South dakota's most popular baby names in 1938

In the year 1938, the state of South Dakota saw a surge in the popularity of traditional names for baby girls. Topping the charts was the timeless name Mary, followed closely by Carol and Shirley. These names have been popular for decades and continue to be a popular choice for parents looking for classic and elegant names for their baby girls.

On the other hand, for baby boys, the names Robert, James, and Donald were the most popular choices. These names have a strong and masculine feel to them and have been popular for generations. Parents in South Dakota seemed to prefer traditional and timeless names for their baby boys, reflecting their values of strength, dependability, and tradition.

Most popular baby girl names in South dakota in 1938

Based on the records of baby girl names in South Dakota in 1938, Mary was the most popular name with 225 occurrences, followed by Carol with 152 occurrences, Shirley with 132 occurrences, Donna with 108 occurrences, and Barbara with 105 occurrences. These names were the top 5 most popular baby girl names in South Dakota during that year.

Mary

225 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Carol

152 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) 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".
Shirley

132 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) 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

108 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Barbara

105 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Sharon
103 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) 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
98 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Janice
96 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Marilyn
95 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) 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
93 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Beverly
83 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Dorothy
80 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Joyce
80 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Joan
68 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Darlene
64 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Janet
64 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Margaret
62 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) named Margaret
The name Margaret is of Greek origin and means "pearl".
Karen
62 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Marlene
56 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) named Marlene
The name Marlene is a combination of the names Mary and Magdalene. It is of German origin and means "bitter" or "rebellious".
Delores
53 baby girls born in South dakota (1938) named Delores

Most popular baby boy names in South dakota in 1938

According to the records of South Dakota in 1938, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, James, Donald, Richard, and John. Robert was the most popular name with 266 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 232 babies. Donald and Richard tied for the third most popular name with 184 babies each, and John rounded out the top five with 154 babies given that name.

Robert

266 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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

232 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

184 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Donald

184 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
John

154 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Larry
141 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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.
William
127 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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
125 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Charles
118 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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.
David
111 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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
107 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Roger
91 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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".
Dennis
87 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Gary
82 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) named Gary
The name Gary is of English origin and means "spear rule" or "spear carrier". It was originally a surname but became popular as a given name in the 20th century. People with this name are believed to be independent, practical, and analytical.
Gerald
79 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Kenneth
77 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Wayne
59 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Dale
56 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Harold
54 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) 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.
Duane
53 baby boys born in South dakota (1938) named Duane