West virginia's most popular baby names in 1942

In the year 1942, West Virginia saw a surge in popularity of classic baby names for both boys and girls. Topping the charts for baby girl names were Mary, Patricia, and Barbara, while James, Robert, and William were the most popular choices for baby boys.

Mary, a timeless name that has been popular for centuries, was a clear favorite among parents in West Virginia. Patricia, a name that originated in ancient Rome and means "noble," was also a popular choice. Meanwhile, Barbara, which means "stranger" or "foreigner," was a unique and stylish option for baby girls in 1942. For baby boys, James, Robert, and William were classic names that have stood the test of time, and continue to be popular choices for parents today.

Most popular baby girl names in West virginia in 1942

According to the data from 1942, Mary was the most popular baby girl name in West Virginia with 1041 occurrences. Patricia and Barbara were the second and third most popular names with 688 and 679 occurrences respectively. Linda and Carolyn were also popular names with 656 and 551 occurrences respectively. These were the top 5 names chosen by parents for their baby girls in West Virginia in 1942.

Mary

1041 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Patricia

688 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Barbara

679 baby girls born in West virginia (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

656 baby girls born in West virginia (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."
Carolyn

551 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Betty
546 baby girls born in West virginia (1942) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Shirley
485 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Sandra
471 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Carol
438 baby girls born in West virginia (1942) 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".
Nancy
432 baby girls born in West virginia (1942) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".
Judith
398 baby girls born in West virginia (1942) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Joyce
330 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Janet
321 baby girls born in West virginia (1942) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Karen
293 baby girls born in West virginia (1942) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Margaret
276 baby girls born in West virginia (1942) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Sharon
272 baby girls born in West virginia (1942) named Sharon
The name Sharon means "a plain or flat area" in Hebrew. It is also a biblical name, referring to a fertile plain near the coast of Israel.
Brenda
263 baby girls born in West virginia (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.
Donna
259 baby girls born in West virginia (1942) named Donna
The name Donna is of Italian origin and means "lady" or "woman". It was initially used as a title of respect for women of high social status in Italy, but later became a popular given name in English-speaking countries.
Phyllis
258 baby girls born in West virginia (1942) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Judy
254 baby girls born in West virginia (1942) named Judy

Most popular baby boy names in West virginia in 1942

Based on the data from West Virginia in 1942, the most popular baby boy names were James, Robert, William, John, and Charles. James was the most popular name with 1515 babies given that name, followed by Robert with 1021 babies, William with 952 babies, John with 886 babies, and Charles with 806 babies.

James

1515 baby boys born in West virginia (1942) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Robert

1021 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
William

952 baby boys born in West virginia (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

886 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Charles

806 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
David
616 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Larry
608 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Richard
540 baby boys born in West virginia (1942) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Donald
462 baby boys born in West virginia (1942) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Ronald
438 baby boys born in West virginia (1942) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Thomas
422 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Jerry
387 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Gary
348 baby boys born in West virginia (1942) 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.
Douglas
318 baby boys born in West virginia (1942) named Douglas
The name Douglas is of Scottish origin and means "dark water" or "dark stream".
George
314 baby boys born in West virginia (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.
Paul
294 baby boys born in West virginia (1942) 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.
Roger
269 baby boys born in West virginia (1942) 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".
Kenneth
245 baby boys born in West virginia (1942) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Harold
220 baby boys born in West virginia (1942) 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.
Joseph
218 baby boys born in West virginia (1942) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".