Most Popular Baby Names of 1946: Top Boy and Girl Names
The 3 most popular baby names in 1946 were James, Robert and John for boys and Mary, Linda and Patricia for girls according to the US Census Bureau historical records.

Top #10 male names given to baby boys born in 1946
- James
- Robert
- John
- William
- Richard
- David
- Michael
- Thomas
- Charles
- Ronald

Top #10 female names given to baby girls born in 1946
- Mary
- Linda
- Patricia
- Barbara
- Carol
- Sandra
- Nancy
- Susan
- Sharon
- Judith
Baby names Trends and Insights in 1946
The most popular baby names in 1946 for boys were James, Robert, and John, while for girls they were Mary, Linda, and Patricia. This reflects the cultural influences and naming patterns of the post-World War II era in the United States. For boys, the names James, Robert, and John were long-standing traditional names that had been popular for decades. These names were seen as strong, masculine, and associated with figures of authority and leadership. The prevalence of these names likely reflects the desire of parents to give their sons names that conveyed a sense of stability and reliability in the aftermath of the war. For girls, the names Mary, Linda, and Patricia were also quite common. Mary was a classic, biblical name that had been popular for centuries, while Linda and Patricia were more modern names that gained popularity in the 1940s. The rise of these names may have been influenced by regional preferences, as well as the increasing influence of popular culture and media on naming trends.
