40s Baby Names: 349+ Classic Choices (BEST Picks!)

ByBest Of All Mom Team Reading Time: 7 minutes
Shares

When it comes to choosing a baby name, it’s often fun to look back at history for inspiration. The 1940s was a fascinating decade, marked by significant events such as World War II and the beginning of the baby boom. During this time, certain names surged in popularity and have stood the test of time, while others have become less common. In this article, we will explore some popular baby names from the 1940s.

A vintage nursery with 1940s baby names adorning the walls in delicate script, surrounded by classic toys and pastel-colored decor

In the ’40s, many classic and timeless names graced the top of the popularity charts. For instance, strong and elegant names like James and William were among the top choices for boys, while for girls, beautiful names such as Mary and Barbara captured people’s hearts. However, as you delve deeper into the decade’s most popular names, you might also discover some unique and interesting monikers that could be the perfect fit for your little one today.

It’s important to remember that baby name trends typically come and go. Just because a name was popular in the 1940s doesn’t mean it’s outdated or unusable today. In fact, many people have started to revisit names from the past, bringing them back into the spotlight. So, as you’re considering name options for your baby, don’t be afraid to embrace the charming names from this influential decade!

Best Names

YouTube video

1-25 Best Names

In this section, we have gathered some of the best names from the 1940s to inspire you. These names are popular and stand the test of time. Here are the top 25 names:

  1. Mary
  2. Linda
  3. Patricia
  4. Barbara
  5. Elizabeth
  6. Susan
  7. Dorothy
  8. Jennifer
  9. Sarah
  10. Nancy
  11. Lisa
  12. Betty
  13. Sandra
  14. Helen
  15. Ashley
  16. Donna
  17. Kimberly
  18. Carol
  19. Michelle
  20. Emily
  21. Margaret
  22. Judith
  23. Sharon
  24. Karen
  25. Joyce

26-50 Best Names

Here are the next set of popular names that were highly favored in the 1940s:

  1. Martha
  2. Pamela
  3. Brenda
  4. Diane
  5. Kathy
  6. Janet
  7. Laura
  8. Cynthia
  9. Kathleen
  10. Shirley
  11. Carolyn
  12. Christine
  13. Debra
  14. Paula
  15. Maryann
  16. Deborah
  17. Beverly
  18. Angela
  19. Gail
  20. Phyllis
  21. Janice
  22. Marilyn
  23. Ann
  24. Eileen
  25. Judy

51-75 Best Names

Continuing with our list of the best names from the 1940s, here are names 51-75:

  1. Gloria
  2. Bonnie
  3. Joan
  4. Frances
  5. Lois
  6. Jeanette
  7. Catherine
  8. Sylvia
  9. Rose
  10. Lorraine
  11. Ruth
  12. Arlene
  13. Marlene
  14. Sally
  15. Rebecca
  16. Jill
  17. Joanne
  18. Theresa
  19. Virginia
  20. Alice
  21. Marie
  22. Cheryl
  23. Kathryn
  24. Teresa
  25. Andrea

76-100 Best Names

Finally, here are the last set of best names from the 1940s, rounding off our list at 76-100:

  1. Gwendolyn
  2. Sheila
  3. Diana
  4. Jean
  5. Lynn
  6. Doris
  7. Vicki
  8. Annette
  9. Loretta
  10. Evelyn
  11. Rita
  12. Darlene
  13. Elaine
  14. Marianne
  15. Clara
  16. Sherry
  17. Maureen
  18. Wilma
  19. Peggy
  20. June
  21. Lola
  22. Jackie
  23. Marsha
  24. Patsy
  25. Donna

These names have a timeless quality and evoke the spirit of the 1940s. Remember, your choice of name is a personal one, and it’s essential to pick a name that you feel a connection to and reflects your personality and values. Good luck in your name search journey!

Good Names

A vintage-themed nursery with a chalkboard wall displaying 1940s baby names in elegant script, surrounded by classic baby furniture and soft pastel colors

1-25 Good Names

In this subsection, we picked the top 25 good names from the 1940s. These names have stood the test of time and are still regarded as strong, classic choices for your baby. Here’s a list for you to consider:

  1. James
  2. John
  3. Robert
  4. Michael
  5. William
  6. David
  7. Charles
  8. Joseph
  9. Thomas
  10. Christopher
  11. Daniel
  12. Paul
  13. Mark
  14. Donald
  15. George
  16. Kenneth
  17. Steven
  18. Edward
  19. Brian
  20. Ronald
  21. Richard
  22. Larry
  23. Frank
  24. Eugene
  25. Roy

26-50 Good Names

Moving on to the next 25 good names from the 1940s, these names also have a timeless appeal and can make a great choice for your little one. Take a look at these options:

  1. Jerry
  2. Gary
  3. Bruce
  4. Roger
  5. Raymond
  6. Joe
  7. Stanley
  8. Harold
  9. Douglas
  10. Henry
  11. Carl
  12. Arthur
  13. Terry
  14. Jack
  15. Dennis
  16. Ralph
  17. Randy
  18. Peter
  19. Gerald
  20. Alan
  21. Stephen
  22. Wayne
  23. Walter
  24. Willie
  25. Earl

51-75 Good Names

The next set of 25 good names from the 40s reinforces the classic nature of these names. Check out this list to find more options for your baby:

  1. Lawrence
  2. Johnny
  3. Ricky
  4. Danny
  5. Bobby
  6. Billy
  7. Steve
  8. Glen
  9. Tommy
  10. Dale
  11. Curtis
  12. Patrick
  13. Dean
  14. Samuel
  15. Jimmy
  16. Bob
  17. Jim
  18. Frederick
  19. Tom
  20. Bill
  21. Phil
  22. Alfred
  23. Tony
  24. Clarence
  25. Ronnie

76-100 Good Names

Finally, we present the last 25 good names from the 1940s in this subsection. These names continue to display elegance and sophistication, and could be the perfect fit for your baby. Browse through the list below:

  1. Victor
  2. Albert
  3. Marvin
  4. Martin
  5. Russell
  6. Louis
  7. Ernest
  8. Bernard
  9. Antonio
  10. Lee
  11. Leslie
  12. Mike
  13. Francis
  14. Don
  15. Guy
  16. Vincent
  17. Calvin
  18. Bernie
  19. Darryl
  20. Milton
  21. Dan
  22. Ben
  23. Greg
  24. Nick
  25. Ned

More Name Ideas

YouTube video

1-25 Name Ideas

To find the perfect name for your baby, here is a list of popular names from the 1940s. The first 25 names are as follows:

  1. Matthew
  2. Anthony
  3. Gary
  4. Timothy
  5. Joshua
  6. Kevin
  7. Andrew
  8. Scott
  9. Brandon
  10. Benjamin
  11. Jonathan
  12. Gregory
  13. Samuel
  14. Frank
  15. Alexander
  16. Ryan
  17. Nathan
  18. Adam
  19. Gerald
  20. Carl
  21. Mary^(1^)
  22. Linda^(1^)
  23. Barbara^(1^)
  24. Patricia^(1^)
  25. Carol^(1^)

26-50 Name Ideas

Continuing with the list of popular names from the 1940s, here are 26 to 50:

  1. Alice^(2^)
  2. Ann^(2^)
  3. Annette^(2^)
  4. Bonnie^(3^)
  5. Dorothy^(3^)
  6. Eugene^(3^)
  7. Judith^(3^)
  8. Larry^(3^)
  9. Roy^(3^)
  10. Virginia^(3^)
  11. Phyllis^(3^)
  12. Gail^(3^)
  13. Peggy^(3^)
  14. Cheryl^(3^)
  15. Lanny^(4^)
  16. James^(5^)
  17. John^(5^)
  18. Robert^(5^)
  19. William^(5^)
  20. Richard^(5^)
  21. David^(5^)
  22. Charles^(5^)
  23. Joseph^(5^)
  24. Thomas^(5^)
  25. Donald^(5^)

51-75 Name Ideas

Here are the names from 51 to 75:

  1. Kenneth
  2. Paul
  3. Mark
  4. Michael
  5. Karen
  6. Susan
  7. Nancy
  8. Sharon
  9. Kathleen
  10. Michelle
  11. Lynn
  12. Margaret
  13. Elizabeth
  14. Jean
  15. Laura
  16. Steven
  17. Brian
  18. Daniel
  19. George
  20. Raymond
  21. Harold
  22. Roger
  23. Arthur
  24. Jose
  25. Lawrence

76-100 Name Ideas

To round out your list, here are names 76 to 100:

  1. Johnathan
  2. Teresa
  3. Cynthia
  4. Sandra
  5. Betty
  6. Joyce
  7. Angela
  8. Christine
  9. Marilyn
  10. Martha
  11. Charlotte
  12. Pamela
  13. Diane
  14. Deborah
  15. Janet
  16. Peter
  17. Stanley
  18. Gloria
  19. Vivian
  20. Eileen
  21. Henry
  22. Jeremy
  23. Marcus
  24. Vincent
  25. Leonard

These names offer a great variety to choose from, with many nostalgic and classic options reminiscent of the 1940s.

More Name Ideas (Continued)

YouTube video

In this section, we’ll explore more 1940s baby name ideas to help you find the perfect name for your little one. These names are divided into four subsections, each containing 25 name ideas.

1-25 Name Ideas

Here are a few name suggestions from the 1940s that you can consider:

  1. Jeffrey
  2. Trevor
  3. Roger
  4. Jeremy
  5. Bruce
  6. Terry
  7. Lawrence
  8. Sean
  9. Christian
  10. Ethan
  11. Austin
  12. Patrick
  13. Craig
  14. Alan
  15. Philip
  16. Douglas
  17. Walter
  18. Joe
  19. Harold
  20. Dustin
  21. Alice
  22. Ann
  23. Annette
  24. Barbara
  25. Bonnie

26-50 Name Ideas

Here are some more name options from the 1940s for your consideration:

  1. Carl
  2. Cecil
  3. Clinton
  4. Clyde
  5. Dale
  6. Dana
  7. Daniel
  8. Darrell
  9. David
  10. Dean
  11. Dennis
  12. Don
  13. Donald
  14. Dwight
  15. Edgar
  16. Edwin
  17. Eugene
  18. Frank
  19. Fredrick
  20. George
  21. Carol
  22. Dorothy
  23. Judith
  24. Linda
  25. Patricia

51-75 Name Ideas

Continuing with our list of 1940s baby names:

  1. Gerald
  2. Gilbert
  3. Gordon
  4. Gregory
  5. Harvey
  6. Henry
  7. Herbert
  8. Howard
  9. Jack
  10. James
  11. Jay
  12. Jeffery
  13. Jerome
  14. John
  15. Johnny
  16. Joseph
  17. Keith
  18. Kenneth
  19. Kevin
  20. Larry
  21. Peggy
  22. Phyllis
  23. Roy
  24. Virginia
  25. Cheryl

76-100 Name Ideas

Finally, here are the last 25 name ideas from the 1940s era:

  1. Leonard
  2. Leroy
  3. Leslie
  4. Lewis
  5. Lloyd
  6. Louis
  7. Marvin
  8. Melvin
  9. Michael
  10. Milton
  11. Nathan
  12. Nelson
  13. Norman
  14. Oscar
  15. Otis
  16. Perry
  17. Peter
  18. Philip
  19. Ralph
  20. Raymond
  21. Richard
  22. Gail
  23. Mary
  24. Robert
  25. William

We hope this list of 1940s baby names has provided you with some interesting options to choose from. Good luck with the naming journey!

Tips For Brainstorming The Perfect Name

A vintage typewriter surrounded by a stack of old baby name books and a notepad filled with scribbled ideas. A cup of coffee sits nearby

When it comes to choosing the perfect name for your baby, creativity and inspiration play a significant role. Here are some tips to help you brainstorm, ensuring that your baby’s name holds family, cultural, and future significance.

  1. Family Names: Delve into your family history to uncover meaningful names that have been passed down through generations. You might find some old-fashioned names that are making a comeback or unique names that truly stand out. For example, research your family tree for names like:
    • Alice
    • Edward
    • Vera
    • Walter
  2. Cultural Significance: Embrace your cultural roots and explore names from your heritage. This can be a great way to celebrate your family’s origins and keep these traditions alive. Research popular names from different cultures, such as:
    • Alessia (Italian)
    • Mateo (Spanish)
    • Amara (African)
    • Reuben (Jewish)
  3. Inspiration from Literature, Movies, and Public Figures: Look for inspiration from your favorite books, movies, or role models. These names can have personal significance and bring a sense of connection to your child. Some popular choices inspired by literature and public figures are:
    • Atticus (To Kill a Mockingbird)
    • Arya (Game of Thrones)
    • Eleanor (Eleanor Roosevelt)
    • Winston (Winston Churchill)
  4. Future Considerations: Think about how your child’s name will age and its possible implications for their future. Names with positive connotations and versatility for professional environments can be beneficial. We’ve compiled a list of names that are easy to pronounce and suitable for various stages of life:
    • Oliver
    • Sophia
    • Miles
    • Lucy
  5. Unleash Your Creativity: Combine elements from several names or invent a new name altogether. Use syllables from family names or play with sounds and spellings. This can result in truly unique and special names like:
    • Elara
    • Jaxon
    • Maelie
    • Zayden

By engaging your creativity and considering multiple sources of inspiration, you can find a name that will resonate with your family’s values, cultural origins, and aspirations for your child’s future.

Shares

Similar Posts