Indiana's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the state of Indiana saw a surge in the popularity of traditional names for baby girls and boys. Mary, Judith, and Linda were the top three names for baby girls, while James, Robert, and John were the most popular names for baby boys.

Mary, a timeless name that has been popular for centuries, topped the charts for baby girls. Judith, a name with Hebrew origins that means "praised," came in at a close second. Linda, a name that means "pretty" in Spanish, rounded out the top three. For baby boys, James, a name with Biblical roots that means "supplanter," was the most popular. Robert, a name that means "bright fame," came in second, while John, a name that means "God is gracious," was third on the list. These names reflect a trend towards classic, traditional names that have stood the test of time.

Most popular baby girl names in Indiana in 1940

In Indiana in 1940, Mary was the most popular baby girl name with 1285 babies given that name. Judith was the second most popular with 1119 babies, followed by Linda with 855 babies. Patricia was the fourth most popular name with 831 babies, and Barbara was the fifth most popular with 776 babies.

Mary

1285 baby girls born in Indiana (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.
Judith

1119 baby girls born in Indiana (1940) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Linda

855 baby girls born in Indiana (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."
Patricia

831 baby girls born in Indiana (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

776 baby girls born in Indiana (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.
Nancy
764 baby girls born in Indiana (1940) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Sharon
742 baby girls born in Indiana (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.
Carolyn
695 baby girls born in Indiana (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.
Sandra
649 baby girls born in Indiana (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.
Carol
592 baby girls born in Indiana (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".
Janet
538 baby girls born in Indiana (1940) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Judy
503 baby girls born in Indiana (1940) named Judy
Betty
493 baby girls born in Indiana (1940) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Shirley
445 baby girls born in Indiana (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.
Janice
403 baby girls born in Indiana (1940) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Beverly
401 baby girls born in Indiana (1940) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Marilyn
393 baby girls born in Indiana (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".
Phyllis
377 baby girls born in Indiana (1940) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Joyce
368 baby girls born in Indiana (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.
Donna
350 baby girls born in Indiana (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.

Most popular baby boy names in Indiana in 1940

In Indiana, 1940, the most popular baby boy names were James, Robert, John, Larry, and William. James was the most popular name with 1724 babies given this name, followed by Robert with 1537 babies and John with 1399 babies. Larry was the fourth most popular name with 1303 babies and William came in fifth with 1146 babies given this name. These names were popular choices for parents in Indiana during this time period.

James

1724 baby boys born in Indiana (1940) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Robert

1537 baby boys born in Indiana (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

1399 baby boys born in Indiana (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.
Larry

1303 baby boys born in Indiana (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.
William

1146 baby boys born in Indiana (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.
Richard
1102 baby boys born in Indiana (1940) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
David
1083 baby boys born in Indiana (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.
Charles
919 baby boys born in Indiana (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.
Jerry
849 baby boys born in Indiana (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.
Donald
801 baby boys born in Indiana (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Ronald
775 baby boys born in Indiana (1940) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Thomas
700 baby boys born in Indiana (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.
Paul
452 baby boys born in Indiana (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.
Kenneth
435 baby boys born in Indiana (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Michael
435 baby boys born in Indiana (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.
George
378 baby boys born in Indiana (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.
Gary
338 baby boys born in Indiana (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.
Joseph
312 baby boys born in Indiana (1940) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Jack
310 baby boys born in Indiana (1940) named Jack
The name Jack is of English origin and is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious".
Harold
255 baby boys born in Indiana (1940) named Harold
The name Harold is of Old English origin and means "ruler of the army". It was a popular name among the Anglo-Saxons and was borne by several kings of England.