Most Popular Baby Names in 1940

In this article we'll look at what the most popular baby names were for the year 1940. These names are taken directly from the Social Security card applications for births that occurred in the United States.

The table below shows the top 250 most popular baby names in 1940, with a total count for the number of births registered with that given name.

You can also use the links below to research more about the most popular baby names.

Top 1000 most popular boy names: 1-250 | 251-500 | 501-750 | 751-1000

Top 1000 most popular girl names: 1-250 | 251-500 | 501-750 | 751-1000

Boys Girls
Rank Name Count Name Count
1 James 62,476 Mary 56,208
2 Robert 61,193 Barbara 36,735
3 John 54,780 Patricia 32,665
4 William 44,772 Judith 22,383
5 Richard 37,424 Betty 22,075
6 Charles 31,686 Carol 21,761
7 David 27,689 Nancy 19,735
8 Thomas 23,989 Linda 18,368
9 Donald 23,109 Shirley 17,879
10 Ronald 20,730 Sandra 16,150
11 George 18,316 Margaret 15,059
12 Joseph 18,209 Dorothy 14,874
13 Larry 17,198 Joyce 14,800
14 Jerry 15,210 Joan 13,288
15 Kenneth 15,133 Carolyn 12,655
16 Edward 14,401 Judy 11,383
17 Paul 14,097 Sharon 11,118
18 Michael 13,229 Helen 10,202
19 Gary 12,570 Janet 10,105
20 Frank 10,596 Elizabeth 9,953
21 Gerald 10,239 Virginia 9,554
22 Raymond 9,569 Janice 9,316
23 Harold 8,079 Donna 9,232
24 Dennis 7,845 Ruth 8,885
25 Walter 7,723 Marilyn 8,701
26 Roger 7,599 Martha 8,694
27 Billy 7,596 Beverly 8,657
28 Joe 7,221 Frances 8,621
29 Jack 7,048 Jean 8,066
30 Bobby 6,882 Gloria 8,025
31 Henry 6,819 Doris 7,767
32 Carl 6,754 Alice 7,601
33 Arthur 6,508 Phyllis 7,415
34 Daniel 6,224 Karen 7,283
35 Willie 6,175 Ann 7,196
36 Lawrence 6,171 Susan 6,755
37 Ralph 5,835 Peggy 6,127
38 Eugene 5,798 Lois 6,125
39 Wayne 5,726 Bonnie 5,958
40 Fred 5,584 Kathleen 5,697
41 Albert 5,571 Marie 5,541
42 Roy 5,565 Brenda 5,442
43 Peter 5,047 Norma 5,334
44 Jimmy 4,963 Rose 5,198
45 Howard 4,825 Diane 5,173
46 Anthony 4,766 Geraldine 5,152
47 Harry 4,680 Jane 5,091
48 Norman 4,575 Evelyn 4,984
49 Stephen 4,422 Carole 4,790
50 Louis 4,324 Elaine 4,782
51 Johnny 4,000 Anna 4,718
52 Earl 3,944 Wanda 4,708
53 Melvin 3,935 Catherine 4,583
54 Leonard 3,816 Joanne 4,419
55 Bruce 3,790 Charlotte 4,290
56 Douglas 3,732 Annie 4,217
57 Dale 3,699 Patsy 4,078
58 Ernest 3,697 Mildred 3,936
59 Stanley 3,693 Louise 3,925
60 Philip 3,674 Sarah 3,870
61 Francis 3,607 Sally 3,803
62 Don 3,546 Sylvia 3,801
63 Marvin 3,501 Joann 3,790
64 Clarence 3,486 Marjorie 3,682
65 Samuel 3,362 Gail 3,621
66 Leroy 3,310 Ruby 3,618
67 Bill 3,268 Dolores 3,604
68 Frederick 3,095 Eleanor 3,584
69 Alfred 3,063 Loretta 3,502
70 Gene 3,060 Rita 3,442
71 Allen 3,029 Roberta 3,432
72 Russell 3,012 Jo 3,427
73 Terry 2,982 Irene 3,395
74 Patrick 2,883 Ellen 3,318
75 Herbert 2,874 Arlene 3,257
76 Tommy 2,826 Jacqueline 3,216
77 Ray 2,795 Kay 3,200
78 Jim 2,714 Juanita 3,175
79 Phillip 2,628 Darlene 3,120
80 Lee 2,624 Marlene 3,118
81 Eddie 2,579 Sue 3,105
82 Bernard 2,468 June 2,949
83 Glenn 2,465 Delores 2,928
84 Andrew 2,430 Anne 2,897
85 Martin 2,423 Rosemary 2,875
86 Jimmie 2,407 Edna 2,835
87 Franklin 2,392 Anita 2,827
88 Alan 2,377 Connie 2,796
89 Leon 2,317 Josephine 2,742
90 Theodore 2,306 Jeanette 2,726
91 Gordon 2,295 Katherine 2,709
92 Tom 2,287 Julia 2,706
93 Jesse 2,206 Wilma 2,621
94 Clifford 2,184 Emma 2,607
95 Jerome 2,178 Lorraine 2,579
96 Edwin 2,115 Rebecca 2,555
97 Curtis 2,103 Lillian 2,524
98 Harvey 2,087 Edith 2,510
99 Bob 2,082 Audrey 2,501
100 Lloyd 2,067 Florence 2,465
101 Ronnie 2,054 Thelma 2,461
102 Clyde 2,014 Theresa 2,441
103 Floyd 2,011 Kathryn 2,439
104 Vincent 1,975 Pauline 2,409
105 Vernon 1,941 Grace 2,386
106 Alvin 1,910 Ethel 2,374
107 Lewis 1,900 Glenda 2,354
108 Jackie 1,889 Laura 2,351
109 Barry 1,836 Suzanne 2,337
110 Warren 1,813 Yvonne 2,322
111 Charlie 1,762 Clara 2,316
112 Leo 1,752 Marcia 2,273
113 Herman 1,670 Lucille 2,270
114 Wendell 1,625 Margie 2,266
115 Allan 1,608 Vivian 2,261
116 Cecil 1,590 Gladys 2,245
117 Lester 1,590 Diana 2,194
118 Arnold 1,579 Christine 2,162
119 Steven 1,569 Maria 2,134
120 Victor 1,567 Marion 2,111
121 Steve 1,554 Bernice 2,089
122 Mike 1,549 Sara 2,087
123 Jon 1,546 Hazel 2,069
124 Gilbert 1,531 Constance 2,039
125 Keith 1,513 Eileen 2,034
126 Danny 1,478 Annette 2,004
127 Calvin 1,472 Priscilla 1,970
128 Benjamin 1,445 Willie 1,937
129 Johnnie 1,445 Jeanne 1,927
130 Glen 1,434 Sheila 1,923
131 Darrell 1,431 Esther 1,900
132 Milton 1,425 Eva 1,889
133 Rodney 1,397 Cynthia 1,882
134 Duane 1,387 Pat 1,863
135 Timothy 1,385 Maureen 1,810
136 Leslie 1,370 Deanna 1,802
137 Chester 1,353 Maxine 1,785
138 Freddie 1,318 Georgia 1,774
139 Jay 1,293 Rosalie 1,735
140 Joel 1,278 Bertha 1,730
141 Roland 1,267 Beatrice 1,729
142 Tony 1,232 Marian 1,693
143 Dean 1,223 Lillie 1,691
144 Elmer 1,218 Ida 1,689
145 Claude 1,196 Charlene 1,686
146 Wallace 1,172 Ella 1,670
147 Manuel 1,171 Bobbie 1,632
148 Jose 1,169 Rosa 1,551
149 Mark 1,165 Billie 1,484
150 Sam 1,148 Myrna 1,471
151 Willard 1,139 Elsie 1,466
152 Wesley 1,128 Alma 1,429
153 Lonnie 1,102 Faye 1,390
154 Nicholas 1,101 Lucy 1,382
155 Dan 1,097 Paula 1,372
156 Neil 1,067 Maryann 1,365
157 Hugh 1,060 Harriet 1,362
158 Marion 1,049 Jessie 1,336
159 Ted 1,047 Vera 1,322
160 Lynn 1,045 Joy 1,310
161 Maurice 1,031 Nellie 1,300
162 Jessie 1,019 Bessie 1,296
163 Brian 1,009 Mattie 1,292
164 Edgar 984 Emily 1,269
165 Max 951 Lynda 1,266
166 Virgil 938 Rachel 1,264
167 Oscar 936 Dianne 1,235
168 Sidney 928 Minnie 1,228
169 Everett 926 Gwendolyn 1,222
170 Morris 912 Agnes 1,190
171 Dick 911 Dixie 1,169
172 Lowell 870 Caroline 1,161
173 Lyle 865 Rosemarie 1,129
174 Karl 855 Rosie 1,120
175 Bennie 845 Patty 1,100
176 Nathaniel 832 Carrie 1,093
177 Luther 825 Gayle 1,085
178 Ben 814 Geneva 1,070
179 Benny 814 Naomi 1,053
180 Delbert 813 Julie 1,040
181 Marshall 809 Dora 1,039
182 Nelson 806 Jeannette 1,039
183 Jeffrey 799 Leona 1,027
184 Earnest 796 Myrtle 1,019
185 Homer 773 Mae 1,018
186 Dave 769 Gertrude 1,013
187 Hubert 761 Shelby 1,006
188 Alexander 760 Velma 986
189 Gregory 756 Jackie 982
190 Carroll 755 Viola 966
191 Fredrick 742 Cora 965
192 Guy 716 Stella 962
193 Wilbur 705 Lynn 957
194 Alton 692 Claire 950
195 Stuart 680 Alberta 926
196 Juan 677 Nina 911
197 Donnie 675 Pearl 907
198 Matthew 664 Hattie 893
199 Otis 662 Sondra 879
200 Horace 661 Madeline 874
201 Carlos 657 Deloris 869
202 Clifton 641 Eunice 869
203 Roosevelt 635 Lola 866
204 Clinton 632 Verna 865
205 Ira 625 Claudia 863
206 Rudolph 623 Johnnie 860
207 Doyle 621 Sherry 857
208 Alex 619 Marianne 846
209 Leland 608 Nora 843
210 Willis 608 Ramona 840
211 Laurence 604 Carmen 823
212 Clayton 603 Lula 820
213 Archie 601 Janie 811
214 Loren 586 Valerie 799
215 Oliver 582 Hilda 797
216 Kent 578 Lena 796
217 Sammy 577 Violet 783
218 Troy 577 Daisy 773
219 Julius 566 Ernestine 768
220 Myron 566 Marguerite 757
221 Wilbert 566 Fannie 751
222 Garry 557 Iris 750
223 Tommie 557 Bettie 749
224 Gerard 553 Irma 749
225 Perry 553 Myra 749
226 Byron 548 Lynne 742
227 Malcolm 548 Antoinette 741
228 Rex 547 Erma 740
229 Dewey 542 Marsha 740
230 Ivan 541 Susie 737
231 Salvatore 533 Miriam 735
232 Sherman 532 Melba 731
233 Randall 531 Bette 729
234 Aaron 514 Angela 726
235 Jacob 514 Lydia 725
236 Reginald 514 Regina 720
237 Pete 513 Marcella 714
238 Julian 511 Sonja 713
239 Neal 506 Andrea 708
240 Jerald 502 Bettye 704
241 Christopher 499 Jacquelyn 693
242 Edmund 498 Flora 688
243 Nathan 496 Victoria 687
244 Carlton 492 Teresa 686
245 Grady 489 Mamie 675
246 Isaac 487 Ada 665
247 Dallas 485 Jennie 661
248 Eldon 485 Della 650
249 Eric 482 Colleen 648
250 Pat 482 Katie 636

What's in a (Popular) Name?

How do we know which baby names are hot each year? It's simple! The Social Security Administration collects data as parents register their newborns for a Social Security card. So, instead of waiting for the 10-year census, we get an annual update on the trending names!

Popular Baby Names vs. Popular First Names: Any Differences?

If you're wondering why the most popular baby names and the most popular first names aren't the same, remember: first names include everyone, not just babies. With 16.5% of the population over 65, names popular in their generation, like 'Grady' or 'Ada', still top the charts. As the birth rate declines, we won't see baby names like 'James' or 'Mary' topping the overall popular names list until the Baby Boomer generation decreases significantly.

What Factors Influence Baby Name Popularity?

Ever wondered how a name like 'William' or 'Linda' hits the charts? It's not an exact science, but here are some cool factors:

Celebrity Influence

Americans adore their stars! A favorite celeb can influence baby names, so if you see more little 'Johns' or 'Barbaras' running around, you might have a Hollywood A-lister to thank!

Character-Inspired Names

Bookworms and movie buffs often name their kids after beloved characters. If 'Richard' or 'Nancy' sound familiar, check out the latest bestseller or box-office hit!

Following the Trend

We humans are trend-followers. So, if a friend's baby 'Charles' or 'Shirley' has a cute ring to it, don't be surprised if it catches on!

The Power of Recall

Names heard repeatedly stick in our minds. So if 'Ronald' or 'Judith' are on repeat, you'll likely see them in the baby name charts.

Family Tradition

Some names like 'David' or 'Joyce' stand the test of time, thanks to the tradition of naming babies after older relatives.

Religion and Politics

Religious texts and political figures inspire many parents. Evergreen choices like 'Thomas' or 'Carol' show the lasting impact of religion and politics on baby names.

So, while we can't always predict why a name like 'Donald' or 'Martha' becomes popular, these factors give us some fun insights into the ever-changing landscape of baby names!

Historical Data for Baby Names

If you're interested to see how the trends and popularity of baby names have changed, you can use the links below to view the historical data by decade.

Most popular first names, 1880-present | since 1950 | since 1960 | since 1970 | since 1980 | since 1990 | since 2000 | since 2010

Most popular boy names, 1880-present | since 1950 | since 1960 | since 1970 | since 1980 | since 1990 | since 2000 | since 2010

Most popular girl names, 1880-present | since 1950 | since 1960 | since 1970 | since 1980 | since 1990 | since 2000 | since 2010

Data Source(s)

All of the data on this page is sourced from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and excludes any names with fewer than 5 occurrences in any geographic area.

Link To or Reference This Page

We spent a lot of time downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

  • "Most Popular Baby Names in 1940". NameCensus.com. Accessed on March 29, 2024. https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1940/.

  • "Most Popular Baby Names in 1940". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1940/. Accessed 29 March, 2024

  • Most Popular Baby Names in 1940. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from https://namecensus.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-in-1940/.