North carolina's most popular baby names in 1944

In the year 1944, North Carolina saw a surge in popularity of classic baby names for both boys and girls. Mary, Linda, Barbara were the top choices for baby girls, while James, William, and John were the most popular names for baby boys.

Mary, a timeless name of biblical origin, held the top spot for baby girls for the third year in a row. Linda, a name that gained popularity in the early 20th century, was a close second. Barbara, meaning "stranger" or "foreigner," rounded out the top three. For baby boys, James, a name with Hebrew origins meaning "supplanter," was the most popular. William, a name that has been popular for centuries, came in second, while John, a name with biblical roots, was the third most popular name for baby boys in North Carolina in 1944.

Most popular baby girl names in North carolina in 1944

In North Carolina in 1944, the most popular baby girl name was Mary, with 2314 babies given that name. Linda came in second with 1701, followed by Barbara with 1172, Betty with 1147, and Brenda with 1122. These were the top 5 baby girl names in North Carolina in 1944.

  1. Mary

    2314 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  2. Linda

    1701 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) 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."

  3. Barbara

    1172 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  4. Betty

    1147 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) named Betty

    The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".

  5. Brenda

    1122 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) named Brenda

    The name Brenda is of Old Norse origin and means "sword" or "torch". It was popularized in the 20th century as a given name, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom.

  6. Carolyn

    978 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  7. Patricia

    977 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  8. Judy

    837 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) named Judy

  9. Shirley

    760 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  10. Nancy

    701 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) named Nancy

    The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".

  11. Dorothy

    626 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) named Dorothy

    The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".

  12. Margaret

    606 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) named Margaret

    The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".

  13. Joyce

    604 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  14. Sandra

    602 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  15. Annie

    522 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) named Annie

    The name Annie is a diminutive form of the name Ann or Anna. It is of Hebrew origin and means "gracious" or "full of grace".

  16. Martha

    494 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) named Martha

    The name Martha means "lady" or "mistress" and is of Aramaic origin. It is a biblical name, borne by the sister of Lazarus in the New Testament.

  17. Peggy

    451 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) named Peggy

    The name Peggy is a diminutive form of the name Margaret, which means "pearl" or "precious".

  18. Elizabeth

    441 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  19. Frances

    438 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) named Frances

    Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man" or "from France".

  20. Doris

    432 baby girls born in North carolina (1944) named Doris

    The name Doris means "gift of the ocean" or "from the sea" in Greek. It was also the name of a sea nymph in Greek mythology.

Most popular baby boy names in North carolina in 1944

Based on the data from North Carolina in 1944, the most popular baby boy names were James, William, John, Robert, and Charles. James was the most popular name with 3482 occurrences, followed by William with 2218 occurrences, John with 1674 occurrences, Robert with 1671 occurrences, and Charles with 1343 occurrences. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and historical figures of the time.

  1. James

    3482 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) named James

    The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".

  2. William

    2218 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  3. John

    1674 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  4. Robert

    1671 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  5. Charles

    1343 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  6. David

    887 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  7. Larry

    881 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  8. Jerry

    855 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  9. Thomas

    813 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  10. George

    717 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) 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.

  11. Richard

    708 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) named Richard

    The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".

  12. Donald

    610 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) named Donald

    Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".

  13. Bobby

    573 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) named Bobby

    The name Bobby is a diminutive form of the name Robert, which means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance".

  14. Joseph

    558 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) named Joseph

    The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".

  15. Willie

    543 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) named Willie

    The name Willie is a diminutive form of William, which means "resolute protector" or "willful protector".

  16. Ronald

    472 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) named Ronald

    The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.

  17. Kenneth

    470 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) named Kenneth

    The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".

  18. Johnny

    468 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) named Johnny

    Johnny is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious" or "gift of God".

  19. Billy

    449 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) named Billy

    The name Billy is a diminutive form of the name William, which is of Old German origin and means "resolute protection".

  20. Jimmy

    435 baby boys born in North carolina (1944) named Jimmy

    The name Jimmy is a diminutive form of the name James, which means "supplanter" or "one who follows".