South dakota's most popular baby names in 1940

In the year 1940, the state of South Dakota witnessed a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. Mary, Sharon, and Carol emerged as the top contenders for baby girl names, while Robert, James, and Richard were the most popular choices for baby boys.

Mary, a traditional name with biblical roots, held the top spot for baby girls for several years in a row. Sharon and Carol, both names with Hebrew origins, were also popular choices among parents. On the other hand, Robert, James, and Richard were classic names that had been in use for centuries and continued to be favored by parents in South Dakota in 1940. Overall, these names reflect a preference for traditional, timeless names that have stood the test of time.

Most popular baby girl names in South dakota in 1940

In South Dakota in 1940, the most popular baby girl name was Mary with 209 occurrences. Following closely behind were Sharon with 170 occurrences, Carol with 151 occurrences, Donna with 126 occurrences, and Judy with 123 occurrences. These names were the most frequently chosen by parents for their baby girls in that year.

Mary

209 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Sharon

170 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Carol

151 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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".
Donna

126 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Judy

123 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) named Judy
Patricia
119 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Karen
118 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Barbara
115 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Janice
114 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Joyce
104 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Shirley
104 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Judith
98 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Betty
92 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Marilyn
80 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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".
Janet
70 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Beverly
68 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) named Beverly
The name Beverly is of English origin and its meaning is "dweller near the beaver stream".
Darlene
67 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Sandra
67 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Dorothy
65 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) named Dorothy
The name Dorothy is of Greek origin and means "gift of God".
Joan
63 baby girls born in South dakota (1940) 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.

Most popular baby boy names in South dakota in 1940

In South Dakota in 1940, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, James, Richard, Larry, and John. Robert was the most popular name with 256 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 234 babies. Richard was the third most popular name with 202 babies named that, while Larry and John rounded out the top five with 194 and 175 babies respectively.

Robert

256 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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

234 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

202 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Larry

194 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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.
John

175 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Gary
154 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Donald
147 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Dennis
143 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Ronald
135 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
David
128 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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.
William
118 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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
103 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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".
Kenneth
97 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Charles
93 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Jerry
90 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Gerald
88 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Thomas
72 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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.
Dale
67 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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
58 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) 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
53 baby boys born in South dakota (1940) named Raymond
The name Raymond is of Germanic origin and means "wise protector" or "protector advice".