Florida's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the sunshine state of Florida welcomed a plethora of newborns, each with a unique name. However, certain names stood out as the most popular choices for parents across the state. For baby girls, Mary, Betty, and Barbara topped the charts, while James, Robert, and John were the most popular names for baby boys.

Mary, a timeless classic name, remained a popular choice for baby girls in Florida in 1940. Betty, a diminutive form of Elizabeth, was also a popular choice for parents. Barbara, a name with Greek origins meaning "stranger" or "foreigner," was another top pick. On the other hand, James, a name with Hebrew origins meaning "supplanter," was the most popular name for baby boys in Florida in 1940. Robert, a name with Germanic roots meaning "bright fame," and John, a name with Hebrew origins meaning "God is gracious," were also widely chosen by Florida parents.

Most popular baby girl names in Florida in 1940

In Florida in the year 1940, Mary was the most popular name for baby girls, with 901 babies being given that name. Following closely behind were Betty with 534 babies, Barbara with 522 babies, Patricia with 388 babies, and Dorothy with 324 babies. These were the top 5 baby girl names in Florida in 1940.

Mary

901 baby girls born in Florida (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.
Betty

534 baby girls born in Florida (1940) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Barbara

522 baby girls born in Florida (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.
Patricia

388 baby girls born in Florida (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.
Dorothy

324 baby girls born in Florida (1940) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Shirley
303 baby girls born in Florida (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.
Linda
236 baby girls born in Florida (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."
Carolyn
235 baby girls born in Florida (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.
Joyce
223 baby girls born in Florida (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.
Margaret
222 baby girls born in Florida (1940) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Sandra
203 baby girls born in Florida (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.
Frances
196 baby girls born in Florida (1940) named Frances
Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man" or "from France".
Nancy
195 baby girls born in Florida (1940) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Martha
192 baby girls born in Florida (1940) 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.
Gloria
186 baby girls born in Florida (1940) named Gloria
The name Gloria means "glory" or "fame" in Latin.
Annie
153 baby girls born in Florida (1940) named Annie
The name Annie is a diminutive form of the name Ann or Anna. It is of Hebrew origin and means "gracious" or "full of grace".
Elizabeth
151 baby girls born in Florida (1940) 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.
Helen
144 baby girls born in Florida (1940) 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.
Virginia
141 baby girls born in Florida (1940) 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.
Judith
136 baby girls born in Florida (1940) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".

Most popular baby boy names in Florida in 1940

According to records from 1940, the most popular baby boy names in Florida were James, Robert, John, William, and Charles. James was the most popular name, with 1143 babies given that name. Robert came in second with 816 babies, followed by John and William, both with 716 babies. Charles was the fifth most popular name, with 538 babies given that name. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and historical figures of the time.

James

1143 baby boys born in Florida (1940) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Robert

816 baby boys born in Florida (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

716 baby boys born in Florida (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.
William

716 baby boys born in Florida (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.
Charles

538 baby boys born in Florida (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.
Richard
354 baby boys born in Florida (1940) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
George
326 baby boys born in Florida (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.
Thomas
307 baby boys born in Florida (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.
David
304 baby boys born in Florida (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.
Willie
289 baby boys born in Florida (1940) named Willie
The name Willie is a diminutive form of William, which means "resolute protector" or "willful protector".
Donald
247 baby boys born in Florida (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Joseph
243 baby boys born in Florida (1940) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Jerry
178 baby boys born in Florida (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
170 baby boys born in Florida (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".
Frank
168 baby boys born in Florida (1940) named Frank
The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".
Ronald
166 baby boys born in Florida (1940) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Henry
155 baby boys born in Florida (1940) named Henry
The name Henry means "ruler of the household" or "estate ruler". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name for centuries.
Kenneth
146 baby boys born in Florida (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Paul
143 baby boys born in Florida (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.
Larry
141 baby boys born in Florida (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.