As history tells, the 1940s were a decade that shaped American life. The country faced World War II, ration books, factory work, radio news, and families waiting for letters from loved ones who were overseas. By the end of the decade, the war was completely over, and people were starting fresh, and the first signs of the baby boom were starting to appear.
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 40s in Alaska using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.
Keep reading to see if your name made the list.
Lucy is a name of Latin origin meaning "light".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 65
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 153 (#29 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 12,888 (#43 most common name)
Katherine is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 65
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#188 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 39,887 (#34 most common name)
Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 66
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 27 (#188 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#23 most common name)
Anna is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 70
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 94 (#63 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 41,220 (#33 most common name)
Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 73
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 94 (#63 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#14 most common name)
Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 76
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 94 (#63 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#13 most common name)
Annie is a name of English origin meaning "grace".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 78
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#256 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 38,387 (#35 most common name)
Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 81
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#256 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#10 most common name)
Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 89
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#256 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#5 most common name)
Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 91
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 15 (#256 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#14 most common name)
Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 94
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#344 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#17 most common name)
Virginia is a name of Latin origin meaning pure.
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 97
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#344 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,995 (#22 most common name)
Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 99
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#344 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#16 most common name)
Marie is a name of French origin meaning "star of the sea".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 100
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#277 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 57,511 (#28 most common name)
Martha is a name of Aramaic origin meaning "lady of the house".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 101
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#277 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,365 (#24 most common name)
Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 108
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#277 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#8 most common name)
Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 108
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 12 (#277 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#15 most common name)
Alice is a name of German origin meaning "noble".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 109
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 128 (#41 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 72,381 (#27 most common name)
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "god is my oath".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 113
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 116,541 (#20 most common name)
Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 123
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#15 most common name)
Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 126
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 207 (#14 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#6 most common name)
Helen is a name of Greek origin meaning "shining light".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#305 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 90,739 (#25 most common name)
Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 135
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#305 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#7 most common name)
Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 142
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 10 (#305 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#4 most common name)
Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#90 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#12 most common name)
Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#90 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#9 most common name)
Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 183
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#90 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#2 most common name)
Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 213
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#90 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#3 most common name)
Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 250
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 68 (#90 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
Alaska
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 523
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)