Kentucky's most popular baby names in 1944

In the year 1944, the state of Kentucky saw a surge of beautiful and timeless names for newborns. The most popular baby girl names were Mary, Linda, and Betty, while the top baby boy names were James, William, and Charles.

Mary, a classic name with biblical roots, held the top spot for baby girls in Kentucky. Linda, a name that means "pretty" or "beautiful" in Spanish, was a close second. Betty, a diminutive of Elizabeth, was also a popular choice for parents of baby girls in Kentucky. For baby boys, James, a name that means "supplanter," was the most popular choice. William, a name that means "resolute protector," and Charles, a name that means "free man," were also top choices for baby boys in Kentucky in 1944. These names continue to be popular today, proving that they truly stand the test of time.

Most popular baby girl names in Kentucky in 1944

In Kentucky in 1944, the most popular baby girl name was Mary with a total of 1599 babies being given that name. The second most popular name was Linda with 933 babies, followed by Betty with 843 babies. Barbara was the fourth most popular name with 817 babies, and Patricia rounded out the top five with 744 babies.

Mary

1599 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Linda

933 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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."
Betty

843 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Barbara

817 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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

744 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Brenda
599 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Carolyn
593 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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
561 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Joyce
494 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Judy
483 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) named Judy
Nancy
435 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Wanda
418 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) named Wanda
The name Wanda is of Slavic origin and its meaning is "she who is to be loved" or "wanderer".
Sandra
398 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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
396 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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".
Phyllis
382 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Martha
351 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Judith
345 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Sharon
343 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Janice
306 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Donna
297 baby girls born in Kentucky (1944) 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 Kentucky in 1944

Based on the data from Kentucky in 1944, the most popular baby boy names were James, William, Charles, Robert, and John. James was the most popular name with 2256 babies given that name, followed by William with 1425 babies, Charles with 1173 babies, Robert with 1083 babies, and John with 1026 babies. These names were likely influenced by popular cultural figures or traditions at the time.

James

2256 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
William

1425 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) 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

1173 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Robert

1083 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) 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

1026 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
David
725 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Larry
653 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Jerry
625 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) 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
619 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Ronald
495 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Thomas
495 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Richard
457 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Kenneth
431 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Billy
403 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) named Billy
The name Billy is a diminutive form of the name William, which is of Old German origin and means "resolute protection".
Paul
403 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
George
378 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) 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.
Bobby
360 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) named Bobby
The name Bobby is a diminutive form of the name Robert, which means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance".
Joseph
358 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Roger
333 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) named Roger
The name Roger means "famous spearman" or "renowned warrior". It is of Old German origin, derived from the words "hrod" meaning "fame" and "ger" meaning "spear".
Michael
322 baby boys born in Kentucky (1944) 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.