman.”
Walter
Another 1940s boys’ name with a warrior spirit, Walter means “power” and “army ruler.”
Most Popular Boy Names in the 1940s
Many of the most popular boy names in the 1940s are still popular today, like ‘William,’ ‘Charles,’ and ‘Henry.’ Find more baby boy name inspiration here with the top 200 most popular boy names from the 1940s, according to the SSA.
- James
- Robert
- John
- William
- Richard
- David
- Charles
- Thomas
- Michael
- Ronald
- Larry
- Donald
- Joseph
- Gary
- George
- Kenneth
- Paul
- Edward
- Jerry
- Dennis
- Frank
- Daniel
- Raymond
- Roger
- Stephen
- Gerald
- Walter
- Harold
- Steven
- Douglas
- Lawrence
- Terry
- Wayne
- Arthur
- Jack
- Carl
- Henry
- Willie
- Bruce
- Joe
- Peter
- Billy
- Roy
- Ralph
- Anthony
- Jimmy
- Albert
- Bobby
- Eugene
- Johnny
- Fred
- Harry
- Howard
- Mark
- Alan
- Louis
- Philip
- Patrick
- Dale
- Danny
- Stanley
- Leonard
- Timothy
- Gregory
- Samuel
- Ronnie
- Norman
- Ernest
- Russell
- Francis
- Melvin
- Earl
- Frederick
- Allen
- Bill
- Tommy
- Phillip
- Marvin
- Steve
- Don
- Clarence
- Barry
- Glenn
- Jim
- Eddie
- Mike
- Andrew
- Jeffrey
- Leroy
- Alfred
- Martin
- Lee
- Tom
- Ray
- Herbert
- Gene
- Bernard
- Theodore
- Curtis
- Keith
- Clifford
- Rodney
- Gordon
- Jimmie
- Jesse
- Vincent
- Warren
- Lloyd
- Leon
- Jerome
- Edwin
- Brian
- Victor
- Bob
- Floyd
- Lewis
- Harvey
- Alvin
- Clyde
- Craig
- Vernon
- Leslie
- Franklin
- Calvin
- Jon
- Jay
- Charlie
- Darrell
- Jackie
- Dan
- Allan
- Randall
- Joel
- Gilbert
- Benjamin
- Lester
- Duane
- Leo
- Tony
- Herman
- Jose
- Glen
- Johnnie
- Dean
- Arnold
- Lonnie
- Christopher
- Nicholas
- Freddie
- Chester
- Eric
- Milton
- Cecil
- Lynn
- Manuel
- Randy
- Roland
- Ted
- Dwight
- Claude
- Wesley
- Neil
- Sam
- Scott
- Dave
- Wallace
- Kevin
- Hugh
- Donnie
- Elmer
- Micheal
- Willard
- Juan
- Maurice
- Jessie
- Garry
- Marshall
- Oscar
- Edgar
- Karl
- Marion
- Sidney
- Stuart
- Nathaniel
- Alexander
- Sammy
- Everett
- Benny
- Guy
- Virgil
- Morris
- Matthew
- Earnest
- Lyle
- Max
- Bennie
- Wendell
- Kent
- Jonathan
- Fredrick
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
Kathy Sisson has been a key contributor in the editorial parenting space for eight years, not only as a full-time editor at The Everymom but previously as a freelance writer for top parenting sites, including Scary Mommy, Motherly, Parent Co., and more. As an editor at The Everymom, she has produced hundreds of articles on a range of parenting topics, reviewed dozens of family-focused products, interviewed leading experts in the children and parenting world, and created viral parenting social media content. A mom of two, she is committed to sharing the honest, helpful, and often humorous stories of motherhood.