South carolina's most popular baby names in 1956

In the year 1956, the state of South Carolina saw a surge in the popularity of traditional baby names for both boys and girls. Mary, Deborah, and Linda emerged as the top baby girl names, while James, John, and William were the most popular choices for baby boys.

Mary, a timeless classic, held the top spot for baby girl names in South Carolina. Deborah, a name with Hebrew origins meaning "bee," followed closely behind. Linda, a name with Germanic roots meaning "soft" or "tender," rounded out the top three. For baby boys, James, a name with Biblical significance meaning "supplanter," was the most popular choice. John, a name with Hebrew origins meaning "God is gracious," and William, a name with Germanic roots meaning "resolute protector," were also popular among South Carolina parents in 1956.

Most popular baby girl names in South carolina in 1956

Based on data from South Carolina in 1956, the most popular baby girl names were Mary, Deborah, Linda, Debra, and Patricia. Mary was the most popular name, with 1097 baby girls given that name. Deborah and Linda tied for second place with 704 baby girls each. Debra followed closely behind in third place with 662 baby girls named that. Finally, Patricia rounded out the top five with 654 baby girls given that name.

Mary

1097 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Mary
Mary is a feminine given name that has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history. The meaning and origin of the name are uncertain, but it is believed to derive from the Hebrew name Miriam, which means "bitter" or "rebellious". The name Mary is popular in Christian cultures due to its association with the mother of Jesus Christ.
Linda

704 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Linda
The name Linda means "beautiful" or "pretty" in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and other Romance languages. It is also derived from the Germanic word "lind," which means "gentle" or "soft."
Deborah

704 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Deborah
Deborah is a Hebrew name that means "bee". It is derived from the Hebrew word "d'vorah" which also means "word" or "thing". The name Deborah is often associated with strength, wisdom, and leadership, as the biblical Deborah was a judge and prophetess who led the Israelites to victory over their enemies.
Debra

662 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Debra
The name Debra is of Hebrew origin and means "bee." It is a variant spelling of Deborah.
Patricia

654 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Patricia
The name Patricia is derived from the Latin word "patricius," meaning "noble" or "aristocratic." It was a popular name in the Roman Empire and later spread throughout Europe. The name is often associated with qualities such as intelligence, kindness, and leadership.
Barbara
632 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Barbara
The name Barbara is of Greek origin, derived from the word "barbaros" which means foreign or strange. It was a popular name in the Middle Ages and was often given to girls born on St. Barbara's feast day. The name has been used in various cultures and languages around the world.
Cynthia
539 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Cynthia
The name Cynthia means "moon goddess" or "from Mount Kynthos" in Greek. It is also associated with the Greek mythological figure Artemis, who was known as the goddess of the hunt and the moon. The name Cynthia has been in use since ancient times and has remained relatively popular throughout history.
Susan
497 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Susan
The name Susan means "lily" or "graceful lily" in Hebrew. It was a popular name in the 1940s and 1950s, but has since declined in popularity.
Brenda
462 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Brenda
The name Brenda is of Old Norse origin and means "sword" or "torch". It was popularized in the 20th century as a given name, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom.
Sandra
430 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Sandra
The name Sandra is a variant of the name Alexandra, which is of Greek origin. The name Alexandra means "defender of mankind" or "protector of humanity". Therefore, it can be inferred that the name Sandra has a similar meaning.
Sharon
428 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Sharon
The name Sharon means "a plain or flat area" in Hebrew. It is also a biblical name, referring to a fertile plain near the coast of Israel.
Betty
403 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Pamela
393 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Pamela
The name Pamela is of Greek origin and means "all sweetness" or "honeyed". It was first popularized by Sir Philip Sidney in his pastoral romance "Arcadia" (1590) and later by Samuel Richardson in his novel "Pamela" (1740).
Shirley
382 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Shirley
The name Shirley is of English origin and its meaning is "bright meadow" or "bright clearing". It was originally a surname that became a popular given name in the 19th century.
Karen
367 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Donna
365 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Donna
The name Donna is of Italian origin and means "lady" or "woman". It was initially used as a title of respect for women of high social status in Italy, but later became a popular given name in English-speaking countries.
Carolyn
353 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Carolyn
The name Carolyn is a feminine given name of English origin. It is a variant of Caroline, which is derived from the Germanic name Karl, meaning "free man" or "strong". The name Carolyn has been in use since the 19th century and has been a popular name for girls in the United States.
Kathy
347 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Kathy
The name Kathy is a diminutive form of the name Katherine, which means "pure" or "clear". It is of Greek origin and has been a popular name in English-speaking countries since the 19th century.
Wanda
339 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Wanda
The name Wanda is of Slavic origin and its meaning is "she who is to be loved" or "wanderer".
Teresa
325 baby girls born in South carolina (1956) named Teresa
The name Teresa is derived from the Greek name Therasia, which means "harvester" or "reaper". It has also been associated with the Spanish word "teresa", meaning "to harvest". The name has been popularized by Saint Teresa of Avila, a Spanish mystic and writer who lived in the 16th century. The name is commonly given to girls and is of Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian origin.

Most popular baby boy names in South carolina in 1956

Based on the data from South Carolina in 1956, the top 5 most popular baby boy names were James, John, William, Robert, and Michael. James was the most popular name with 1720 occurrences, followed by John with 1079 occurrences, William with 1065 occurrences, Robert with 1060 occurrences, and Michael with 882 occurrences.

James

1720 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
John

1079 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named John
The name John is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a very common name and has been used for centuries. People with this name are often known for their kindness and generosity.
William

1065 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named William
The name William means "resolute protector" or "strong-willed warrior". It is of Germanic origin and has been a popular name throughout history.
Robert

1060 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Robert
The name Robert means "bright fame" or "famous brilliance". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobility.
Michael

882 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Michael
The name Michael means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that is often associated with the archangel Michael, who is considered to be a protector and warrior in many religious traditions. The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.
David
861 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named David
The name David is of Hebrew origin and means "beloved" or "friend". It is a popular name in many cultures and religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the Bible, David was the second king of Israel and is known for his bravery, leadership, and devotion to God. People with the name David are often described as confident, charismatic, and loyal.
Charles
753 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Charles
The name Charles means "free man" or "strong man" and is of Germanic origin. It was a popular name among European royalty and has been commonly used throughout history.
Richard
601 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Larry
524 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Larry
The name Larry is a shortened form of the name Lawrence, which comes from the Latin name Laurentius meaning "from Laurentum" or "crowned with laurel". The name was popularized in the Middle Ages due to the fame of St. Lawrence, a Christian martyr who was roasted alive on a gridiron. The name Larry has been used as a given name since the 19th century and has been a popular name in the United States.
Thomas
516 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Thomas
The name Thomas is of Aramaic origin and means "twin". It is a common name in many cultures and has been used for centuries.
Willie
498 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Willie
The name Willie is a diminutive form of William, which means "resolute protector" or "willful protector".
Kenneth
490 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Ronald
413 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Donald
385 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Joseph
377 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
George
353 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named George
The name George means "farmer" or "earthworker" and is of Greek origin. It was a popular name among early Christians, as Saint George is the patron saint of England and a martyr in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches. The name has been used by many notable figures throughout history, including several kings of England.
Johnny
332 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Johnny
Johnny is a diminutive form of the name John, which means "God is gracious" or "gift of God".
Terry
298 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Terry
The name Terry is a unisex name of English origin, derived from the name Terence. The meaning of the name Terry is "smooth, tender".
Steven
297 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Steven
The name Steven is of Greek origin and means "crown" or "garland". It is a variation of the name Stephen.
Timothy
276 baby boys born in South carolina (1956) named Timothy
The name Timothy is of Greek origin and means "honoring God" or "one who honors God". It is derived from the Greek name Timotheos, which is a combination of the words "timao" meaning to honor and "theos" meaning God.