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
