South dakota's most popular baby names in 1943

In the year 1943, the state of South Dakota saw a surge of new parents naming their newborns with classic and timeless names. Topping the list of popular baby girl names were Mary, Sharon, and Carol. These names have been popular for decades and continue to be a popular choice among parents today. Mary, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bitter", has been a favorite for centuries and is often associated with religious figures. Sharon, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a plain", gained popularity in the mid-20th century and has remained a popular choice among parents. Carol, a name of English origin meaning "free man", gained popularity in the 1930s and remained a top choice throughout the 1940s.

For baby boys, the top names were Robert, James, and Richard. Robert, a name of German origin meaning "bright fame", has been a popular choice for centuries and continues to be a classic name. James, a name of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter", has also been a popular choice for centuries and remains a popular choice today. Richard, a name of German origin meaning "brave ruler", gained popularity in the 1940s and remained a top choice for several years. These classic names have stood the test of time and continue to be a popular choice among parents in South Dakota and beyond.

Most popular baby girl names in South dakota in 1943

In South Dakota in 1943, the most popular baby girl name was Mary with 271 babies given that name. The following names in popularity were Sharon with 204 babies, Carol with 190 babies, Karen with 160 babies, and Judy with 137 babies.

Mary

271 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) 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

204 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) 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

190 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) 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".
Karen

160 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) named Karen
Karen is a Danish name that means "pure" or "clear".
Judy

137 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) named Judy
Barbara
125 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Patricia
123 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Linda
122 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) named Linda
The name Linda means "beautiful" or "pretty" in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and other Romance languages. It is also derived from the Germanic word "lind," which means "gentle" or "soft."
Donna
120 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Judith
112 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) named Judith
The name Judith is of Hebrew origin and means "woman of Judea" or "praised".
Shirley
95 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Janice
95 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) named Janice
The name Janice is of English origin and is a variant of the name Jane, which means "God is gracious".
Sandra
87 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Betty
78 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) named Betty
The name Betty is a diminutive form of Elizabeth and means "pledged to God" or "God is my oath".
Janet
73 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) named Janet
The name Janet is of Scottish origin and is the diminutive form of the name Jane, meaning "God is gracious".
Joan
68 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Joyce
67 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Bonnie
66 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) named Bonnie
The name Bonnie means "pretty" or "good" and is of Scottish origin. It is often used as a nickname for someone who is attractive or pleasant.
Diane
64 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) named Diane
Diane is a feminine given name of French origin. The name is derived from the Roman goddess Diana, who was the goddess of hunting, the moon, and childbirth. The name Diane means "divine" or "heavenly".
Nancy
60 baby girls born in South dakota (1943) named Nancy
The name Nancy is of English origin and means "grace" or "favor".

Most popular baby boy names in South dakota in 1943

In South Dakota in 1943, the most popular baby boy names were Robert, James, Richard, Larry, and David. Robert was the most popular with 276 babies given that name, followed closely by James with 256 babies. Richard was the third most popular name with 213 babies named that, followed by Larry with 209 babies and David with 201 babies. These names were likely influenced by popular culture and family traditions at the time.

Robert

276 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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

256 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) named James
The name James is of Hebrew origin and means "supplanter" or "one who follows".
Richard

213 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) named Richard
The name Richard means "brave ruler" or "powerful leader".
Larry

209 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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.
David

201 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Dennis
186 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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.
John
172 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Donald
155 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) named Donald
Donald is a Scottish name that means "world ruler" or "ruler of the world".
Ronald
154 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) named Ronald
The name Ronald means "ruler's counselor" or "wise ruler" and is of Scottish origin.
Gary
152 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Roger
131 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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".
William
117 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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
102 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) named Kenneth
The name Kenneth is of Scottish origin and means "handsome" or "born of fire".
Charles
99 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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
95 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Thomas
90 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Gerald
84 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Michael
63 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) named Michael
The name Michael means "Who is like God?" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that is often associated with the archangel Michael, who is considered to be a protector and warrior in many religious traditions. The name has been popular throughout history and is still commonly used today.
Wayne
63 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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.
Paul
62 baby boys born in South dakota (1943) 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.