Minnesota's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the state of Minnesota saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Mary, Judith, and Carol topped the list of most popular baby girl names, while Robert, James, and Richard were the most favored names for baby boys.

Mary, a timeless classic, held the top spot for baby girl names in Minnesota in 1940. Judith and Carol followed closely behind, both names that were popular during the mid-twentieth century. On the boys' side, Robert was the most popular name, followed by James and Richard, both names that have remained popular over the years. These names reflect the trends of the time and continue to be popular choices for parents today.

Most popular baby girl names in Minnesota in 1940

In Minnesota in the year 1940, the most popular baby girl name was Mary, with a total of 1135 babies given that name. Following Mary were Judith with 748 babies, Carol with 738 babies, Sharon with 730 babies, and Patricia with 697 babies. These were the top five most popular baby girl names in Minnesota during that time period.

Mary

1135 baby girls born in Minnesota (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

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

738 baby girls born in Minnesota (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".
Sharon

730 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Patricia

697 baby girls born in Minnesota (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
682 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Karen
598 baby girls born in Minnesota (1940) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Sandra
480 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Janice
427 baby girls born in Minnesota (1940) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Janet
387 baby girls born in Minnesota (1940) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Nancy
385 baby girls born in Minnesota (1940) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Shirley
363 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Joyce
360 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Judy
349 baby girls born in Minnesota (1940) named Judy
Donna
331 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Joan
313 baby girls born in Minnesota (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.
Kathleen
304 baby girls born in Minnesota (1940) named Kathleen
The name Kathleen is of Irish origin and means "pure" or "clear". It is a variant of the name Katherine.
Beverly
297 baby girls born in Minnesota (1940) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Darlene
294 baby girls born in Minnesota (1940) named Darlene
The name Darlene means "darling" or "beloved" and is of English origin. It was first used as a given name in the early 20th century in the United States.
Marilyn
292 baby girls born in Minnesota (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".

Most popular baby boy names in Minnesota in 1940

According to the data from Minnesota in 1940, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, James, Richard, John, and David. Robert was the most popular name with 1314 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 1276 babies. Richard, John, and David were also popular names with 1151, 1130, and 989 babies respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular figures of the time, such as famous actors, musicians, or politicians.

Robert

1314 baby boys born in Minnesota (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

1276 baby boys born in Minnesota (1940) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

1151 baby boys born in Minnesota (1940) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
John

1130 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
David

989 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
William
654 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Gary
637 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Donald
629 baby boys born in Minnesota (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Thomas
615 baby boys born in Minnesota (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
607 baby boys born in Minnesota (1940) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Dennis
577 baby boys born in Minnesota (1940) named Dennis
The name Dennis is of Greek origin and means "follower of Dionysius", the Greek god of wine and fertility. It was a popular name in ancient Greece and was later adopted by the Romans. The name has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history.
Gerald
548 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Roger
547 baby boys born in Minnesota (1940) 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".
Kenneth
446 baby boys born in Minnesota (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Charles
435 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Michael
404 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Larry
387 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Paul
284 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Jerry
232 baby boys born in Minnesota (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.
Dale
225 baby boys born in Minnesota (1940) named Dale
The name Dale means valley or dale, which is a piece of land between hills or mountains. It is of Old English origin and is often used as a masculine given name.