Names from the 1940s' Top 100 may be one generation shy of sounding cool today. Today’s grandparent names such as Brenda and Barbara, Roger and Ronald, each peaked in this decade.
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Along with Barbara and Ronald, other 1940s baby names that remain in the US Top 1000 include Bonnie, Dorothy, Eugene, Frank, Judith, Larry, Roy, and Virginia. The names that have dropped the farthest in popularity include Phyllis, Gail, Peggy, and Cheryl.
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Many of the names from this decade are classics that were revived for the first generation of post-World War II babies, the oldest Baby Boomers. Expect to start hearing them on babies again in 20 years, when baby names from the 1940s will be a century old and so ready to return to style.

Top 1940s Baby Names 

Alan

Albert

Alice

Arthur

Barbara

Betty

Beverly

Billy

Bobby

Bonnie

Brenda

Bruce

Carl

Carol

Carolyn

Catherine

Charles

Cheryl

Connie

David

Dennis

Diana

Diane

Donald

Donna

Doris

Dorothy

Douglas

Edward

Elaine

Eugene

Frances

Frank

Fred

Gail

Gary

George

Gerald

Gloria

Harold

Harry

Helen

Henry

Howard

Jack

Jane

Janet

Janice

Jean

Jerry

Jimmy

Joan

John

Johnny

Joyce

Judith

Judy

Karen

Kathleen

Kenneth

Larry

Lawrence

Linda

Lois

Louis

Margaret

Marie

Marilyn

Martha

Mary

Nancy

Pamela

Patricia

Paul

Peggy

Peter

Philip

Phyllis

Ralph

Raymond

Richard

Robert

Roger

Ronald

Ruth

Sandra

Sharon

Shirley

Stephen

Steven

Susan

Terry

Thomas

Virginia

Walter

Wayne

Willie

top 1940s baby names

Top baby girl names and baby boy names in the 1940s, with meanings, origins, and current popularity. (All Names)

Top 1940s Baby Names - All Names