1940s Baby Names

36 1940s names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.

1940s baby names are the names parents chose during the World War II decade — a mix of traditional favorites and the softer, nickname-style names that defined the era’s charm. They carry a warm, homey familiarity, like a name you’d find on a grandmother or great-aunt: gentle, unfussy, and full of character.

A decade of nickname names

The 1940s often gave nickname forms as full given names rather than shortening them later. Pat, Nan, Peggie and Judie were christened that way — cozy from birth.

Girl names from the era

Girls were often given rolling, romantic names: Cherylene, Glynda, Jeraldine and Marilynne share that lyrical flourish. Others, like Deloris, Saundra, Earlene and Corliss, feel sturdier and a bit more unusual today — part of their appeal.

Boy names with old-fashioned strength

Dickie, Jerold, Lawerence and Lon reflect the decade’s taste for names both dignified and down-to-earth.

Why they’re coming back

Vintage names resurface once they’ve had a generation or two to feel fresh again, and 1940s names are right on schedule — distinctive enough to stand out today, yet warmly familiar.

Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.

1940s Girl Names

Caroljean#5549 in the U.S.Caroljean is a compound of Carol and Jean, a style of run-together double name popular in the A▶Cherylene#8489 in the U.S.Cherylene extends Cheryl — itself a twentieth-century blend of Cherie or Cherry with an -yl end▶Glynda#8649 in the U.S.A Y-spelling of Glenda (Glinda), a twentieth-century Welsh-style name usually read from 'glan' ▶Sharen#9522 in the U.S.Sharen is a variant spelling of Sharon, from the Hebrew place name Sharon, 'a plain' — the fert▶Erlinda#9814 in the U.S.Erlinda is a Spanish name, most often read as a blend ending in linda ('pretty; beautiful' in S▶Sherrill#10678 in the U.S.As a girl's name most likely an elaboration of Sheryl or Cheryl (20th-century names blending Ch▶Phillis#11523 in the U.S.A spelling of Phyllis, from the Greek 'phyllon,' 'leaf; foliage; green bough.' In myth Phyllis ▶Delois#11691 in the U.S.An American name most likely reshaped from Delores (Dolores), the Spanish 'sorrows' honoring Ou▶Caryl#12097 in the U.S.Caryl is a variant of Carol, a feminine form linked to Charles (Germanic karl, 'free man'), als▶Sherian#12213 in the U.S.Sherian is a twentieth-century American coinage that blends the Sher-/Sharon sound with an -ian▶Deloris#12566 in the U.S.A respelled form of Dolores, from the Spanish title María de los Dolores ('Mary of the Sorrows'▶Pat#12649 in the U.S.Pat is the clipped form of Patricia (feminine of Patrick), from Latin patricius, 'nobleman; of ▶Regenia#12706 in the U.S.A respelling of Regina, from the Latin for 'queen,' a title long used of the Virgin Mary. A mid▶Earnestine#14041 in the U.S.A variant of Ernestine, the feminine of Ernest, from the Germanic ernst, 'serious, resolute, ea▶Cheryle#14180 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Cheryl, a modern English name that arose in the 20th century, generally e▶Kaaren#14439 in the U.S.Kaaren is a variant spelling of Karen, the Danish short form of Katherine (Katarina), tradition▶Nan#14785 in the U.S.A short form of Ann/Anne or Nancy, tracing to the Hebrew Hannah, 'grace; favor.' The N- came fr▶Peggie#14870 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Peggy, a pet form of Margaret, from the Greek 'margarites,' 'pearl.' The ▶Sharron#15387 in the U.S.A respelled form of Sharon, from the Hebrew place name for the fertile coastal plain of Sharon,▶Saundra#15619 in the U.S.A phonetic respelling of Sandra, itself a short form of Alexandra, from Greek elements meaning ▶Nedra#15680 in the U.S.Nedra owes its use to the 1905 best-selling novel Nedra by George Barr McCutcheon. Its origin i▶Carolee#15718 in the U.S.A compound name joining Carol — a feminine tied to Charles, 'free man' — with Lee, an English n▶Reta#16018 in the U.S.Reta is a variant of Rita, itself a short form of Margarita (Margaret), from the Greek/Latin fo▶Jeraldine#16281 in the U.S.Jeraldine is a variant spelling of Geraldine, the feminine of Gerald, from the Germanic ger ('s▶Corliss#16314 in the U.S.Corliss is from an English surname derived from Old English careleas, 'carefree; cheerful; with▶Judie#16316 in the U.S.A respelled pet form of Judy, from Judith, the Hebrew Yehudit, 'woman of Judea' (or 'praised').▶Marva#16741 in the U.S.A feminine form of Marvin, from the Welsh Merfyn or Old English Merewine, generally read as 'se▶Marilynne#18294 in the U.S.Marilynne is the fuller -nne spelling of Marilyn, itself a twentieth-century blend of Mary with▶Earlene#18430 in the U.S.A feminine form of Earl, from Old English eorl, 'nobleman, warrior,' with the -lene ending. A s▶Sheron#18761 in the U.S.A respelling of Sharon, a biblical place name from the Hebrew for 'a plain; a flat, fertile lan▶Suzann#18959 in the U.S.A trimmed spelling of Suzanne, itself from Susan and the Hebrew Shoshannah, 'lily' (sometimes '▶

1940s Boy Names

Dickie#9119 in the U.S.Dickie is a pet form of Richard, from the Germanic elements ric ('ruler; power') and hard ('bra▶Jerold#10278 in the U.S.A variant of Gerald (Jerrold), from Germanic 'ger' ('spear') plus 'wald' ('rule; power') — 'rul▶Lawerence#13234 in the U.S.A metathesized spelling of Lawrence, from the Latin Laurentius, 'man from Laurentum,' a town li▶Mcarthur#13471 in the U.S.The Scottish surname MacArthur, 'son of Arthur' (Arthur being a Celtic name possibly tied to 'b▶Lon#13550 in the U.S.A short form of Alonzo or Alphonso, from Germanic roots meaning 'noble and ready,' or of Lawren▶

Explore More Themes

Uncertain Modern Rare Coinage English Vintage Hebrew American Surname-name Arabic All Themes →← All Baby Names

Frequently Asked

What are 1940s baby names?

1940s baby names are the names commonly given to children during the World War II decade — a blend of traditional given names and the softer, nickname-style names that were especially popular at the time.

What were popular 1940s girl names?

Girl names of the decade include lyrical, feminine choices like Cherylene, Glynda, Jeraldine and Marilynne, alongside sturdier options such as Deloris, Saundra, Earlene and Corliss.

What were popular 1940s boy names?

Boy names from the era include Dickie, Jerold, Lawerence and Lon — names that sound dignified yet approachable.

Why are 1940s names becoming popular again?

Vintage names naturally cycle back into fashion once a generation or two has passed, and 1940s names are appealing today because they feel both distinctive and warmly familiar.

How many 1940s baby names are on More4Kids?

More4Kids lists 36 1940s baby names, each with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.