Nebraska's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the state of Nebraska saw a surge in the popularity of some classic baby names. Mary topped the list of most popular baby girl names, followed by Sharon and Barbara. These names were quite common and had been popular for several decades.

On the other hand, the top baby boy names in Nebraska in 1940 were Robert, Larry, and James. These names were also quite common and had been popular for many years. Robert, in particular, had been a popular name for boys for several centuries.

Overall, the baby names that were popular in Nebraska in 1940 were quite traditional and timeless. While some of these names may have fallen out of favor over the years, they are still classic choices for parents looking for a timeless name for their child.

Most popular baby girl names in Nebraska in 1940

In 1940, the most popular baby girl name in Nebraska was Mary, with a total of 460 babies being given that name. Following closely behind were Sharon with 362 babies, Barbara with 300 babies, Karen with 286 babies, and Patricia with 260 babies. These were the top 5 baby girl names in Nebraska in 1940.

Mary

460 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Sharon

362 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Barbara

300 baby girls born in Nebraska (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

286 baby girls born in Nebraska (1940) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Patricia

260 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Carol
249 baby girls born in Nebraska (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".
Judy
244 baby girls born in Nebraska (1940) named Judy
Judith
221 baby girls born in Nebraska (1940) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Sandra
198 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Betty
182 baby girls born in Nebraska (1940) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Donna
179 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Marilyn
178 baby girls born in Nebraska (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".
Janice
174 baby girls born in Nebraska (1940) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Shirley
168 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Janet
160 baby girls born in Nebraska (1940) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Joyce
154 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Nancy
151 baby girls born in Nebraska (1940) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Carolyn
120 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Joan
118 baby girls born in Nebraska (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.
Beverly
115 baby girls born in Nebraska (1940) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".

Most popular baby boy names in Nebraska in 1940

In 1940, the most popular baby boy names in Nebraska were Robert, Larry, James, Richard, and John. Robert was the most popular name with 517 babies given that name, followed closely by Larry with 476 babies. James, Richard, and John rounded out the top five with 422, 409, and 375 babies given those names, respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and traditional family names.

Robert

517 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Larry

476 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
James

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

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

375 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Gary
355 baby boys born in Nebraska (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
310 baby boys born in Nebraska (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Ronald
287 baby boys born in Nebraska (1940) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
William
254 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Jerry
202 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
David
189 baby boys born in Nebraska (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
187 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Kenneth
179 baby boys born in Nebraska (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Roger
173 baby boys born in Nebraska (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".
Dennis
164 baby boys born in Nebraska (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
150 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Thomas
148 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Edward
97 baby boys born in Nebraska (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".
Michael
90 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.
Harold
88 baby boys born in Nebraska (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.