Rhode island's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the state of Rhode Island saw some popular baby names for both boys and girls. For baby girls, Barbara, Patricia, and Mary were the top choices. These names were popular not only in Rhode Island but also across the United States during that time. Barbara, which means "stranger" or "foreigner," was the most popular name for baby girls in Rhode Island that year.

For baby boys, Robert, Richard, and John were the most popular names in Rhode Island. Robert, which means "bright fame," was the most popular name for boys in the state. Richard, which means "brave power," and John, which means "God is gracious," were also popular names among parents in Rhode Island.

Overall, the most popular baby names in Rhode Island in 1940 reflected the trends of the time, with traditional and classic names being the top choices. These names have stood the test of time and continue to be popular even today.

Most popular baby girl names in Rhode island in 1940

In 1940, the most popular baby girl names in Rhode Island were Barbara, Patricia, Mary, Carol, and Joan. Barbara was the most popular name with 207 babies receiving the name, followed closely by Patricia with 180 babies. Mary was the third most popular name with 177 babies, and Carol and Joan rounded out the top five with 174 and 138 babies receiving those names, respectively.

Barbara

207 baby girls born in Rhode island (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

180 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Mary

177 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Carol

174 baby girls born in Rhode island (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

138 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Judith
125 baby girls born in Rhode island (1940) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Ann
95 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Dorothy
85 baby girls born in Rhode island (1940) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Margaret
77 baby girls born in Rhode island (1940) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Beverly
77 baby girls born in Rhode island (1940) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Nancy
77 baby girls born in Rhode island (1940) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Joyce
75 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Elizabeth
74 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Marie
70 baby girls born in Rhode island (1940) named Marie
The name Marie is the French variant of Mary, which means "bitter" in Hebrew. It is a popular name among Christians and has been used for centuries. The name is often associated with purity, grace, and elegance.
Jean
68 baby girls born in Rhode island (1940) named Jean
The name Jean is a variant of the name John, which means "God is gracious" in Hebrew. It is a gender-neutral name that has been used for both boys and girls.
Sandra
66 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Elaine
63 baby girls born in Rhode island (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".
Pauline
58 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.
Linda
56 baby girls born in Rhode island (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."
Carolyn
54 baby girls born in Rhode island (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.

Most popular baby boy names in Rhode island in 1940

According to the records of Rhode Island in the year 1940, the most popular baby boy names were Robert with 430 occurrences, followed by Richard with 303 occurrences, John with 281 occurrences, William with 225 occurrences, and Joseph with 182 occurrences. These names were the top choices for parents during that time period in Rhode Island.

Robert

430 baby boys born in Rhode island (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

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

281 baby boys born in Rhode island (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

225 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Joseph

182 baby boys born in Rhode island (1940) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
James
174 baby boys born in Rhode island (1940) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Edward
138 baby boys born in Rhode island (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".
Thomas
133 baby boys born in Rhode island (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
127 baby boys born in Rhode island (1940) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
David
117 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Raymond
116 baby boys born in Rhode island (1940) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Donald
113 baby boys born in Rhode island (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
George
108 baby boys born in Rhode island (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
107 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Anthony
88 baby boys born in Rhode island (1940) named Anthony
The name Anthony is of Latin origin and means "priceless" or "highly praiseworthy".
Charles
86 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Frank
73 baby boys born in Rhode island (1940) named Frank
The name Frank is of Germanic origin and means "free man" or "truthful man".
Peter
66 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Michael
65 baby boys born in Rhode island (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.
Kenneth
64 baby boys born in Rhode island (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".