US first names, 1940–1949
Random names from the 1940s
First names on this page come from Social Security Administration records of U.S. births in the 1940s. That period holds 14,483,516 girls across 9,682 distinct names and 14,886,124 boys across 6,611 distinct names. The three most common names were for girls: Mary, Linda, Barbara; for boys: James, Robert, John. Names are picked in proportion to how often they were given, and last names come from the 2000 U.S. Census, so the mix looks like real American full names.
More options — middle names, no repeats, realism, seed
1 gives real frequencies. 0 makes every name equally likely.
What the data says
- About 1 in 4 girls born in the 1940s got one of just 10 names. Those 10 names hold 24.0% of all recorded girls.
- Names for girls behave like 316 equally common names out of 9,682 in use (effective number of names).
- The average girl's name has 5.9 letters.
- About 1 in 3 boys born in the 1940s got one of just 10 names. Those 10 names hold 34.0% of all recorded boys.
- Names for boys behave like 187 equally common names out of 6,611 in use (effective number of names).
- The average boy's name has 5.7 letters.
- Fastest riser for girls: Cheryl, from 1,300 births in 1930 to 1939 to 70,959 in 1940 to 1949.
- Biggest fall for girls: Clarabelle, from 308 births in 1930 to 1939 to 51 in 1940 to 1949.
- Fastest riser for boys: Jeffrey, from 903 births in 1930 to 1939 to 34,340 in 1940 to 1949.
- Biggest fall for boys: Kaye, from 328 births in 1930 to 1939 to 80 in 1940 to 1949.
Girls: Top 20 names
| # | Name | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mary | 640,080 | 4.42% |
| 2 | Linda | 531,660 | 3.67% |
| 3 | Barbara | 425,271 | 2.94% |
| 4 | Patricia | 411,412 | 2.84% |
| 5 | Carol | 292,333 | 2.02% |
| 6 | Sandra | 265,538 | 1.83% |
| 7 | Nancy | 252,061 | 1.74% |
| 8 | Sharon | 221,237 | 1.53% |
| 9 | Judith | 218,037 | 1.51% |
| 10 | Susan | 212,016 | 1.46% |
| 11 | Betty | 194,623 | 1.34% |
| 12 | Carolyn | 181,858 | 1.26% |
| 13 | Margaret | 173,028 | 1.19% |
| 14 | Shirley | 171,780 | 1.19% |
| 15 | Judy | 167,719 | 1.16% |
| 16 | Karen | 167,700 | 1.16% |
| 17 | Donna | 165,523 | 1.14% |
| 18 | Kathleen | 152,981 | 1.06% |
| 19 | Joyce | 151,494 | 1.05% |
| 20 | Dorothy | 132,257 | 0.91% |
Boys: Top 20 names
| # | Name | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James | 795,775 | 5.35% |
| 2 | Robert | 758,126 | 5.09% |
| 3 | John | 711,614 | 4.78% |
| 4 | William | 556,478 | 3.74% |
| 5 | Richard | 477,476 | 3.21% |
| 6 | David | 426,372 | 2.86% |
| 7 | Charles | 361,772 | 2.43% |
| 8 | Thomas | 350,775 | 2.36% |
| 9 | Michael | 336,568 | 2.26% |
| 10 | Ronald | 282,489 | 1.90% |
| 11 | Larry | 255,908 | 1.72% |
| 12 | Donald | 247,834 | 1.66% |
| 13 | Joseph | 230,285 | 1.55% |
| 14 | Gary | 217,772 | 1.46% |
| 15 | George | 209,013 | 1.40% |
| 16 | Kenneth | 198,553 | 1.33% |
| 17 | Paul | 183,364 | 1.23% |
| 18 | Edward | 174,801 | 1.17% |
| 19 | Jerry | 167,257 | 1.12% |
| 20 | Dennis | 162,114 | 1.09% |
Girls: 1930 to 1939 → 1940 to 1949
Rising fastest
- Cheryl 1,300 → 70,959
- Candace 146 → 6,715
- Cheryle 34 → 1,519
- Lana 251 → 10,199
- Pamela 1,873 → 73,121
Falling fastest
- Clarabelle 308 → 51
- Dorla 590 → 129
- Joretta 556 → 148
- Ardeth 450 → 152
- Marceline 535 → 185
Boys: 1930 to 1939 → 1940 to 1949
Rising fastest
- Jeffrey 903 → 34,340
- Ricky 185 → 6,796
- Rickie 35 → 1,224
- Rickey 133 → 4,099
- Randy 530 → 14,165
Falling fastest
- Kaye 328 → 80
- Seymour 2,177 → 605
- Morton 2,957 → 1,009
- Billie 9,703 → 3,742
- Huey 2,169 → 845
Questions and answers
What was the most common girl's name in the 1940s?
Mary. 640,080 girls received it, 4.42% of all recorded girls born in the 1940s.
What was the most common boy's name in the 1940s?
James. 795,775 boys received it, 5.35% of all recorded boys born in the 1940s.
How concentrated are names in the 1940s?
Among girls the 10 most common names cover 24.0% of births; among boys 34.0%. In this period boys' names were the more concentrated set.
Which names grew fastest compared with 1930 to 1939?
Among names with at least 300 births in 1940 to 1949, the biggest gains were for girls, Cheryl (1,300 births in 1930 to 1939, 70,959 in 1940 to 1949); for boys, Jeffrey (903 births in 1930 to 1939, 34,340 in 1940 to 1949).
How long is the average first name in the 1940s?
Weighted by how often each name was given: 5.9 letters for girls, 5.7 letters for boys.