Most popular baby names of 1947

Looking at baby name trends between 1946 and 1947, there's a notable shift in the top ranks, especially for girls' names. Linda surged to claim the #1 spot in 1947, displacing Mary who had held the crown in 1946. This marks a significant change in American naming preferences. For boys, the landscape remained remarkably stable with James, Robert, and John maintaining their stronghold as the top three names in both years, showing parents' continued preference for these classic choices.

Among the top 10 girls' names in 1947, we see Donna making an impressive climb, rising from #13 in 1946 to #10 in 1947. The top 10 continues to be dominated by names ending in 'a' sounds, including Linda, Sandra, Barbara, and Patricia. Names with five or six letters appear particularly popular, reflecting a preference for names that are neither too short nor too long. Another interesting pattern is the continued popularity of traditional biblical names like Mary alongside more contemporary choices like Linda and Sandra.

The boys' top 10 in 1947 shows remarkable consistency from the previous year. Larry moved up one position to #10, while Ronald dropped slightly, moving from #10 to #11. Classic masculine names continued their dominance, with single-syllable names like James and John maintaining strong positions. The top 10 features several biblical names (James, John, Thomas, Michael), reflecting the continued influence of religious traditions on American naming practices. Names beginning with the letter 'R' remained particularly popular, with Robert and Richard both appearing in the top five.

Looking at broader naming patterns across both genders, we see a continued preference for traditional names with established histories. For girls, names ending in 'a' (Sandra, Barbara, Patricia) and 'y' (Mary, Dorothy, Shirley) were especially prevalent. For boys, names with British origins dominated the top ranks, reflecting America's cultural heritage. Interestingly, while many top girls' names shifted positions between 1946 and 1947, the boys' list showed much greater stability, suggesting that parents were more willing to experiment with girls' names while sticking to tradition for boys. Two-syllable names were popular across both genders, striking a balance between brevity and substance that appealed to mid-century American parents.

Top baby names of 1947