South dakota's most popular baby names in 1931

In the year 1931, the state of South Dakota witnessed a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. The top baby girl names of the year were Betty, Mary, and Dorothy, while the top baby boy names were Robert, Donald, and James.

Betty, a diminutive of Elizabeth, was a popular name for baby girls in the 1930s. Mary, a timeless classic, has been a top baby name for centuries. Dorothy, which means "gift of God," was also a popular choice among parents. For baby boys, Robert, meaning "bright fame," was a common name. Donald, meaning "ruler of the world," and James, meaning "supplanter," were also popular choices for parents in South Dakota in 1931.

Most popular baby girl names in South dakota in 1931

According to the records from 1931, the most popular baby girl names in South Dakota were Betty, Mary, Dorothy, Donna, and Beverly. Betty was the most popular name with 239 babies given that name, followed closely by Mary with 229 babies. Dorothy, Donna, and Beverly were also popular choices, with 142, 140, and 127 babies given those names, respectively. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and trends of the time, as well as traditional family names.

Betty

239 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Mary

229 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) 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.
Dorothy

142 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Donna

140 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) 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.
Beverly

127 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Shirley
119 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) 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.
Patricia
114 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) 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.
Darlene
109 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Darlene
The name Darlene means "darling" or "beloved" and is of English origin. It was first used as a given name in the early 20th century in the United States.
Delores
101 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Delores
Joyce
100 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Joyce
The name Joyce is of Old French origin, derived from the name Josse, which means "lord" or "master". It was originally a masculine name but became popular as a feminine name in the 20th century. The name Joyce is often associated with qualities such as intelligence, creativity, and independence.
Lois
98 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Lois
The name Lois is of Greek origin and means "better, more desirable".
Joan
96 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Joan
The name Joan is of Hebrew origin and means "God is gracious". It is a feminine name that was popularized in the Middle Ages and has been in use ever since. The name is often associated with strong and independent women, such as Joan of Arc.
Helen
96 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Helen
Helen is a name of Greek origin and means "bright, shining one" or "torchbearer". It is also sometimes associated with the meaning "sunray" or "ray of light". The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.
Phyllis
85 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Marilyn
81 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Marilyn
The name Marilyn is a combination of the names Mary and Lynn. The name Mary means "bitter" or "rebellious" in Hebrew, while Lynn means "lake" or "waterfall" in English. Therefore, the name Marilyn could be interpreted as "bitter lake" or "rebellious waterfall".
Alice
79 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Alice
The name Alice is of German origin and means "noble" or "of noble birth". It is a popular name that has been used for centuries and has been the name of many notable fictional characters in literature and film.
Doris
76 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Doris
The name Doris means "gift of the ocean" or "from the sea" in Greek. It was also the name of a sea nymph in Greek mythology.
Ruth
73 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Ruth
The name Ruth means "friend" or "companion" in Hebrew. It is also associated with the character Ruth in the Bible, who was known for her loyalty and devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi.
Norma
73 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Norma
The name Norma is of Latin origin and means "rule" or "standard". It was popularized by the Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini's opera "Norma" in the 19th century. The name has been in use since the Middle Ages and continues to be used today.
Lorraine
70 baby girls born in South dakota (1931) named Lorraine
The name Lorraine is of French origin and is derived from the region of Lorraine in France. The meaning of the name is "from Lorraine" or "dweller of Lorraine".

Most popular baby boy names in South dakota in 1931

Based on the data from South Dakota in 1931, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, Donald, James, Richard, and John. Robert was the most commonly chosen name with 318 babies named so, followed by Donald with 285 babies. James, Richard, and John were also popular choices with 221, 202, and 199 babies respectively given these names.

Robert

318 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) 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.
Donald

285 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
James

221 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

202 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
John

199 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) 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
150 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) 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.
Kenneth
120 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Charles
112 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) 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.
Eugene
82 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Eugene
The name Eugene means "well-born" or "noble" and has Greek origins. It was a popular name in the early 20th century but has since declined in popularity.
George
80 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) 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.
Harold
79 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Harold
The name Harold is of Old English origin and means "ruler of the army". It was a popular name among the Anglo-Saxons and was borne by several kings of England.
Marvin
78 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Marvin
The name Marvin is of Welsh origin and means "sea hill" or "great hill near the sea".
Duane
69 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Duane
Paul
67 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Paul
The name Paul is of Latin origin and means "small" or "humble". It was originally derived from the Roman family name Paulus, which was a common name in ancient Rome. The name has been popularized by various saints and biblical figures, including the apostle Paul, who was a significant figure in the early Christian church.
Wayne
67 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Wayne
The name Wayne means "wagon maker" or "wagon driver". It has Old English origins and was originally a surname before becoming a first name.
Ronald
66 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Dale
64 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Dale
The name Dale means valley or dale, which is a piece of land between hills or mountains. It is of Old English origin and is often used as a masculine given name.
Raymond
62 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Gerald
61 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) named Gerald
The name Gerald means "ruler with a spear" or "rule of the spear". It is of Old German origin and was a popular name among medieval kings and nobles.
David
60 baby boys born in South dakota (1931) 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.