Names that Peaked in 1949
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About this list
The names
James
English variation of Jacob, Hebrew
"supplanter"
James is one of the classic Anglo-Saxon names, a stalwart through the ages that is more popular—and yes, stylish—than ever today. It recently came out Number 1 in a poll of America's favorite boys'…
Thomas
Aramaic
"twin"
A solid classic with plenty of history, Thomas strikes the balance between strength and gentleness. A favorite in the UK, a staple in France, and Australia, and never absent from the US Top 100,…
Stephen
Greek
"garland, crown"
Stephen, also spelled Steven, is a strong and likable classic, with the he's-a-great-guy short form Steve. Though not as well-used or fashionable as it was in its heyday -- it was a Top 25 name from…
Allen
English and Scottish
"handsome, cheerful"
Allen is the spelling of this name -- other common spellings are Alan and Allan -- most associated with the surname; it might also be the most appropriate if you're trying to steer clear of Al as a…
Rosalinda
Spanish
"pretty rose"
Rosalind feels fresher now.
Dennis
French from Greek, vernacular form of Dionysius
"god of Nysa"
Although it has come to sound Irish, Dennis is one of the most widely-used French names (St. Denis is the patron saint of France) and harks back even further to Dionysius, the Greek god of wine and…
Donn
Irish
"king; brown"
Ancient Irish king of the underworld, so much more powerful than Don.
Jeanie
Short form of Jean or Jeanne
Jeanie is a midcentury bobby soxer kind of nickname that might almost be so old it's new again.
Larry
Diminutive of Lawrence, English from Latin
"from Laurentium or bay laurel"
Your friendly next-door neighbor...not your baby. Although Larry was once one of the most popular boys' names starting with L , that title now belongs to Liam.
Stanton
English
"stony town"
Seems to stand at attention and salute.
Linda
Spanish, Portuguese and Italian
"pretty"
Linda will live forever in baby name history for toppling Mary from its four hundred year reign as Number 1. Queen of Names in 1947, Linda has fallen even further in favor than Mary today. Still,…
Phillis
Spelling variation of Phyllis, Greek
"green bough"
The Phillis spelling of this once-popular name lives on thanks to Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American to publish a book of poetry, in the 18th century.
Galen
Greek
"calm, healer"
Many will associate this name with Galen of Pergamon, the second-century physician considered to be the founding father of medicine. A more recent reference is Star Wars character Galen Erso. The…
Lindell
Lindell is a masculine name with Germanic and Scandinavian roots, originally a surname derived from 'lind' meaning 'lime tree' or 'linden tree' combined with 'dell' meaning 'valley.' As a first name,…
Carleen
Carleen is a feminine name that appears to be a blend of the prefix 'Car-' (found in names like Caroline or Carla) with the suffix '-leen' (as in Kathleen). It may have originated as a variation of…
Patricia
Latin
"noble, patrician"
Patricia still sounds patrician, though its scores of nicknames definitely don't. Wildly popular from the forties (alternately Number 3 and 4 throughout the decade) to the sixties, Patricia has been…
Candyce
Candyce is a feminine name that serves as a variant spelling of Candice. The name has Latin origins, derived from 'Candida' meaning 'white, pure, or bright.' Candyce gained popularity in the United…
Lannie
Lannie is a versatile name used for both males and females, though traditionally more common for boys. It originated as a diminutive form of names like Lancelot, Landon, or Orlando for boys, and…
Lenwood
Lenwood is a masculine compound name combining elements 'Len' (possibly a short form of Leonard, meaning 'brave lion') and 'wood,' suggesting natural strength and durability. This Anglo-Saxon style…
Pamelia
Pamelia is a feminine name with Greek origins, representing an elaborate variation of Pamela, which was created by Sir Philip Sidney for his 16th-century pastoral romance 'Arcadia.' The name is…
