Names that Peaked in 1941

Judyth

Variation of Judith, Hebrew

"He will be praised or woman from Judea"

As with many names, the spelling variation Judyth saw some use during the heyday of its then-popular original form Judith. Eighteen baby girls were named Judyth in 1940, when more than 22,000 girls…

Marge

Short form of Margaret, Greek

"pearl"

Marge used to be as common as Maggie or Megan, ranking on its own in the girls' Top 1000 from 1900 until right after World War II, when so many Old School names fell off the list in favor of a new…

Phyliss

Phyliss represents an alternative spelling of the more traditional Phyllis, a feminine name with ancient Greek origins meaning "green branch" or "foliage." The name has deep historical roots,…

Nedra

Variation of Nedda, Slavic

"born on Sunday"

Nedra was one of a phalanx of names -- Delma, Verda, Vernice -- popular in the late 19th and early 20th century that dropped out of fashion after World War II and now have disappeared completely.…

Pat

Diminutive of Patricia

"noble, patrician"

An early and still quintessentially gender-neutral name, now supplanted by thousands of fresher options. Hasn't been recorded as a given name since 1991. Pat was the name of a gardener in Alice's…

Jerry

Short feminine form of Gerald or Jerome, German or Greek

"ruler with the spear or sacred name"

The J spelling of this nickname name has always skewed more masculine, perhaps because it relates directly to Jerome but not to Geraldine. But supermodel Jerry Hall, whose full name is Jerry and who…

Georgene

Georgene is a feminine variation of George, which derives from the Greek name 'Georgios,' meaning 'farmer' or 'earth-worker.' This elegant name gained modest popularity in the United States during…

Suellen

Compound name, blending Susan and Ellen

"shining lily"

Suellen is a smoosh name that combines two classic names into one that feels both mid-century and modern, a little like Carolyn, a bit like Elowen. Notably used by Margaret Hill in her novel, Gone…