Arkansas's most popular baby names in 1942

In the year 1942, the state of Arkansas saw a surge in the popularity of traditional baby names. Mary, Betty, and Linda were the top choices for baby girls, while James, Charles, and John were the most popular names for baby boys.

Mary, a classic name with biblical roots, was the most popular name for baby girls in Arkansas in 1942. Betty, a diminutive of Elizabeth, and Linda, meaning "pretty" or "beautiful," were also popular choices. For baby boys, James, a name with Hebrew origins meaning "supplanter," was the most popular. Charles, meaning "free man," and John, a name with biblical roots meaning "God is gracious," were also popular choices for parents in Arkansas. These names reflect a desire for traditional and timeless names that have stood the test of time.

Most popular baby girl names in Arkansas in 1942

Based on the data from Arkansas in 1942, Mary was the most popular name for baby girls, with 1208 babies given that name. The next four most popular names were Betty, Linda, Barbara, and Carolyn, with 716, 624, 605, and 579 babies given those names, respectively. These were the top 5 baby girl names in Arkansas in 1942.

Mary

1208 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Mary
Mary is a feminine given name that has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history. The meaning and origin of the name are uncertain, but it is believed to derive from the Hebrew name Miriam, which means "bitter" or "rebellious". The name Mary is popular in Christian cultures due to its association with the mother of Jesus Christ.
Betty

716 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Linda

624 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Linda
The name Linda means "beautiful" or "pretty" in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and other Romance languages. It is also derived from the Germanic word "lind," which means "gentle" or "soft."
Barbara

605 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Barbara
The name Barbara is of Greek origin, derived from the word "barbaros" which means foreign or strange. It was a popular name in the Middle Ages and was often given to girls born on St. Barbara's feast day. The name has been used in various cultures and languages around the world.
Carolyn

579 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Carolyn
The name Carolyn is a feminine given name of English origin. It is a variant of Caroline, which is derived from the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man" or "strong". The name Carolyn has been in use since the 19th century and has been a popular name for girls in the United States.
Shirley
528 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Shirley
The name Shirley is of English origin and its meaning is "bright meadow" or "bright clearing". It was originally a surname that became a popular given name in the 19th century.
Patricia
415 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Patricia
The name Patricia is derived from the Latin word "patricius," meaning "noble" or "aristocratic." It was a popular name in the Roman Empire and later spread throughout Europe. The name is often associated with qualities such as intelligence, kindness, and leadership.
Dorothy
334 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Martha
294 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Martha
The name Martha means "lady" or "mistress" and is of Aramaic origin. It is a biblical name, borne by the sister of Lazarus in the New Testament.
Patsy
287 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Patsy
The name Patsy is a diminutive form of the name Patricia or Patrick, which means "noble" or "patrician" in Latin. The name Patsy is commonly used as a nickname for someone with the full name Patricia or Patrick.
Joyce
283 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Joyce
The name Joyce is of Old French origin, derived from the name Josse, which means "lord" or "master". It was originally a masculine name but became popular as a feminine name in the 20th century. The name Joyce is often associated with qualities such as intelligence, creativity, and independence.
Wanda
274 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Wanda
The name Wanda is of Slavic origin and its meaning is "she who is to be loved" or "wanderer".
Margaret
228 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Nancy
208 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Helen
207 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Helen
Helen is a name of Greek origin and means "bright, shining one" or "torchbearer". It is also sometimes associated with the meaning "sunray" or "ray of light". The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.
Peggy
197 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Peggy
The name Peggy is a diminutive form of the name Margaret, which means "pearl" or "precious".
Sandra
182 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Sandra
The name Sandra is a variant of the name Alexandra, which is of Greek origin. The name Alexandra means "defender of mankind" or "protector of humanity". Therefore, it can be inferred that the name Sandra has a similar meaning.
Brenda
178 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Brenda
The name Brenda is of Old Norse origin and means "sword" or "torch". It was popularized in the 20th century as a given name, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom.
Doris
176 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Doris
The name Doris means "gift of the ocean" or "from the sea" in Greek. It was also the name of a sea nymph in Greek mythology.
Frances
172 baby girls born in Arkansas (1942) named Frances
Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man" or "from France".

Most popular baby boy names in Arkansas in 1942

Based on the data from 1942, the most popular baby boy names in Arkansas were James, Charles, John, Robert, and William. James was the top choice with 1614 babies given that name, followed by Charles with 799, John with 781, Robert with 746, and William with 717. These names were likely influenced by popular cultural figures or family traditions at the time.

James

1614 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Charles

799 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Charles
The name Charles means "free man" or "strong man" and is of Germanic origin. It was a popular name among European royalty and has been commonly used throughout history.
John

781 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named John
The name John is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a very common name and has been used for centuries. People with this name are often known for their kindness and generosity.
Robert

746 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Robert
The name Robert means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobility.
William

717 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named William
The name William means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name throughout history.
Jerry
668 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Jerry
The name Jerry is a diminutive form of the name Gerald or Gerard, which means "ruler with a spear" or "brave with a spear" respectively. It is of Old German origin.
Billy
550 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Billy
The name Billy is a diminutive form of the name William, which is of Old German origin and means "resolute protection".
Bobby
411 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Bobby
The name Bobby is a diminutive form of the name Robert, which means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance".
Jimmy
389 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Jimmy
The name Jimmy is a diminutive form of the name James, which means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Larry
358 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Larry
The name Larry is a shortened form of the name Lawrence, which comes from the Latin name Laurentius meaning "from Laurentum" or "crowned with laurel". The name was popularized in the Middle Ages due to the fame of St. Lawrence, a Christian martyr who was roasted alive on a gridiron. The name Larry has been used as a given name since the 19th century and has been a popular name in the United States.
Donald
323 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
David
319 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named David
The name David is of Hebrew origin and means "beloved" or "friend". It is a popular name in many cultures and religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the Bible, David was the second king of Israel and is known for his bravery, leadership, and devotion to God. People with the name David are often described as confident, charismatic, and loyal.
Willie
307 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Willie
The name Willie is a diminutive form of William, which means "resolute protector" or "willful protector".
Thomas
307 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Thomas
The name Thomas is of Aramaic origin and means "twin". It is a common name in many cultures and has been used for centuries.
Joe
292 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Joe
The name Joe is a shortened form of the name Joseph. Its meaning is "God will increase" or "He will add".
George
285 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named George
The name George means "farmer" or "earthworker" and is of Greek origin. It was a popular name among early Christians, as Saint George is the patron saint of England and a martyr in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches. The name has been used by many notable figures throughout history, including several kings of England.
Richard
264 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Kenneth
233 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Roy
227 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Roy
The name Roy is of Scottish origin and means "red-haired" or "ruddy complexion".
Johnny
215 baby boys born in Arkansas (1942) named Johnny
Johnny is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious" or "gift of God".