South carolina's most popular baby names in 1942

In the year 1942, South Carolina saw a surge in the popularity of traditional baby names. Mary, a classic name that has been popular for centuries, topped the list of most popular baby girl names in the state. Following closely behind were Betty and Barbara, two names that were also quite popular during that time period.

For baby boys, the top names were James, William, and John. These names are also traditional and have been popular for many years. It's interesting to see how these names have stood the test of time and continue to be popular choices for parents in South Carolina and beyond.

Most popular baby girl names in South carolina in 1942

In 1942, Mary was the most popular baby girl name in South Carolina with 1634 newborns given this name. Betty and Barbara followed closely behind with 715 and 668 babies respectively. Linda and Dorothy rounded out the top five with 542 and 508 babies given those names. These were the most popular names for baby girls in South Carolina during that year.

Mary

1634 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Betty

715 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Barbara

668 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Linda

542 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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."
Dorothy

508 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Patricia
491 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Shirley
431 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Margaret
387 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Annie
381 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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".
Carolyn
381 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Brenda
375 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Martha
362 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Nancy
304 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Elizabeth
300 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Frances
299 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) named Frances
Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man" or "from France".
Sarah
267 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) named Sarah
The name Sarah means "princess" in Hebrew. It is a popular name in many cultures and is often associated with grace, beauty, and kindness.
Sandra
260 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Helen
253 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) named Helen
Helen is a name of Greek origin and means "bright, shining one" or "torchbearer". It is also sometimes associated with the meaning "sunray" or "ray of light". The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.
Joyce
238 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Doris
222 baby girls born in South carolina (1942) 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 South carolina in 1942

In South Carolina in the year 1942, the most popular baby boy names were James, William, John, Robert, and Charles. James was the most popular name with 2001 babies given that name, followed by William with 1129, John with 1106, Robert with 965, and Charles with 735. These names were likely inspired by popular figures of the time, such as James Stewart, William Holden, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, and Charles Boyer.

James

2001 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
William

1129 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) 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.
John

1106 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Robert

965 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Charles

735 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Willie
659 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) named Willie
The name Willie is a diminutive form of William, which means "resolute protector" or "willful protector".
Thomas
538 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) 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
476 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) 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.
David
412 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Joseph
355 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Henry
336 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) named Henry
The name Henry means "ruler of the household" or "estate ruler". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name for centuries.
Richard
325 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Joe
297 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) named Joe
The name Joe is a shortened form of the name Joseph. Its meaning is "God will increase" or "He will add".
Bobby
293 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) named Bobby
The name Bobby is a diminutive form of the name Robert, which means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance".
Jerry
291 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Jimmy
270 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) named Jimmy
The name Jimmy is a diminutive form of the name James, which means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Edward
265 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) 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".
Larry
258 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) 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.
Douglas
257 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) named Douglas
The name Douglas is of Scottish origin and means "dark water" or "dark stream".
Johnny
239 baby boys born in South carolina (1942) named Johnny
Johnny is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious" or "gift of God".