Vermont's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the state of Vermont saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, Mary emerged as the most popular name, followed closely by Patricia and Barbara. These classic names have stood the test of time and continue to be popular choices for parents even today.

For baby boys, Richard took the top spot, followed by Robert and John. These strong and traditional names have been favorites for generations and remain popular even in the modern era. It is interesting to note that many of these names have biblical origins, reflecting the strong religious influence in Vermont during the mid-20th century. Overall, the top baby names of 1940 in Vermont reflect a timeless and enduring appeal that continues to captivate parents today.

Most popular baby girl names in Vermont in 1940

In 1940, the top five baby girl names in Vermont were Mary, Patricia, Barbara, Sandra, and Shirley. Mary was the most popular name with 123 babies given the name, followed closely by Patricia with 114 babies named that. Barbara was the third most popular name with 107 babies given that name, while Sandra and Shirley rounded out the top five with 85 and 80 babies respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular cultural figures of the time and traditional naming conventions.

Mary

123 baby girls born in Vermont (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.
Patricia

114 baby girls born in Vermont (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.
Barbara

107 baby girls born in Vermont (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.
Sandra

85 baby girls born in Vermont (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.
Shirley

80 baby girls born in Vermont (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.
Nancy
74 baby girls born in Vermont (1940) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Judith
70 baby girls born in Vermont (1940) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Joyce
63 baby girls born in Vermont (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.
Carol
56 baby girls born in Vermont (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".
Elizabeth
51 baby girls born in Vermont (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.
Joan
51 baby girls born in Vermont (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
47 baby girls born in Vermont (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."
Janice
43 baby girls born in Vermont (1940) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Jean
41 baby girls born in Vermont (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.
Margaret
40 baby girls born in Vermont (1940) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Beverly
39 baby girls born in Vermont (1940) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Marilyn
36 baby girls born in Vermont (1940) named Marilyn
The name Marilyn is a combination of the names Mary and Lynn. The name Mary means "bitter" or "rebellious" in Hebrew, while Lynn means "lake" or "waterfall" in English. Therefore, the name Marilyn could be interpreted as "bitter lake" or "rebellious waterfall".
Janet
32 baby girls born in Vermont (1940) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Dorothy
32 baby girls born in Vermont (1940) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Jane
30 baby girls born in Vermont (1940) named Jane
The name Jane is of English origin and means "God is gracious". It is a feminine name that has been popular for centuries and has been used by many notable figures throughout history.

Most popular baby boy names in Vermont in 1940

In Vermont in 1940, the most popular baby boy names were Richard, Robert, John, David, and James. Richard was the most popular name with 186 babies given that name, followed closely by Robert with 180 babies. John came in third with 147 babies given that name, followed by David with 108 babies, and James with 105 babies. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and historical figures of the time.

Richard

186 baby boys born in Vermont (1940) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Robert

180 baby boys born in Vermont (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.
John

147 baby boys born in Vermont (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

108 baby boys born in Vermont (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.
James

105 baby boys born in Vermont (1940) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
William
103 baby boys born in Vermont (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.
Ronald
70 baby boys born in Vermont (1940) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Donald
62 baby boys born in Vermont (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Charles
56 baby boys born in Vermont (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.
Kenneth
54 baby boys born in Vermont (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Paul
51 baby boys born in Vermont (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.
Thomas
45 baby boys born in Vermont (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.
Roger
45 baby boys born in Vermont (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".
Joseph
44 baby boys born in Vermont (1940) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
George
43 baby boys born in Vermont (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.
Edward
41 baby boys born in Vermont (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".
Francis
39 baby boys born in Vermont (1940) named Francis
The name Francis is derived from the Latin name Franciscus, which means "Frenchman" or "free man". It has been a popular name throughout history, particularly among Christians due to its association with Saint Francis of Assisi. The name is often associated with humility, kindness, and a love for nature and animals.
Raymond
38 baby boys born in Vermont (1940) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Wayne
38 baby boys born in Vermont (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.
Arthur
33 baby boys born in Vermont (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.