New hampshire's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the state of New Hampshire witnessed the arrival of many adorable and charming newborns. The most popular baby names for girls were Patricia, Nancy, and Mary, while for boys, Robert, Richard, and John were the top choices.

The name Patricia, of Latin origin, means "noble" or "patrician." Nancy, a diminutive of the name Ann, means "grace." Mary, a name with Hebrew roots, means "bitter" or "beloved." On the other hand, Robert, of Germanic origin, means "bright fame." Richard, also of Germanic origin, means "brave power." And John, a name with Hebrew roots, means "God is gracious." These names were chosen by parents for their children with love and care, and they continue to be popular even today.

Most popular baby girl names in New hampshire in 1940

In 1940, the most popular baby girl names in New Hampshire were Patricia, Nancy, Mary, Judith, and Sandra. Patricia was the most popular name with 153 babies given that name, followed by Nancy with 125 babies, Mary with 112 babies, Judith with 107 babies, and Sandra with 106 babies. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and societal trends of the time.

Patricia

153 baby girls born in New hampshire (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.
Nancy

125 baby girls born in New hampshire (1940) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Mary

112 baby girls born in New hampshire (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

107 baby girls born in New hampshire (1940) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Sandra

106 baby girls born in New hampshire (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.
Barbara
92 baby girls born in New hampshire (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.
Carol
78 baby girls born in New hampshire (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".
Joan
75 baby girls born in New hampshire (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
67 baby girls born in New hampshire (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."
Beverly
58 baby girls born in New hampshire (1940) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Joyce
56 baby girls born in New hampshire (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
52 baby girls born in New hampshire (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.
Elaine
51 baby girls born in New hampshire (1940) named Elaine
The name Elaine means "bright, shining light" or "torch" and is of French origin. It is derived from the Old French name Hélène, which is from the Greek name Helene, meaning "torch" or "corposant".
Janet
48 baby girls born in New hampshire (1940) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Dorothy
45 baby girls born in New hampshire (1940) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Pauline
44 baby girls born in New hampshire (1940) named Pauline
The name Pauline is a feminine name of French origin. It is the feminine form of the name Paul, which means "small" or "humble" in Latin. The name Pauline is often associated with qualities such as intelligence, creativity, and a strong will. It is a classic name that has been popular for centuries and is still widely used today.
Gloria
44 baby girls born in New hampshire (1940) named Gloria
The name Gloria means "glory" or "fame" in Latin.
Elizabeth
43 baby girls born in New hampshire (1940) named Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my oath" or "my God is abundance". It is a name that has been popular for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures in history and literature.
Carolyn
41 baby girls born in New hampshire (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.
Ann
40 baby girls born in New hampshire (1940) named Ann
The name Ann is a variant of the name Anne, which is derived from the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning "grace" or "favor". The name has been popular throughout history and is often associated with strong and independent women.

Most popular baby boy names in New hampshire in 1940

In 1940, the most popular baby boy names in New Hampshire were Robert, Richard, John, David, and William. Robert was the most popular name with 307 babies given that name, followed by Richard with 266 babies. John was the third most popular name with 174 babies, while David and William rounded out the top five with 159 and 137 babies given those names, respectively.

Robert

307 baby boys born in New hampshire (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.
Richard

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

174 baby boys born in New hampshire (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

159 baby boys born in New hampshire (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

137 baby boys born in New hampshire (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.
Donald
119 baby boys born in New hampshire (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
James
113 baby boys born in New hampshire (1940) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Ronald
111 baby boys born in New hampshire (1940) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Paul
100 baby boys born in New hampshire (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.
George
87 baby boys born in New hampshire (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.
Raymond
76 baby boys born in New hampshire (1940) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Charles
74 baby boys born in New hampshire (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.
Edward
72 baby boys born in New hampshire (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".
Roger
72 baby boys born in New hampshire (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".
Thomas
56 baby boys born in New hampshire (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.
Peter
55 baby boys born in New hampshire (1940) named Peter
The name Peter is derived from the Greek name Petros, meaning "rock" or "stone". It is a common name in many cultures and languages, and is often associated with qualities such as strength, stability, and steadfastness.
Kenneth
53 baby boys born in New hampshire (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Arthur
47 baby boys born in New hampshire (1940) named Arthur
The name Arthur is of Celtic origin and means "bear". It was a popular name among the kings and nobles of medieval England, and has since become a classic name that is still in use today.
Wayne
41 baby boys born in New hampshire (1940) named Wayne
The name Wayne means "wagon maker" or "wagon driver". It has Old English origins and was originally a surname before becoming a first name.
Bruce
40 baby boys born in New hampshire (1940) named Bruce
The name Bruce is of Scottish origin and means "from the brushwood thicket".