South dakota's most popular baby names in 1934

In the year 1934, the state of South Dakota saw a surge in popularity of classic baby names. Mary, a timeless name that has been popular for centuries, topped the list of most popular baby girl names. Following closely behind were Betty and Shirley, both names that were popular during the 1930s era.

For baby boys, the top names were Robert, Donald, and James. These names were also classics that have stood the test of time. Parents in South Dakota seemed to favor traditional and strong names for their little ones during this time period.

Most popular baby girl names in South dakota in 1934

According to the records of South Dakota in 1934, the most popular baby girl names were Mary, Betty, Shirley, Donna, and Dorothy. Mary was the most popular name with 243 babies given that name, followed by Betty with 191, Shirley with 151, Donna with 144, and Dorothy with 124. These names were the top choices for parents in South Dakota during that year.

Mary

243 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Betty

191 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Shirley

151 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Donna

144 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Dorothy

124 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Beverly
121 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Patricia
106 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Marilyn
101 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) 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".
Joyce
94 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Carol
88 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) named Carol
The name Carol is derived from the Old Germanic word "karl", which means "man" or "free man". It is often associated with the Christmas season due to the popular Christmas carol "Carol of the Bells".
Darlene
86 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Lois
86 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) named Lois
The name Lois is of Greek origin and means "better, more desirable".
Barbara
84 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Marlene
81 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) named Marlene
The name Marlene is a combination of the names Mary and Magdalene. It is of German origin and means "bitter" or "rebellious".
Phyllis
77 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Joan
73 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Delores
73 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) named Delores
Margaret
68 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Doris
66 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Helen
57 baby girls born in South dakota (1934) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in South dakota in 1934

According to records from 1934 in South Dakota, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, Donald, James, Richard, and John. Robert was the most popular with 312 babies given that name, followed closely by Donald with 278 and James with 276. Richard and John rounded out the top five with 228 and 156 babies respectively given those names. These names were likely influenced by popular cultural figures and historical events of the time.

Robert

312 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) 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

278 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
James

276 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

228 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
John

156 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) 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
133 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Ronald
116 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Charles
107 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Kenneth
82 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Gerald
78 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Raymond
75 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Dale
73 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Roger
70 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) named Roger
The name Roger means "famous spearman" or "renowned warrior". It is of Old German origin, derived from the words "hrod" meaning "fame" and "ger" meaning "spear".
Duane
67 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) named Duane
Leroy
65 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) named Leroy
David
64 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Marvin
63 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) named Marvin
The name Marvin is of Welsh origin and means "sea hill" or "great hill near the sea".
Thomas
62 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) 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.
Harold
62 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) 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.
George
61 baby boys born in South dakota (1934) 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.