Decade dossier

1940s baby names

The names that defined the 1940s: James and Mary led the decade, but the full roster tells a richer story.

What defined 1940s baby names

The 1940s were defined by names that now read as cultural artifacts. James and Mary dominated the decade — names that crossed class lines and regional divides. Some have become vintage revival candidates; others remain frozen in time. Browse the full rankings below to see which names defined the 1940s classroom.

Girls

#1Mary640,080
#2Linda531,660
#3Barbara425,271
#4Patricia411,412
#5Carol292,333
#6Sandra265,538
#7Nancy252,061
#8Sharon221,237
#9Judith218,037
#10Susan212,016
#11Betty194,623
#12Carolyn181,858
#13Margaret173,028
#14Shirley171,780
#15Judy167,719
#16Karen167,700
#17Donna165,523
#18Kathleen152,981
#19Joyce151,494
#20Dorothy132,257
#21Janet130,755
#22Diane122,878
#23Janice118,893
#24Joan117,708
#25Elizabeth116,551

Boys

#1James795,775
#2Robert758,126
#3John711,614
#4William556,478
#5Richard477,476
#6David426,372
#7Charles361,772
#8Thomas350,775
#9Michael336,568
#10Ronald282,489
#11Larry255,908
#12Donald247,834
#13Joseph230,285
#14Gary217,772
#15George209,013
#16Kenneth198,553
#17Paul183,364
#18Edward174,801
#19Jerry167,257
#20Dennis162,114
#21Frank119,417
#22Daniel112,778
#23Raymond109,076
#24Roger107,602
#25Stephen106,812

Explore more decades

Compare naming trends across all decades, from the 1880s to the 2020s.