Popular Baby Names 1940

Classic names that peaked in 1940 — now making a comeback.

200 names806 girl422 boy

These 1940 names are having a revival — vintage names often cycle back into popularity after 80–100 years. Many of these are trending upward right now.

All Names Girl Names (806)Boy Names (422)

Born of fire; handsome.

From the Greek name Φιλιππος (Philippos) which means "friend of horses", composed of the elements φιλος (philos) "friend, lover" and ‘ιππος (hippos) "horse".

Son of the farmer

A feminine form of the name Karel, meaning 'man' or 'free man'.

little champion

descendant of Hind

one who is from the valley

A term that can mean 'fool' or 'idiot'.

Belonging to the Lord

Eagle power or ruler

Descendant of Jer

Dark-skinned or black

From the linden tree hill

guardian or protector

A variant of the name 'Alaric', meaning 'ruler of all'.

ruler's advisor

Holly trees' place

Great, venerable

heir to the throne

from the island clearing

God is gracious

Noble, courageous.

Variant of Gerald, meaning 'rule of the spear'

A variant of the name 'Searcy', originally a surname.

a shepherd, a protector

One who reams, a tool used in shaping or enlarging holes.

A name referring to a magpie.

From the woods or a place of rest.

marshland, boggy land

Short form of PATRICK or PATRICIA. A famous bearer of this name was Pat Garrett (1850-1908), the sheriff who shot Billy the Kid.

derived from the name 'Linda', meaning 'beautiful'

a surname referring to someone from a specific locality or profession

he who is light

A variant of Daire

Raginmund, meaning 'counsel protector'.

ডোয়েল - a musical note, expresses joy

a solitary place

God is my judge

Derived from the old English word 'rad' meaning counsel or advice, and 'dell' meaning valley.

Rules by the spear

From the granary

患者 (zhèngzhèng), meaning 'the one who is generous'

of Doris, from Doris

From the blackberry hill

One who is spirited; brave

A diminutive form of Samuel

Armenian form of LEON. This was the name of several kings of Cilician Armenia, including the first king Levon I the Magnificent.

ruler's advisor

derived from 'wind' and 'valley', meaning 'valley of the wind'

from the spring

a son of friendship

derived from Bernard, meaning ‘brave as a bear’

from a place with a bend

a blend of Troy and Royce

A meaningful name with English roots

A surname meaning 'wagon maker' or 'wright of wagons'.

Born during the day

A beloved name with deep roots

A beloved name with deep roots

French feminine form of Romanus (see ROMAN).

Modern form of the Roman family name Pompeius, which was probably derived from a Sabellic word meaning "five". A notable bearer was the 1st-century BC Roman general Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey the Great.

A beloved name with deep roots

diminutive of Jacques (James)

Famous, bright fame

[Greek Mythology]

Greek form of CIRCE.

Island (from 'île')

noble protector

From the king's forest

to wander or roam

A beloved name with deep roots

Variant of 'Dowel', meaning a small wooden peg used in carpentry.

forester or woodsman

Wrathful, hater

one who is a pilgrim to Rome

the charming one

Derived from the name 'Darrell,' meaning 'to be beloved.'

from the land of the sword

From an English surname which was derived from Old French gaillard "high-spirited, boistrous". This name was rarely used after the mid-20th century, when the word gay acquired the slang meaning "homosexual".

a variant of Carla or Charles, meaning 'free man'

From the English word meaning "friend". It probably originated as a nursery form of the word brother.

God is salvation

of the land, protector

The grant given

Short form of PETER.

a modern variation of Gerald

from the hill with lilies

derived from Asia, meaning 'the east' or 'sunrise'.

the one who is born

New, fresh, a new story or narrative in literature.

Variant of FILIBERT. It is particularly used in Tanzania due to track star Filbert Bayi (1953-), who set a world record running the 1500 meter in 1974.

a winding river or brook

one who is brave

adventurous, bold

Derived from the Latin Longinus, meaning 'long' or 'tall'

Shaded, protected from the sun.

A variant of the name Odysseus, which means 'wrathful' in Greek.

from the land by the river