40 baby names from the forties

The forties didn’t just give us swing dresses and the jive, there were also a number of names that came into their own during that decade.

Over the years they have slowly started to decline in popularity, and while sad, it means you won’t have a class full of kids with the same name as your child’s.

If you fancy looking at the forties for baby name inspiration, have a look at these most popular ones from that era:

Girls:

1. Ann – meaning priceless

2. Bonnie – meaning pretty, charming

3. Betty – meaning God is satisfaction

4. Catherine – meaning innocent

5. Constance – meaning firm of purpose

6. Daisy – meaning the day’s eye

7. Doris – meaning gift

8. Etta – meaning little one

9. Evelyn – meaning life

10. Edith – meaning riches, blessed

11. Florence – meaning Son of Gawain

12. Gladys – meaning sword

13. Grace – meaning grace

14. Harriet – meaning ruler of the home

15. Louisa – meaning famous warrior

16. Mabel – meaning beautiful, lovable

17. Margot – meaning pearl

18. Mae – meaning bitter

19. Rosalind – meaning beautiful, pretty rose

20. Theodora – meaning God given

Boys:

1.  Alexander – meaning defender of man

2. Benjamin – meaning son of the right hand

3. Bernard – meaning strong as bear

4. Cecil – meaning blind

5. Charles – meaning manly

6. Clement – meaning gentle

7. Daniel – meaning judgment of God

8. Douglas – meaning dweller of the dark stream

9. Edmund – meaning prosperous protector

10. Edward – meaning guardian

11. Ernest – meaning serious, determined

12. Earl – meaning chief

13. Eric – meaning eternal ruler

14. Geoffrey – meaning god’s peace

15. Gerald – meaning spear strength

16. Howard – meaning defender

17. Kenneth – meaning handsome

18. Laurence – meaning from the place of the laurel leaves

19. Robert – meaning famed, bright

20. Timothy – meaning God’s honour