Delaware's most popular baby names in 1942

In the year 1942, the state of Delaware saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Mary, Barbara, and Patricia were the most commonly chosen names for baby girls, while John, William, and Robert were the top picks for baby boys.

Mary, a classic name with biblical roots, has been a popular choice for centuries. Barbara, a name with Greek origins meaning "foreign," was also a popular choice for baby girls in Delaware in 1942. Patricia, a name with Latin origins meaning "noble," rounded out the top three names for baby girls. For baby boys, John, a name with Hebrew origins meaning "God is gracious," was the most popular choice, followed closely by William, a name with Germanic origins meaning "resolute protector." Robert, a name with Old Germanic origins meaning "bright fame," was also a popular choice for baby boys in Delaware in 1942.

Most popular baby girl names in Delaware in 1942

In Delaware, 1942, Mary was the most popular name for baby girls with 123 babies being given this name. Barbara came in a close second with 122 babies being named Barbara. Patricia was the third most popular name with 89 babies being named Patricia. Carol was the fourth most popular name, with 67 babies being named Carol. Margaret was the fifth most popular name with 56 babies being named Margaret. These were the top five most popular baby girl names in Delaware in 1942.

  1. Mary

    123 baby girls born in Delaware (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.

  2. Barbara

    122 baby girls born in Delaware (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.

  3. Patricia

    89 baby girls born in Delaware (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.

  4. Carol

    67 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) 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".

  5. Margaret

    56 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) named Margaret

    The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".

  6. Joan

    53 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) 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.

  7. Nancy

    50 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) named Nancy

    The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".

  8. Carolyn

    43 baby girls born in Delaware (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.

  9. Sandra

    42 baby girls born in Delaware (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.

  10. Elizabeth

    41 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) named Elizabeth

    Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my oath" or "my God is abundance". It is a name that has been popular for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures in history and literature.

  11. Betty

    41 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) named Betty

    The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".

  12. Judith

    40 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) named Judith

    The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".

  13. Joyce

    39 baby girls born in Delaware (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.

  14. Ruth

    36 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) named Ruth

    The name Ruth means "friend" or "companion" in Hebrew. It is also associated with the character Ruth in the Bible, who was known for her loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi.

  15. Dorothy

    36 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) named Dorothy

    The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".

  16. Doris

    34 baby girls born in Delaware (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.

  17. Virginia

    32 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) named Virginia

    The name Virginia is derived from the Latin word "Virgo" which means "maiden" or "virgin". It was a popular name in ancient Rome and was often given to girls who were born in the month of August. The name has been used in English-speaking countries since the 19th century and is associated with purity, innocence, and virtue.

  18. Susan

    31 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) 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.

  19. Marie

    30 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) named Marie

    The name Marie is the French variant of Mary, which means "bitter" in Hebrew. It is a popular name among Christians and has been used for centuries. The name is often associated with purity, grace, and elegance.

  20. Geraldine

    29 baby girls born in Delaware (1942) named Geraldine

    The name Geraldine is of English origin and means "ruling spear".

Most popular baby boy names in Delaware in 1942

In Delaware, 1942, the most popular baby boy names were John, William, Robert, James, and Richard. John was the most popular name with 188 babies given that name, followed closely by William with 180 babies. Robert and James were also popular choices, with 162 and 151 babies respectively. Richard rounded out the top five with 96 babies given that name. These classic and timeless names continue to be popular choices for parents today.

  1. John

    188 baby boys born in Delaware (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.

  2. William

    180 baby boys born in Delaware (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.

  3. Robert

    162 baby boys born in Delaware (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.

  4. James

    151 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) named James

    The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".

  5. Richard

    96 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) named Richard

    The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".

  6. Charles

    92 baby boys born in Delaware (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.

  7. David

    75 baby boys born in Delaware (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.

  8. Joseph

    75 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) named Joseph

    The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".

  9. Thomas

    74 baby boys born in Delaware (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.

  10. George

    68 baby boys born in Delaware (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.

  11. Ronald

    57 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) named Ronald

    The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.

  12. Edward

    47 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) 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".

  13. Michael

    46 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) 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.

  14. Donald

    43 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) named Donald

    Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".

  15. Francis

    35 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) named Francis

    The name Francis is derived from the Latin name Franciscus, which means "Frenchman" or "free man". It has been a popular name throughout history, particularly among Christians due to its association with Saint Francis of Assisi. The name is often associated with humility, kindness, and a love for nature and animals.

  16. Paul

    35 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) 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.

  17. Wayne

    26 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) named Wayne

    The name Wayne means "wagon maker" or "wagon driver". It has Old English origins and was originally a surname before becoming a first name.

  18. Raymond

    25 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) named Raymond

    The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".

  19. Harry

    24 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) named Harry

    The name Harry is of English origin and is a variation of the name Henry. Its meaning is "ruler of the household" or "estate ruler".

  20. Frank

    22 baby boys born in Delaware (1942) named Frank

    The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".