Most popular girl names in the 40s in Kentucky

As history tells, the 1940s were a decade that shaped American life. The country faced World War II, ration books, factory work, radio news, and families waiting for letters from loved ones who were overseas. By the end of the decade, the war was completely over, and people were starting fresh, and the first signs of the baby boom were starting to appear.

compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 40s in Kentucky using data from the . Names are ranked by number of babies born.

Keep reading to see if your name made the list.

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#30. Virginia

Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,435
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 119 (#372 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,995 (#28 most common name)

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#29. Ruth

Ruth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "friend".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,508
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#228 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,639 (#34 most common name)

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#28. Janet

Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,515
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 199 (#228 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)

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#27. Helen

Helen is a name of Greek origin meaning "shining light".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,624
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#478 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 90,739 (#32 most common name)

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#26. Peggy

Peggy is a name of English origin meaning pearl.

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,691
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 87 (#478 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,044 (#42 most common name)

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#25. Bonnie

Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,797
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#580 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 86,868 (#33 most common name)

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#24. Dorothy

Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,804
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 76 (#527 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)

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#23. Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,814
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,250 (#12 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)

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#22. Anna

Anna is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,142
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 721 (#41 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 41,220 (#70 most common name)

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#21. Margaret

Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,569
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 341 (#121 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)

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#20. Judith

Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,632
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 60 (#614 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)

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#19. Martha

Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,636
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 99 (#435 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,365 (#30 most common name)

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#18. Janice

Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,644
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 99 (#435 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#23 most common name)

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#17. Carol

Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,874
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 99 (#435 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)

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#16. Sharon

Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,940
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,194 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)

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#15. Phyllis

Phyllis is a name of Greek origin meaning "green leaf".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,997
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,194 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 76,107 (#38 most common name)

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#14. Donna

Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,008
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#1,194 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)

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#13. Sandra

Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,573
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 23 (#910 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)

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#12. Nancy

Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,626
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#679 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)

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#11. Wanda

Wanda is a name of Polish origin meaning "wanderer".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,681
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 49 (#679 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 50,663 (#55 most common name)

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#10. Judy

Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,021
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#1,449 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)

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#9. Joyce

Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,225
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)

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#8. Shirley

Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,875
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 35 (#778 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)

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#7. Carolyn

Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 5,992
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 39 (#740 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)

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#6. Brenda

Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 7,315
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 20 (#952 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 112,335 (#26 most common name)

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#5. Patricia

Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,195
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 17 (#1,012 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)

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#4. Betty

Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 8,638
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#1,103 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)

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#3. Barbara

Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 9,119
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 66 (#580 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)

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#2. Linda

Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,625
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 56 (#635 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)

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#1. Mary

Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".

Kentucky
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 16,761
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 530 (#68 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)

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