West virginia's most popular baby names in 1941

In the year 1941, the state of West Virginia saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, Mary remained the most popular name, followed by Barbara and Patricia. Mary, a timeless and classic name, has been a popular choice for parents for centuries. Barbara, on the other hand, was a relatively new name in the top ranks, gaining popularity in the early 20th century. Patricia, a name of Latin origin, was also a popular choice, ranking third in the state.

For baby boys, James was the most popular name in West Virginia in 1941. James, a name of Hebrew origin, has been a popular choice for parents for centuries. Robert and William followed closely behind, ranking second and third respectively. Robert, a name of Germanic origin, has been a popular choice for parents since the Middle Ages, while William, of English origin, has been a popular choice for centuries. These names continue to be popular choices for parents today, showcasing their timeless appeal.

Most popular baby girl names in West virginia in 1941

In 1941, Mary was the most popular baby girl name in West Virginia with 992 instances. Barbara followed in second place with 644 instances, while Patricia came in third with 614 instances. Betty was the fourth most popular name with 588 instances, and Linda rounded out the top 5 with 492 instances.

Mary

992 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Barbara

644 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) 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

614 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Betty

588 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Linda

492 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) 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
482 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Nancy
449 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Shirley
434 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Judith
413 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Sandra
386 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Carol
361 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) 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".
Janet
291 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Margaret
281 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Phyllis
279 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Joyce
264 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Ruth
244 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) named Ruth
The name Ruth means "friend" or "companion" in Hebrew. It is also associated with the character Ruth in the Bible, who was known for her loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi.
Brenda
240 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Helen
225 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Judy
212 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) named Judy
Dorothy
200 baby girls born in West virginia (1941) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".

Most popular baby boy names in West virginia in 1941

In 1941, the most popular baby boy names in West Virginia were James, Robert, William, Charles, and John. James was the most popular name with 1374 babies given the name, followed by Robert with 978 and William with 948. Charles and John rounded out the top five with 855 and 850 babies given those names, respectively. These classic and traditional names were the most popular choices for parents in West Virginia during that time period.

James

1374 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Robert

978 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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.
William

948 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Charles

855 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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

850 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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
568 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Richard
526 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Larry
492 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Donald
452 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Jerry
421 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Ronald
404 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Thomas
383 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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
338 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Gary
300 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) named Gary
The name Gary is of English origin and means "spear rule" or "spear carrier". It was originally a surname but became popular as a given name in the 20th century. People with this name are believed to be independent, practical, and analytical.
Paul
296 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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.
Kenneth
251 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Joseph
225 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Roger
213 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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".
Edward
203 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) 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".
Carl
188 baby boys born in West virginia (1941) named Carl
The name Carl is of Germanic origin and means "man" or "free man". It is a variant of the name Charles and has been a popular name throughout history.