California's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the state of California witnessed a surge in the popularity of certain baby names that dominated the charts. Mary, Patricia, and Barbara were the most popular baby girl names, while Robert, John, and Richard were the top baby boy names. These names were not only popular in California but across the United States as well.

Mary, a classic name that has been popular for centuries, held the top spot for baby girl names in California in 1940. Patricia and Barbara, two names that were gaining popularity in the 1940s, followed closely behind. For baby boys, Robert was the most popular name, followed by John and Richard. These names were not just popular in California but were also commonly used throughout the country, reflecting the cultural trends of the time.

Most popular baby girl names in California in 1940

In California in the year 1940, the most popular baby girl name was Mary, with a total of 1821 babies given this name. Patricia came in second place with 1676 babies named, followed by Barbara with 1597 babies named. Linda was the fourth most popular name with 1568 babies given this name, and Carol rounded out the top five with 1079 babies named. These names were all quite popular choices for parents in California during this time period.

Mary

1821 baby girls born in California (1940) 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.
Patricia

1676 baby girls born in California (1940) 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.
Barbara

1597 baby girls born in California (1940) 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.
Linda

1568 baby girls born in California (1940) 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."
Carol

1079 baby girls born in California (1940) named Carol
The name Carol is derived from the Old Germanic word "karl", which means "man" or "free man". It is often associated with the Christmas season due to the popular Christmas carol "Carol of the Bells".
Judith
1035 baby girls born in California (1940) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Sharon
916 baby girls born in California (1940) named Sharon
The name Sharon means "a plain or flat area" in Hebrew. It is also a biblical name, referring to a fertile plain near the coast of Israel.
Nancy
890 baby girls born in California (1940) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Sandra
837 baby girls born in California (1940) 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.
Judy
734 baby girls born in California (1940) named Judy
Susan
630 baby girls born in California (1940) named Susan
The name Susan means "lily" or "graceful lily" in Hebrew. It was a popular name in the 1940s and 1950s, but has since declined in popularity.
Donna
629 baby girls born in California (1940) named Donna
The name Donna is of Italian origin and means "lady" or "woman". It was initially used as a title of respect for women of high social status in Italy, but later became a popular given name in English-speaking countries.
Margaret
625 baby girls born in California (1940) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Betty
603 baby girls born in California (1940) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Joan
586 baby girls born in California (1940) named Joan
The name Joan is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a feminine name that was popularized in the Middle Ages and has been in use ever since. The name is often associated with strong and independent women, such as Joan of Arc.
Diane
582 baby girls born in California (1940) named Diane
Diane is a feminine given name of French origin. The name is derived from the Roman goddess Diana, who was the goddess of hunting, the moon, and childbirth. The name Diane means "divine" or "heavenly".
Shirley
582 baby girls born in California (1940) 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.
Carolyn
553 baby girls born in California (1940) 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.
Marilyn
518 baby girls born in California (1940) named Marilyn
The name Marilyn is a combination of the names Mary and Lynn. The name Mary means "bitter" or "rebellious" in Hebrew, while Lynn means "lake" or "waterfall" in English. Therefore, the name Marilyn could be interpreted as "bitter lake" or "rebellious waterfall".
Joyce
508 baby girls born in California (1940) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in California in 1940

Based on the data from California in 1940, the most popular baby boy names were Robert with 3120 occurrences, followed by John with 2420 occurrences, Richard with 2219 occurrences, James with 2101 occurrences, and William with 1798 occurrences. These names were likely influenced by popular cultural figures or historical events of the time.

Robert

3120 baby boys born in California (1940) 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.
John

2420 baby boys born in California (1940) 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.
Richard

2219 baby boys born in California (1940) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
James

2101 baby boys born in California (1940) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
William

1798 baby boys born in California (1940) 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.
David
1554 baby boys born in California (1940) 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.
Gary
1183 baby boys born in California (1940) named Gary
The name Gary is of English origin and means "spear rule" or "spear carrier". It was originally a surname but became popular as a given name in the 20th century. People with this name are believed to be independent, practical, and analytical.
Ronald
1160 baby boys born in California (1940) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Michael
1124 baby boys born in California (1940) named Michael
The name Michael means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that is often associated with the archangel Michael, who is considered to be a protector and warrior in many religious traditions. The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.
Charles
1051 baby boys born in California (1940) 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.
Donald
1023 baby boys born in California (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Thomas
839 baby boys born in California (1940) 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.
Larry
826 baby boys born in California (1940) 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.
George
807 baby boys born in California (1940) 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.
Frank
683 baby boys born in California (1940) named Frank
The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".
Dennis
650 baby boys born in California (1940) named Dennis
The name Dennis is of Greek origin and means "follower of Dionysius", the Greek god of wine and fertility. It was a popular name in ancient Greece and was later adopted by the Romans. The name has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history.
Kenneth
643 baby boys born in California (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Jerry
638 baby boys born in California (1940) 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.
Edward
608 baby boys born in California (1940) named Edward
The name Edward means "wealthy guardian" or "rich guard" and is of Old English origin. It is derived from the words "ead" meaning "wealth, fortune" and "weard" meaning "guardian, protector".
Paul
558 baby boys born in California (1940) named Paul
The name Paul is of Latin origin and means "small" or "humble". It was originally derived from the Roman family name Paulus, which was a common name in ancient Rome. The name has been popularized by various saints and biblical figures, including the apostle Paul, who was a significant figure in the early Christian church.