Missouri's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the state of Missouri saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Mary, Barbara, and Patricia were the top three names for baby girls, while James, Robert, and John topped the list for baby boys. These names were not only popular in Missouri but across the United States as well.

Mary has been a popular name for baby girls for centuries and continues to be so. Barbara and Patricia were also quite common during the 1940s. On the other hand, James, Robert, and John were the most popular names for baby boys in Missouri. These names have a timeless appeal and have remained popular over the years. Parents in Missouri were clearly drawn to traditional and classic names for their newborns in 1940.

Most popular baby girl names in Missouri in 1940

In 1940, Mary was the most popular name for baby girls in Missouri with a total of 1707 babies being named Mary. Barbara came in second place with 1011 babies being named Barbara. Patricia was the third most popular name with 798 babies being named Patricia. Betty was the fourth most popular name with 752 babies being named Betty. Finally, Shirley was the fifth most popular name with 698 babies being named Shirley. These were the top 5 baby girl names in Missouri in 1940.

Mary

1707 baby girls born in Missouri (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.
Barbara

1011 baby girls born in Missouri (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

798 baby girls born in Missouri (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.
Betty

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

698 baby girls born in Missouri (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.
Carol
678 baby girls born in Missouri (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".
Judith
676 baby girls born in Missouri (1940) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Joyce
511 baby girls born in Missouri (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.
Carolyn
477 baby girls born in Missouri (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.
Linda
471 baby girls born in Missouri (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."
Sandra
455 baby girls born in Missouri (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.
Nancy
447 baby girls born in Missouri (1940) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Judy
447 baby girls born in Missouri (1940) named Judy
Donna
405 baby girls born in Missouri (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.
Sharon
371 baby girls born in Missouri (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.
Janet
350 baby girls born in Missouri (1940) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Margaret
348 baby girls born in Missouri (1940) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Dorothy
347 baby girls born in Missouri (1940) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Marilyn
345 baby girls born in Missouri (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".
Ruth
302 baby girls born in Missouri (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 Missouri in 1940

In 1940, the most popular baby boy names in Missouri were James, Robert, John, William, and Charles. James was the most popular name with 1683 babies given that name. Robert and John followed closely behind with 1474 and 1322 babies respectively. William and Charles rounded out the top 5 with 1098 and 1056 babies given those names. These classic names have been popular for generations and continue to be popular choices for parents today.

James

1683 baby boys born in Missouri (1940) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Robert

1474 baby boys born in Missouri (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

1322 baby boys born in Missouri (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

1098 baby boys born in Missouri (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

1056 baby boys born in Missouri (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.
Larry
877 baby boys born in Missouri (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.
Donald
861 baby boys born in Missouri (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Richard
855 baby boys born in Missouri (1940) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
David
732 baby boys born in Missouri (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.
Ronald
685 baby boys born in Missouri (1940) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Jerry
670 baby boys born in Missouri (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.
Gary
528 baby boys born in Missouri (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.
Kenneth
515 baby boys born in Missouri (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Thomas
475 baby boys born in Missouri (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.
George
448 baby boys born in Missouri (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
368 baby boys born in Missouri (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.
Billy
315 baby boys born in Missouri (1940) named Billy
The name Billy is a diminutive form of the name William, which is of Old German origin and means "resolute protection".
Harold
293 baby boys born in Missouri (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.
Michael
288 baby boys born in Missouri (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.
Edward
287 baby boys born in Missouri (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".