Names that Peaked in 1942

  1. Aloma
    • Origin:

      Invented name
    • Description:

      Aloma is a name invented for a Hawaiian dancer, the title character in a 1925 play later adapted twice as a film. But long before that, it was also used by the medieval scholar Ramón Llull, possibly as a feminine form of Alomar (from the Germanic name Aldemar, "old + famous"). The Catalan author Mercè Rodoreda used it for the heroine of her novel Aloma/, making it a classic Catalan literary choice.
      It has not been used enough to make the US charts since the 1980s, but would fit with the trend for liquid-sounding, multicultural names like Alaia and Alina.
  2. Gerry
    • Merrily
      • Origin:

        English word name or combination of Mary and Lee
      • Meaning:

        "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + meadow"
      • Description:

        Slightly sing-song and very joyful, with a hint of Melody, a bit of Felicity, and a dash of Truly thrown in, Merrily was briefly popular in the 1940s.
    • Lanny
      • Merrilee
        • Origin:

          English, word name or combination of Mary and Lee, or Scottish place-name
        • Description:

          Merrilee has several different origins. It's an alternative spelling of the unusual word name Merrily, as well as a variant of the smoosh name Marilee (Mary + Lee). Merrilee, Merrilees or Mirrlees are also found in Scotland, deriving from a Scottish place name. Merrilee hit the Top 1000 for a few years in the 1940s, but disappeared from the charts completely back in 2007. In 2023, however, 5 baby girls were given name, as it joined a number of vintage revivals making a reappearance in the US.
      • Mcarthur
        • Origin:

          Scottish
        • Meaning:

          "son of Arthur"
        • Description:

          The Mc and Mac surnames are asserting themselves as first names and this is one of the most popular. Though outside the U.S. Top 1000, it's among the fastest rising names for boys.
      • Jerold
        • Carolyne
          • Carolynn
            • Douglass
              • Kaaren
                • Jerald
                  • Georgiann
                    • Barrie
                      • Jerrie
                        • Macarthur
                          • Jerrilyn
                            • Saundra
                              • Jerilynn
                                • Georgeann