Michigan's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the state of Michigan saw a surge in popular baby names. For baby girls, Mary, Patricia, and Barbara topped the list. Mary, a classic name that has been popular for centuries, was the most popular name for baby girls in Michigan. Patricia, a name of Latin origin meaning "noble," was the second most popular name, followed closely by Barbara, a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign woman."

For baby boys, Robert, James, and John were the most popular names in Michigan in 1940. Robert, a name of German origin meaning "bright fame," was the most popular name for baby boys. James, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter," was the second most popular name, followed by John, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious."

Overall, the top baby names in Michigan in 1940 reflected a mix of classic and modern names, with a strong emphasis on traditional names for boys and girls. These names continue to be popular today, with many parents still choosing them for their newborns.

Most popular baby girl names in Michigan in 1940

The most popular baby girl names in Michigan in 1940 were Mary, Patricia, Barbara, Judith, and Carol. Mary was the most popular name with 2018 babies given that name. Patricia and Barbara were also popular with 1823 and 1645 babies given those names, respectively. Judith and Carol were also common names with 1597 and 1374 babies given those names.

Mary

2018 baby girls born in Michigan (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

1823 baby girls born in Michigan (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

1645 baby girls born in Michigan (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.
Judith

1597 baby girls born in Michigan (1940) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Carol

1374 baby girls born in Michigan (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".
Nancy
1221 baby girls born in Michigan (1940) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Sharon
1146 baby girls born in Michigan (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.
Sandra
954 baby girls born in Michigan (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.
Janet
858 baby girls born in Michigan (1940) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Judy
756 baby girls born in Michigan (1940) named Judy
Joyce
708 baby girls born in Michigan (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.
Shirley
679 baby girls born in Michigan (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.
Joan
664 baby girls born in Michigan (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.
Linda
618 baby girls born in Michigan (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."
Margaret
588 baby girls born in Michigan (1940) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Donna
557 baby girls born in Michigan (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.
Beverly
555 baby girls born in Michigan (1940) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Marilyn
543 baby girls born in Michigan (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".
Betty
529 baby girls born in Michigan (1940) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Ruth
468 baby girls born in Michigan (1940) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in Michigan in 1940

According to data from 1940, the most popular baby boy names in Michigan were Robert, James, John, Richard, and William. Robert was the most popular name with 2943 babies given this name, followed by James with 2488 babies, John with 2136 babies, Richard with 2039 babies, and William with 1758 babies. These names reflect traditional and classic choices for baby boys during this time period.

Robert

2943 baby boys born in Michigan (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.
James

2488 baby boys born in Michigan (1940) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
John

2136 baby boys born in Michigan (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

2039 baby boys born in Michigan (1940) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
William

1758 baby boys born in Michigan (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
1625 baby boys born in Michigan (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.
Thomas
1309 baby boys born in Michigan (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.
Ronald
1273 baby boys born in Michigan (1940) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Donald
1171 baby boys born in Michigan (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Charles
1115 baby boys born in Michigan (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.
Gerald
930 baby boys born in Michigan (1940) named Gerald
The name Gerald means "ruler with a spear" or "rule of the spear". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobles.
Kenneth
874 baby boys born in Michigan (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Larry
840 baby boys born in Michigan (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.
Michael
820 baby boys born in Michigan (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.
Gary
804 baby boys born in Michigan (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
659 baby boys born in Michigan (1940) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
George
599 baby boys born in Michigan (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.
Paul
599 baby boys born in Michigan (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.
Edward
589 baby boys born in Michigan (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".
Jerry
584 baby boys born in Michigan (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.