NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1940

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1940, from Social Security card applications.

In 1940, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 56,216 girls, and James the most popular boys' name, given to 62,481 boys. New to the top 100 since 1939: Connie, Katherine, Rebecca and Edith for girls; Franklin and Harvey for boys. The biggest climbers were Brenda for girls, up 44 places to #42, and Stephen for boys, up 16 places to #49.

Girls, 1940

  1. 1Mary56,216
  2. 2Barbara36,736
  3. 3Patricia32,665
  4. 4Judithup 422,385
  5. 5Bettydown 122,077
  6. 6Carol21,759
  7. 7Nancy19,737
  8. 8Lindaup 718,370
  9. 9Shirleydown 417,881
  10. 10Sandraup 316,153
  11. 11Margaretdown 115,063
  12. 12Dorothydown 314,875
  13. 13Joycedown 114,801
  14. 14Joandown 313,292
  15. 15Carolyndown 112,657
  16. 16Judyup 1211,382
  17. 17Sharonup 611,121
  18. 18Helendown 210,203
  19. 19Janetdown 210,105
  20. 20Elizabethdown 29,955
  21. 21Virginia9,554
  22. 22Janiceup 29,318
  23. 23Donnadown 39,232
  24. 24Ruthdown 28,888
  25. 25Marilyndown 68,704
  26. 26Marthaup 18,695
  27. 27Beverlydown 28,657
  28. 28Francesdown 28,621
  29. 29Jeanup 38,063
  30. 30Gloriaup 68,026
  31. 31Dorisdown 27,767
  32. 32Alicedown 17,603
  33. 33Phyllisdown 37,416
  34. 34Karenup 57,283
  35. 35Anndown 27,196
  36. 36Susanup 86,756
  37. 37Peggydown 36,128
  38. 38Loisdown 36,125
  39. 39Bonnieup 225,957
  40. 40Kathleenup 85,697
  41. 41Mariedown 45,542
  42. 42Brendaup 445,442
  43. 43Normadown 55,334
  44. 44Rosedown 25,198
  45. 45Dianeup 65,172
  46. 46Geraldinedown 55,150
  47. 47Janedown 15,091
  48. 48Evelyndown 84,982
  49. 49Caroledown 24,790
  50. 50Elainedown 54,782
  51. 51Annadown 84,717
  52. 52Wandadown 24,708
  53. 53Catherinedown 44,584
  54. 54Joannedown 14,418
  55. 55Charlotteup 114,291
  56. 56Anniedown 24,216
  57. 57Patsydown 14,079
  58. 58Mildreddown 33,938
  59. 59Louise3,928
  60. 60Sarahup 83,869
  61. 61Sallydown 93,803
  62. 62Sylvia3,802
  63. 63Joanndown 63,789
  64. 64Marjoriedown 43,681
  65. 65Gailup 83,621
  66. 66Rubyup 13,619
  67. 67Doloresdown 93,604
  68. 68Eleanordown 53,584
  69. 69Lorettadown 43,502
  70. 70Ritaup 83,442
  71. 71Roberta3,431
  72. 72Jodown 23,427
  73. 73Ireneup 13,394
  74. 74Ellenup 63,318
  75. 75Arlenedown 63,257
  76. 76Jacquelinedown 43,215
  77. 77Kaydown 13,200
  78. 78Juanitadown 13,174
  79. 79Darlenedown 43,120
  80. 80Marlenedown 163,118
  81. 81Sueup 113,104
  82. 82Juneup 12,949
  83. 83Deloresdown 42,929
  84. 84Anneup 12,897
  85. 85Rosemaryup 82,874
  86. 86Ednadown 52,835
  87. 87Anitaup 102,828
  88. 88Connienew2,795
  89. 89Josephinedown 52,744
  90. 90Jeanettedown 82,727
  91. 91Julia2,709
  92. 91Katherinenew2,709
  93. 93Wilmadown 62,621
  94. 94Emmadown 52,606
  95. 95Lorraine2,579
  96. 96Rebeccanew2,555
  97. 97Lillianup 22,525
  98. 98Edithnew2,510
  99. 99Audreydown 12,501
  100. 100Florencedown 42,467

Boys, 1940

  1. 1Jamesup 162,481
  2. 2Robertdown 161,198
  3. 3John54,786
  4. 4William44,779
  5. 5Richard37,425
  6. 6Charles31,689
  7. 7David27,690
  8. 8Thomasup 123,991
  9. 9Donalddown 123,115
  10. 10Ronald20,741
  11. 11George18,315
  12. 12Joseph18,208
  13. 13Larryup 117,199
  14. 14Jerryup 215,213
  15. 15Kennethdown 215,132
  16. 16Edwarddown 114,405
  17. 17Paul14,097
  18. 18Michael13,228
  19. 19Garyup 212,573
  20. 20Frank10,595
  21. 21Geralddown 210,236
  22. 22Raymond9,567
  23. 23Harold8,080
  24. 24Dennisup 107,845
  25. 25Walter7,723
  26. 26Rogerup 27,598
  27. 27Billydown 37,596
  28. 28Joedown 17,216
  29. 29Jackdown 37,048
  30. 30Bobbydown 16,882
  31. 31Henry6,822
  32. 32Carldown 26,752
  33. 33Arthurdown 16,510
  34. 34Danielup 46,225
  35. 35Williedown 26,176
  36. 36Lawrence6,173
  37. 37Ralphdown 25,838
  38. 38Eugenedown 15,804
  39. 39Wayne5,727
  40. 40Fred5,581
  41. 41Albert5,572
  42. 42Roy5,565
  43. 43Peterup 35,049
  44. 44Jimmydown 14,962
  45. 45Howardup 24,824
  46. 46Anthonyup 24,769
  47. 47Harrydown 24,681
  48. 48Normandown 44,576
  49. 49Stephenup 164,423
  50. 50Louisdown 14,324
  51. 51Johnnyup 114,006
  52. 52Earldown 23,944
  53. 53Melvindown 23,935
  54. 54Leonard3,817
  55. 55Bruceup 93,789
  56. 56Douglasup 23,732
  57. 57Daleup 23,699
  58. 58Ernestdown 33,698
  59. 59Stanleydown 23,694
  60. 60Philipup 63,674
  61. 61Francisdown 83,607
  62. 62Dondown 63,547
  63. 63Marvindown 113,502
  64. 64Clarencedown 43,487
  65. 65Samueldown 23,364
  66. 66Leroydown 53,311
  67. 67Bill3,267
  68. 68Frederickup 33,096
  69. 69Alfredup 13,062
  70. 70Genedown 13,060
  71. 71Allenup 13,029
  72. 72Russellup 13,012
  73. 73Terryup 102,982
  74. 74Patrickup 52,883
  75. 75Herbertdown 72,875
  76. 76Tommyup 12,827
  77. 77Raydown 32,795
  78. 78Jimdown 32,715
  79. 79Phillipup 132,628
  80. 80Leedown 22,624
  81. 81Eddie2,576
  82. 82Bernarddown 62,468
  83. 83Glennup 42,465
  84. 84Andrew2,431
  85. 85Martinup 62,423
  86. 86Jimmiedown 62,408
  87. 87Franklinnew2,391
  88. 88Alandown 32,377
  89. 89Leondown 32,318
  90. 90Theodore2,306
  91. 91Gordondown 92,296
  92. 92Tomup 52,287
  93. 93Jesseup 62,205
  94. 94Clifforddown 62,185
  95. 95Jeromedown 22,178
  96. 96Edwin2,116
  97. 97Curtisup 12,103
  98. 98Harveynew2,088
  99. 99Bobdown 102,082
  100. 100Lloyddown 52,067

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1939. Each spelling counts as a separate name, as in the official lists.

Other years in the US

Sources

Figures from Popular Baby Names (US Social Security Administration). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.

To cite this page: Nameling, “Top 100 baby names in the US, 1940”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1940, updated 20 October 2026.