NamelingSwipe names

Top 100 baby names in the US, 1942

The 100 names given to the most girls and boys born in the US in 1942, from Social Security card applications.

In 1942, Mary was the most popular girls' name in the US, given to 63,256 girls, and James the most popular boys' name, given to 77,182 boys. New to the top 100 since 1941: Eileen, Sheila, Christine and Maria for girls; Warren and Victor for boys. The biggest climbers were Diana for girls, up 32 places to #68, and Douglas for boys, up 30 places to #23.

Girls, 1942

  1. 1Mary63,256
  2. 2Barbara44,739
  3. 3Patricia39,465
  4. 4Lindaup 131,613
  5. 5Caroldown 130,272
  6. 6Sandraup 324,994
  7. 7Judithdown 124,792
  8. 8Nancy23,327
  9. 9Bettydown 221,659
  10. 10Carolynup 119,978
  11. 11Sharonup 419,648
  12. 12Shirleydown 217,750
  13. 13Joyce16,728
  14. 14Margaretdown 216,549
  15. 15Judyup 115,667
  16. 16Karenup 315,387
  17. 17Dorothydown 315,037
  18. 18Joandown 114,514
  19. 19Janetdown 113,065
  20. 20Donna12,987
  21. 21Susanup 612,015
  22. 22Elizabethdown 111,186
  23. 23Virginia10,803
  24. 24Kathleenup 1210,696
  25. 25Janicedown 310,286
  26. 26Helendown 210,016
  27. 27Marilynup 39,906
  28. 28Dianeup 129,551
  29. 29Marthadown 49,513
  30. 30Francesup 19,471
  31. 31Gloriadown 59,450
  32. 32Beverlydown 39,411
  33. 33Ruthdown 59,315
  34. 34Bonniedown 18,823
  35. 35Caroleup 138,407
  36. 36Jeandown 48,257
  37. 37Phyllisdown 27,793
  38. 38Anndown 17,666
  39. 39Alicedown 57,382
  40. 40Brendaup 17,241
  41. 41Dorisdown 37,176
  42. 42Peggydown 36,580
  43. 43Mariedown 16,559
  44. 44Loisdown 16,406
  45. 45Elainedown 15,986
  46. 46Jane5,707
  47. 47Geraldinedown 25,437
  48. 48Joanneup 65,342
  49. 49Catherineup 25,267
  50. 50Rosedown 15,253
  51. 51Charlotteup 45,022
  52. 52Normadown 54,971
  53. 53Evelyndown 34,940
  54. 54Wandadown 14,792
  55. 55Ritaup 84,706
  56. 56Sallyup 54,655
  57. 57Patsydown 54,559
  58. 58Joann4,506
  59. 59Annadown 34,488
  60. 60Gailup 84,445
  61. 61Louiseup 14,343
  62. 62Anniedown 34,293
  63. 63Doloresdown 64,267
  64. 64Ellenup 34,197
  65. 65Joup 14,175
  66. 66Robertaup 64,105
  67. 67Sarahdown 74,100
  68. 68Dianaup 323,857
  69. 69Jacquelineup 43,831
  70. 70Connieup 93,825
  71. 71Mildreddown 73,808
  72. 72Sylviadown 73,728
  73. 73Sueup 23,631
  74. 74Marjoriedown 33,625
  75. 75Kaydown 53,622
  76. 76Anneup 63,526
  77. 77Rubydown 83,519
  78. 78Darlenedown 23,517
  79. 79Lorettaup 23,406
  80. 80Irenedown 63,383
  81. 81Katherineup 43,376
  82. 82Kathrynup 53,350
  83. 83Arlenedown 63,331
  84. 84Marlenedown 13,253
  85. 85Rebeccaup 13,241
  86. 86Deloresdown 63,171
  87. 87Eleanordown 93,165
  88. 88Eileennew3,108
  89. 89Glendaup 73,089
  90. 90Juanitadown 63,074
  91. 91Lorraineup 23,010
  92. 92Rosemaryup 23,005
  93. 93Anitadown 22,998
  94. 94Sheilanew2,973
  95. 95Juliadown 72,906
  96. 96Christinenew2,900
  97. 97Marianew2,817
  98. 98Theresadown 32,799
  99. 99Ednadown 102,764
  100. 100Josephinedown 82,748

Boys, 1942

  1. 1James77,182
  2. 2Robert71,845
  3. 3John66,043
  4. 4William54,890
  5. 5Richard43,593
  6. 6Davidup 135,905
  7. 7Charlesdown 135,854
  8. 8Thomas31,100
  9. 9Ronald27,138
  10. 10Donald23,955
  11. 11Josephup 122,429
  12. 12Larrydown 122,099
  13. 13Michaelup 321,728
  14. 14Georgedown 121,275
  15. 15Kenneth18,210
  16. 16Jerrydown 217,488
  17. 17Edward17,470
  18. 18Garyup 117,068
  19. 19Pauldown 116,492
  20. 20Dennisup 313,281
  21. 21Frank12,248
  22. 22Geralddown 211,484
  23. 23Douglasup 3011,233
  24. 24Raymonddown 211,116
  25. 25Roger9,174
  26. 26Walter8,682
  27. 27Harolddown 38,582
  28. 28Danielup 38,507
  29. 29Arthurup 48,027
  30. 30Lawrenceup 47,639
  31. 31Henrydown 37,561
  32. 32Stephenup 97,503
  33. 33Joedown 37,383
  34. 34Jackdown 27,365
  35. 35Billydown 87,313
  36. 36Carldown 77,268
  37. 37Williedown 17,094
  38. 38Ralph6,637
  39. 39Peterup 56,587
  40. 40Albert6,496
  41. 41Waynedown 46,484
  42. 42Roydown 36,311
  43. 43Bobbydown 86,248
  44. 44Anthonyup 26,210
  45. 45Eugenedown 36,092
  46. 46Freddown 36,088
  47. 47Jimmydown 25,949
  48. 48Harry5,629
  49. 49Howarddown 25,571
  50. 50Bruceup 15,385
  51. 51Louisdown 15,151
  52. 52Terryup 124,810
  53. 53Normandown 44,683
  54. 54Philipdown 24,604
  55. 55Johnny4,588
  56. 56Stanleyup 14,587
  57. 57Leonarddown 34,370
  58. 58Francisup 24,297
  59. 59Samuelup 64,190
  60. 60Melvindown 44,188
  61. 61Ernest4,079
  62. 62Earldown 44,050
  63. 63Daledown 43,863
  64. 64Patrickup 63,804
  65. 65Billup 33,794
  66. 66Marvindown 33,792
  67. 67Clarencedown 53,741
  68. 68Frederickup 13,738
  69. 69Leroydown 23,717
  70. 70Russellup 53,676
  71. 71Allenup 23,571
  72. 72Dondown 63,564
  73. 73Tommydown 23,532
  74. 74Jimup 63,514
  75. 75Stevenup 153,505
  76. 76Alfreddown 23,408
  77. 77Phillip3,373
  78. 78Ronnieup 13,363
  79. 79Barryup 123,209
  80. 80Andrewup 23,142
  81. 81Alanup 33,134
  82. 82Genedown 103,127
  83. 83Herbertdown 73,113
  84. 84Raydown 13,067
  85. 85Martin3,045
  86. 86Eddiedown 83,019
  87. 87Leedown 62,923
  88. 88Glenndown 22,888
  89. 89Tomdown 12,875
  90. 90Bernarddown 32,724
  91. 91Theodoreup 42,665
  92. 92Gordon2,606
  93. 93Leon2,550
  94. 94Jimmiedown 52,541
  95. 95Clifforddown 12,533
  96. 96Lloyd2,462
  97. 97Warrennew2,423
  98. 98Curtisup 22,420
  99. 99Victornew2,397
  100. 100Jessedown 12,396

With how many babies were given each name, and how its rank changed since 1941. 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, 1942”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/top/us/1942, updated 20 October 2026.