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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 Washington, D.C. 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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1 / 30Catherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 681
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 95 (#95 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 62,047 (#43 most common name)
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2 / 30Helen is a name of Greek origin meaning "shining light".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 735
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 55 (#172 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 90,739 (#32 most common name)
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3 / 30Frances is a name of Latin origin meaning "free man".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 752
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#137 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 85,421 (#35 most common name)
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4 / 30Ann is a name of Latin origin meaning "grace".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 873
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#137 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 76,783 (#37 most common name)
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5 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 879
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#137 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
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6 / 30Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 885
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#137 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 80,344 (#36 most common name)
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7 / 30Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 922
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 69 (#137 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 112,335 (#26 most common name)
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8 / 30Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 943
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 11 (#387 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 105,028 (#27 most common name)
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9 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 953
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#356 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
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10 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,054
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#356 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)
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11 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,092
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#356 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)
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12 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,105
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#356 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
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13 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,134
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#356 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
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14 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,217
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#356 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)
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15 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,222
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 13 (#356 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)
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16 / 30Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,281
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#25 most common name)
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17 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,316
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
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18 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,375
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)
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19 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,423
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
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20 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,557
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
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21 / 30Carolyn is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,600
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 181,844 (#12 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
22 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,861
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
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23 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,916
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 360 (#5 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock
24 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,924
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#518 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
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25 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,940
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
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26 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,011
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
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27 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 3,176
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
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28 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,037
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
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29 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,158
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 211 (#22 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
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30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Washington, D.C.
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 4,942
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 114 (#74 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
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