Tennessee's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the most popular baby names in the state of Tennessee were Mary, Betty, Barbara for girls and James, William, Robert for boys. Mary has been a consistently popular name for baby girls for several decades in the United States, and it was no different in Tennessee in 1940. Betty and Barbara were also popular choices for parents of baby girls during this time.

For baby boys, James, William, and Robert were the top choices in Tennessee in 1940. These names have also remained popular over the years, with James and William consistently appearing in the top 10 most popular names for baby boys nationwide. Overall, the baby names in Tennessee in 1940 reflected the traditional and classic naming trends of the time.

Most popular baby girl names in Tennessee in 1940

According to the data from 1940, Mary was the most popular baby girl name in Tennessee with 1781 occurrences. Betty came in second with 1160 occurrences, followed by Barbara with 998 occurrences. Shirley was the fourth most popular name with 721 occurrences and Linda rounded out the top five with 539 occurrences.

Mary

1781 baby girls born in Tennessee (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.
Betty

1160 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Barbara

998 baby girls born in Tennessee (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.
Shirley

721 baby girls born in Tennessee (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.
Linda

539 baby girls born in Tennessee (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."
Patricia
532 baby girls born in Tennessee (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
520 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Dorothy
516 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Peggy
480 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) named Peggy
The name Peggy is a diminutive form of the name Margaret, which means "pearl" or "precious".
Carolyn
474 baby girls born in Tennessee (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.
Martha
467 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) 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.
Joyce
439 baby girls born in Tennessee (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.
Wanda
429 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) named Wanda
The name Wanda is of Slavic origin and its meaning is "she who is to be loved" or "wanderer".
Margaret
421 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Helen
353 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) 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.
Doris
282 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) 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.
Elizabeth
271 baby girls born in Tennessee (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.
Virginia
266 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) named Virginia
The name Virginia is derived from the Latin word "Virgo" which means "maiden" or "virgin". It was a popular name in ancient Rome and was often given to girls who were born in the month of August. The name has been used in English-speaking countries since the 19th century and is associated with purity, innocence, and virtue.
Frances
264 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) named Frances
Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man" or "from France".
Patsy
259 baby girls born in Tennessee (1940) named Patsy
The name Patsy is a diminutive form of the name Patricia or Patrick, which means "noble" or "patrician" in Latin. The name Patsy is commonly used as a nickname for someone with the full name Patricia or Patrick.

Most popular baby boy names in Tennessee in 1940

In 1940, the most popular baby boy names in Tennessee were James, William, Robert, Charles, and John. James was the most popular name with 2408 babies given that name, followed by William with 1304 babies, Robert with 1267 babies, Charles with 1177 babies, and John with 1033 babies. These names were likely chosen by parents for their traditional and timeless appeal.

James

2408 baby boys born in Tennessee (1940) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
William

1304 baby boys born in Tennessee (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.
Robert

1267 baby boys born in Tennessee (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.
Charles

1177 baby boys born in Tennessee (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.
John

1033 baby boys born in Tennessee (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.
Billy
746 baby boys born in Tennessee (1940) named Billy
The name Billy is a diminutive form of the name William, which is of Old German origin and means "resolute protection".
Jerry
689 baby boys born in Tennessee (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.
Bobby
658 baby boys born in Tennessee (1940) named Bobby
The name Bobby is a diminutive form of the name Robert, which means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance".
Thomas
561 baby boys born in Tennessee (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.
David
539 baby boys born in Tennessee (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.
Donald
452 baby boys born in Tennessee (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
George
433 baby boys born in Tennessee (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.
Joe
419 baby boys born in Tennessee (1940) named Joe
The name Joe is a shortened form of the name Joseph. Its meaning is "God will increase" or "He will add".
Kenneth
396 baby boys born in Tennessee (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Richard
375 baby boys born in Tennessee (1940) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Paul
349 baby boys born in Tennessee (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.
Larry
346 baby boys born in Tennessee (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.
Jimmy
341 baby boys born in Tennessee (1940) named Jimmy
The name Jimmy is a diminutive form of the name James, which means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Harold
299 baby boys born in Tennessee (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.
Roy
289 baby boys born in Tennessee (1940) named Roy
The name Roy is of Scottish origin and means "red-haired" or "ruddy complexion".