South dakota's most popular baby names in 1936

In the year 1936, South Dakota welcomed a new generation of babies with some popular names that still resonate today. Shirley, Mary, and Betty were among the most popular names for baby girls, while Robert, James, and Donald topped the list for baby boys.

Shirley, with its English origin meaning "bright meadow," was a particularly popular choice for baby girls in South Dakota that year. Mary, a classic name with biblical roots, and Betty, a diminutive of Elizabeth, were also top picks. Meanwhile, Robert, James, and Donald, all traditional names with strong meanings, were favored for baby boys. These names reflect the timeless appeal of classic baby names that continue to be popular choices for parents today.

Most popular baby girl names in South dakota in 1936

According to the records of South Dakota in 1936, Shirley was the most popular name given to baby girls with a total of 289 occurrences. Mary was a close second with 226 occurrences, followed by Betty with 151 occurrences. Donna and Beverly were also popular names for baby girls in South Dakota in 1936, with 124 and 119 occurrences respectively.

Shirley

289 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Mary

226 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) 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

151 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Donna

124 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) 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

119 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Carol
106 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) 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".
Barbara
106 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Marilyn
103 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) 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".
Patricia
99 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) 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
90 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Joyce
87 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Dorothy
85 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Joan
84 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Marlene
84 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) named Marlene
The name Marlene is a combination of the names Mary and Magdalene. It is of German origin and means "bitter" or "rebellious".
Janice
78 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Lois
76 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) named Lois
The name Lois is of Greek origin and means "better, more desirable".
Helen
71 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) 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
62 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) named Phyllis
The name Phyllis means "foliage" or "greenery" and is of Greek origin.
Janet
61 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Jean
60 baby girls born in South dakota (1936) named Jean
The name Jean is a variant of the name John, which means "God is gracious" in Hebrew. It is a gender-neutral name that has been used for both boys and girls.

Most popular baby boy names in South dakota in 1936

According to data from 1936, the most popular baby boy names in South Dakota were Robert, James, Donald, Richard, and John. Robert was the most popular name with 298 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 281 babies named James. Donald was the third most popular name with 239 babies, followed by Richard with 205 babies, and John with 164 babies. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and traditional family names during that time period.

Robert

298 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) 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.
James

281 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Donald

239 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Richard

205 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
John

164 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Ronald
124 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
William
116 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Roger
104 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) 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".
Larry
101 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Kenneth
95 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Charles
89 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Gerald
88 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Marvin
74 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) named Marvin
The name Marvin is of Welsh origin and means "sea hill" or "great hill near the sea".
David
71 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Jerry
68 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) named Jerry
The name Jerry is a diminutive form of the name Gerald or Gerard, which means "ruler with a spear" or "brave with a spear" respectively. It is of Old German origin.
Dale
67 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) 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.
George
67 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) 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.
Raymond
65 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".
Dennis
63 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) named Dennis
The name Dennis is of Greek origin and means "follower of Dionysius", the Greek god of wine and fertility. It was a popular name in ancient Greece and was later adopted by the Romans. The name has been used in various cultures and languages throughout history.
Thomas
62 baby boys born in South dakota (1936) 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.