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Most popular girl names in the 40s in North Dakota

By Stacker Oct 19, 2026 | 12:25 PM

Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

Most popular girl names in the 40s in North Dakota

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 North Dakota 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.

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#30. Jean

Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “God is gracious”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 485
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 80,344 (#36 most common name)

Lopolo // Shutterstock

#29. Joan

Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 519
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)

Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#28. Connie

Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning “constant”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 526
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 59 (#104 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 56,507 (#49 most common name)

Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#27. Gloria

Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning “glory”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 543
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 105,028 (#27 most common name)

Africa Studio // Shutterstock

#26. Janet

Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning “God is gracious”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 555
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)

Tetiana Iatsenko // Shutterstock

#25. Cheryl

Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning “cherry fruit”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 576
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#492 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 70,811 (#42 most common name)

Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock

#24. Joyce

Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning “lord”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 616
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#399 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)

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#23. Beverly

Beverly is a name of English origin meaning “beaver stream or meadow”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 617
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#399 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,106 (#31 most common name)

Black-Photogaphy // Shutterstock

#22. Nancy

Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “grace”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 666
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#399 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)

Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock

#21. Marilyn

Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 668
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 7 (#399 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#29 most common name)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#20. Margaret

Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning “pearl”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 673
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)

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#19. Darlene

Darlene is a name of English origin meaning “little dear one”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 673
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 40,235 (#69 most common name)

s_oleg // Shutterstock

#18. Bonnie

Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning “pretty”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 718
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 86,868 (#33 most common name)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#17. Betty

Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “oath of God”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 857
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)

Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#16. Kathleen

Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning “pure”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 866
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)

Tatyana Domnicheva // Shutterstock

#15. Susan

Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “lily”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 874
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)

Durganand // Shutterstock

#14. Donna

Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning “lady of the home”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 932
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)

Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#13. Diane

Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning “divine”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 999
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)

pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#12. Shirley

Shirley is a name of English origin meaning “bright”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,014
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)

Impact Photography // Shutterstock

#11. Judy

Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “praised”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,067
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)

Blend Images // Shutterstock

#10. Janice

Janice is a name of English origin meaning “God is gracious”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,105
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#23 most common name)

FamVeld // Shutterstock

#9. Judith

Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “praised”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,125
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)

phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#8. Barbara

Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning “foreign”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,163
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)

Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#7. Sandra

Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning “defender of man”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,345
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)

Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock

#6. Patricia

Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning “noble”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,350
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#5. Karen

Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning “pure”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,555
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)

Amalia Zilio // Shutterstock

#4. Carol

Carol is a name of German origin meaning “free man”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,859
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)

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#3. Sharon

Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “a fertile plain”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,879
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)

Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#2. Linda

Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning “beautiful”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,338
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 42 (#209 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)

Oleggg // Shutterstock

#1. Mary

Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning “drop of the sea”.

North Dakota
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,554
– Babies from 2015 to 2024: 54 (#160 most common name)

National:
– Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)