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 Texas 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.
#30. Wanda
Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,817
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#900 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 50,663 (#56 most common name)
#29. Janice
Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,852
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 144 (#1,601 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#23 most common name)
#28. Alice
Alice is a name of German origin meaning "noble".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,888
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 3,235 (#85 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,381 (#41 most common name)
#27. Helen
Helen is a name of Greek origin meaning "shining light".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,967
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 875 (#387 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 90,739 (#32 most common name)
#26. Peggy
Peggy is a name of English origin meaning pearl.
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,997
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 875 (#387 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,044 (#42 most common name)
#25. Susan
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,097
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 188 (#1,325 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
#24. Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,225
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8,628 (#15 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
#23. Frances
Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,496
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 487 (#656 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,421 (#35 most common name)
#22. Patsy
Patsy is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,551
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 18 (#4,283 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 40,162 (#74 most common name)
#21. Brenda
Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,209
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 377 (#813 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 112,335 (#26 most common name)
#20. Donna
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,243
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 96 (#2,089 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
#19. Virginia
Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,259
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 431 (#731 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,995 (#28 most common name)
#18. Joyce
Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 6,771
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 324 (#906 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
#17. Margaret
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,088
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,606 (#188 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
#16. Dorothy
Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,444
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 392 (#784 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
#15. Martha
Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,773
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 471 (#673 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,365 (#30 most common name)
#14. Carol
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,323
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 104 (#1,990 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
#13. Nancy
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,818
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 356 (#847 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
#12. Sharon
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,822
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 259 (#1,054 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
#11. Judy
Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,905
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 146 (#1,586 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)
#10. Shirley
Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,929
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 109 (#1,945 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
#9. Gloria
Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 10,232
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 636 (#527 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 105,028 (#27 most common name)
#8. Carolyn
Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,236
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 253 (#1,075 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)
#7. Sandra
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,398
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 393 (#782 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
#6. Betty
Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,702
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 169 (#1,432 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)
#5. Patricia
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 15,588
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 303 (#947 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
#4. Barbara
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 17,352
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 534 (#612 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
#3. Maria
Maria is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "sea of bitterness".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 18,206
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 4,228 (#58 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 35,234 (#86 most common name)
#2. Linda
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 29,855
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 457 (#694 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
#1. Mary
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Texas
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 39,485
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,888 (#163 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
