NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1941

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1941, from Social Security card applications.

In 1941, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 58,048 girls, and James the most popular boys' name, given to 66,751 boys. New to the top 100 since 1940: Kathryn, Theresa, Glenda, Suzanne and Diana for girls; Ronnie, Steven and Barry for boys. The biggest climbers were Karen for girls, up 15 places to #19, and Terry for boys, up 9 places to #64.

Girls, 1941

  1. 1Mary58,048
  2. 2Barbara39,543
  3. 3Patricia36,905
  4. 4Carolup 224,187
  5. 5Lindaup 323,721
  6. 6Judithdown 223,320
  7. 7Bettydown 220,905
  8. 8Nancydown 120,885
  9. 9Sandraup 119,500
  10. 10Shirleydown 116,954
  11. 11Carolynup 416,273
  12. 12Margaretdown 115,696
  13. 13Joyce15,684
  14. 14Dorothydown 214,566
  15. 15Sharonup 214,272
  16. 16Judy13,968
  17. 17Joandown 313,380
  18. 18Janetup 111,136
  19. 19Karenup 1510,831
  20. 20Donnaup 310,446
  21. 21Elizabethdown 110,267
  22. 22Janice10,061
  23. 23Virginiadown 210,043
  24. 24Helendown 69,887
  25. 25Marthaup 19,156
  26. 26Gloriaup 49,008
  27. 27Susanup 98,889
  28. 28Ruthdown 48,863
  29. 29Beverlydown 28,727
  30. 30Marilyndown 58,556
  31. 31Francesdown 38,468
  32. 32Jeandown 37,840
  33. 33Bonnieup 67,762
  34. 34Alicedown 27,445
  35. 35Phyllisdown 27,346
  36. 36Kathleenup 47,160
  37. 37Anndown 27,121
  38. 38Dorisdown 77,081
  39. 39Peggydown 26,561
  40. 40Dianeup 56,427
  41. 41Brendaup 16,332
  42. 42Mariedown 16,152
  43. 43Loisdown 56,105
  44. 44Elaineup 65,376
  45. 45Geraldineup 15,229
  46. 46Janeup 15,090
  47. 47Normadown 45,021
  48. 48Caroleup 14,966
  49. 49Rosedown 54,955
  50. 50Evelyndown 24,928
  51. 51Catherineup 24,884
  52. 52Patsyup 54,788
  53. 53Wandadown 14,735
  54. 54Joanne4,665
  55. 55Charlotte4,564
  56. 56Annadown 54,432
  57. 57Doloresup 104,384
  58. 58Joannup 54,275
  59. 59Anniedown 34,073
  60. 60Sarah3,982
  61. 61Sally3,965
  62. 62Louisedown 33,910
  63. 63Ritaup 73,879
  64. 64Mildreddown 63,846
  65. 65Sylviadown 33,788
  66. 66Joup 63,757
  67. 67Ellenup 73,664
  68. 68Gaildown 33,609
  69. 69Rubydown 33,581
  70. 70Kayup 73,538
  71. 71Marjoriedown 73,517
  72. 72Robertadown 13,396
  73. 73Jacquelineup 33,388
  74. 74Irenedown 13,370
  75. 75Sueup 63,359
  76. 76Darleneup 33,344
  77. 77Arlenedown 23,291
  78. 78Eleanordown 103,250
  79. 79Connieup 93,205
  80. 80Deloresup 33,160
  81. 81Lorettadown 123,100
  82. 82Anneup 23,096
  83. 83Marlenedown 33,068
  84. 84Juanitadown 63,044
  85. 85Katherineup 63,004
  86. 86Rebeccaup 102,924
  87. 87Kathrynnew2,869
  88. 88Juliaup 32,844
  89. 89Ednadown 32,835
  90. 90Junedown 82,766
  91. 91Anitadown 42,740
  92. 92Josephinedown 32,726
  93. 93Lorraineup 22,688
  94. 94Rosemarydown 92,677
  95. 95Theresanew2,675
  96. 96Glendanew2,643
  97. 97Suzannenew2,611
  98. 98Jeanettedown 82,596
  99. 99Emmadown 52,546
  100. 100Diananew2,544

Boys, 1941

  1. 1James66,751
  2. 2Robert64,247
  3. 3John57,520
  4. 4William47,798
  5. 5Richard39,112
  6. 6Charles32,742
  7. 7David30,553
  8. 8Thomas26,641
  9. 9Ronaldup 124,407
  10. 10Donalddown 122,641
  11. 11Larryup 220,134
  12. 12Joseph19,808
  13. 13Georgedown 219,260
  14. 14Jerry16,799
  15. 15Kenneth16,143
  16. 16Michaelup 215,935
  17. 17Edwarddown 115,580
  18. 18Pauldown 115,166
  19. 19Gary14,568
  20. 20Geraldup 110,942
  21. 21Frankdown 110,795
  22. 22Raymond9,951
  23. 23Dennisup 19,562
  24. 24Harolddown 18,102
  25. 25Rogerup 18,095
  26. 26Walterdown 17,745
  27. 27Billy7,655
  28. 28Henryup 37,165
  29. 29Carlup 37,160
  30. 30Joedown 27,158
  31. 31Danielup 37,050
  32. 32Jackdown 36,950
  33. 33Arthur6,739
  34. 34Lawrenceup 26,653
  35. 35Bobbydown 56,589
  36. 36Williedown 16,526
  37. 37Wayneup 26,112
  38. 38Ralphdown 16,040
  39. 39Royup 35,950
  40. 40Albertup 15,927
  41. 41Stephenup 85,811
  42. 42Eugenedown 45,754
  43. 43Freddown 35,619
  44. 44Peterdown 15,607
  45. 45Jimmydown 15,336
  46. 46Anthony5,239
  47. 47Howarddown 25,067
  48. 48Harrydown 15,056
  49. 49Normandown 14,459
  50. 50Louis4,447
  51. 51Bruceup 44,302
  52. 52Philipup 84,166
  53. 53Douglasup 34,146
  54. 54Leonard3,986
  55. 55Johnnydown 43,983
  56. 56Melvindown 33,951
  57. 57Stanleyup 23,926
  58. 58Earldown 63,806
  59. 59Daledown 23,791
  60. 60Francisup 13,738
  61. 61Ernestdown 33,726
  62. 62Clarenceup 23,671
  63. 63Marvin3,626
  64. 64Terryup 93,606
  65. 65Samuel3,538
  66. 66Dondown 43,533
  67. 67Leroydown 13,524
  68. 68Billdown 13,453
  69. 69Frederickdown 13,288
  70. 70Patrickup 43,155
  71. 71Tommyup 53,087
  72. 72Genedown 23,073
  73. 73Allendown 23,060
  74. 74Alfreddown 53,052
  75. 75Russelldown 33,032
  76. 76Herbertdown 12,964
  77. 77Phillipup 22,871
  78. 78Eddieup 32,850
  79. 79Ronnienew2,848
  80. 80Jimdown 22,843
  81. 81Leedown 12,742
  82. 82Andrewup 22,708
  83. 83Raydown 62,695
  84. 84Alanup 42,624
  85. 85Martin2,605
  86. 86Glenndown 32,523
  87. 87Bernarddown 52,509
  88. 88Tomup 42,500
  89. 89Jimmiedown 32,473
  90. 90Stevennew2,468
  91. 91Barrynew2,465
  92. 92Gordondown 12,404
  93. 93Leondown 42,375
  94. 94Clifford2,363
  95. 95Theodoredown 52,330
  96. 96Lloydup 42,252
  97. 97Edwindown 12,214
  98. 98Franklindown 112,205
  99. 99Jessedown 62,184
  100. 100Curtisdown 32,164

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1940. 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, 1941”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1941, updated 20 October 2026.