South dakota's most popular baby names in 1996

In the year 1996, South Dakota saw a surge in the popularity of certain baby names. For baby girls, Samantha, Emily, and Ashley were the most popular names, while for baby boys, Jacob, Tyler, and Austin were the top picks.

Parents in South Dakota seemed to favor traditional and timeless names for their little ones. With Samantha meaning "listener," Emily meaning "industrious," and Ashley meaning "meadow of ash trees," these names evoke a sense of nature and hard work. Similarly, Jacob meaning "supplanter," Tyler meaning "maker of tiles," and Austin meaning "great" or "magnificent," are strong and classic names that have stood the test of time. These names continue to be popular choices for parents in South Dakota and beyond.

Most popular baby girl names in South dakota in 1996

In 1996, the most popular baby girl names in South Dakota were Samantha with 74 occurrences, followed by Emily with 69 occurrences, Ashley and Jessica with 65 and 62 occurrences respectively, and finally Taylor with 62 occurrences. These names were the top choices for parents in the state during that year.

Samantha

74 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Samantha
The name Samantha means "listener" or "listener of God" and is of English origin.
Emily

69 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Emily
The name Emily means "rival" or "industrious" and is of Latin origin. It became popular in the 19th century and is still a commonly used name today.
Ashley

65 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Ashley
The name Ashley is of English origin and means "ash tree meadow". It is a unisex name that was originally more commonly given to boys, but has become more popular for girls in recent years.
Taylor

62 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Taylor
The name Taylor is of English origin and is derived from the occupation of a tailor, who was responsible for making and altering clothing. It is a unisex name, meaning it can be used for both boys and girls. The name Taylor is often associated with qualities such as creativity, independence, and determination.
Jessica

62 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Jessica
The name Jessica is of Hebrew origin and means "God beholds" or "God sees". It is derived from the name Yiskah in the Old Testament, which was the name of a daughter of Haran and sister of Milcah and Iscah. The name Jessica has been in use since the 16th century and became popular in the 20th century.
Megan
58 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Megan
The name Megan is of Welsh origin and means "pearl". It is a shortened version of the name Margaret, which also means "pearl".
Hannah
58 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Hannah
The name Hannah means "grace" or "favor" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that was borne by the mother of the prophet Samuel in the Old Testament. The name has been popular among Christians for centuries and is still commonly used today.
Sarah
52 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Sarah
The name Sarah means "princess" in Hebrew. It is a popular name in many cultures and is often associated with grace, beauty, and kindness.
Morgan
51 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Morgan
The name Morgan is of Welsh origin and is derived from the Old Welsh name Morcant, which means "sea circle" or "sea chief". It was originally a masculine name but has become more commonly used as a feminine name in recent years. The name is associated with strength, leadership, and intelligence.
Rachel
51 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Rachel
The name Rachel is of Hebrew origin and means "ewe" or "female sheep". It is a popular name in many English-speaking countries and has been used since biblical times. The name is often associated with qualities such as beauty, grace, and kindness.
Courtney
50 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Courtney
The name Courtney is of English origin and means "from the court". It is a unisex name, but more commonly given to girls.
Shelby
49 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Shelby
The name Shelby is of English origin and its meaning is "willow farm".
Brooke
47 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Brooke
The name Brooke means "a small stream" or "a brook". It is of English origin and is typically given to girls. People with this name are often associated with being kind, gentle, and caring.
Elizabeth
45 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my oath" or "my God is abundance". It is a name that has been popular for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures in history and literature.
Kayla
43 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Kayla
The name Kayla means "pure" or "beloved" and is of Hebrew origin.
Amanda
39 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Amanda
The name Amanda is of Latin origin, meaning "lovable" or "worthy of love". It was first used as a name in the 17th century and became popular in the 19th century. The name is often associated with kindness, compassion, and a friendly personality.
Alexis
38 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Alexis
The name Alexis is derived from the Greek name Alexios, which means "defender" or "helper". It is a unisex name that has been used for both boys and girls.
Kelsey
37 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Kelsey
The name Kelsey is of English origin and means "from the ship's island". It is a unisex name and was traditionally used for boys, but has become more popular for girls in recent years.
Alyssa
36 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Alyssa
The name Alyssa is derived from the name Alicia, which means "noble" or "of noble birth". It is a feminine name commonly used in English-speaking countries.
Madison
34 baby girls born in South dakota (1996) named Madison
The name Madison is of English origin and has two possible meanings. One interpretation is that it means "son of Matthew," while another suggests it means "gift of God." It became a popular name for girls in the 1980s and 1990s, likely due to its association with the character Madison in the movie "Splash."

Most popular baby boy names in South dakota in 1996

In South Dakota in 1996, the most popular baby boy names were Jacob, Tyler, Austin, Matthew, and Zachary. Jacob was the most popular name with 132 babies given that name, followed closely by Tyler with 121 babies. Austin was the third most popular name with 113 babies, while Matthew and Zachary rounded out the top five with 101 and 76 babies respectively.

Jacob

132 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Jacob
The name Jacob means "supplanter" or "holder of the heel" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name that was borne by one of the patriarchs of the Old Testament.
Tyler

121 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Tyler
The name Tyler is of English origin, and its meaning is "maker of tiles". It is derived from an occupational surname for a person who made or laid tiles. The name Tyler gained popularity in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, and it has remained a popular name for boys.
Austin

113 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Austin
The name Austin is of English origin and means "great, magnificent". It is derived from the Latin name Augustus, which was a title given to Roman emperors. The name became popular in the Middle Ages and has remained a popular name choice for boys to this day.
Matthew

101 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Matthew
Matthew is a name of Hebrew origin that means "gift of God".
Zachary

76 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Zachary
The name Zachary means "remembered by God" or "God has remembered" in Hebrew.
Andrew
72 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Andrew
The name Andrew means "manly" or "warrior" and is of Greek origin. It is derived from the Greek name Andreas, which comes from the word "andrós" meaning "man". Andrew is a popular name in many English-speaking countries and is often used in Christian traditions due to the apostle Andrew being one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ.
Cody
70 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Cody
The name Cody is of Irish origin and means "helper" or "cushion".
Joshua
69 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Joshua
The name Joshua means "God is salvation" or "Yahweh is salvation" in Hebrew. It is a biblical name and was the name of one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Canaan. Joshua later became the successor to Moses and led the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Benjamin
66 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Benjamin
The name Benjamin means "son of the right hand" or "favored son" in Hebrew.
Joseph
64 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Joseph
The name Joseph is of Hebrew origin and means "God will increase".
Brandon
63 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Brandon
The name Brandon is of English origin and is derived from the Old English words "brom" meaning "broom" or "gorse" and "dun" meaning "hill". Therefore, the name Brandon means "hill covered in broom or gorse".
Michael
60 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) 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.
Justin
57 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Justin
The name Justin is of Latin origin and means "just, upright, righteous." It was a popular name among early Christians and has been used throughout history by various notable figures.
Jordan
57 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Jordan
The name Jordan is of Hebrew origin and means "to flow down" or "descend." It is also the name of a river in the Middle East.
Nicholas
57 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Nicholas
The name Nicholas is derived from the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos), which means "victory of the people". It is a popular name in many countries and cultures, and is often associated with Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, sailors, and merchants.
Tanner
55 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Tanner
The name Tanner is of English origin and is occupational in nature, referring to a person who tans hides to make leather. The name is derived from the Old English word "tannere," which means "to tan." People with this name are believed to be hardworking, practical, and reliable.
Ryan
51 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Ryan
The name Ryan is of Irish origin and means "little king" or "illustrious". It is a popular name for boys in English-speaking countries.
Christopher
51 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Christopher
The name Christopher means "bearer of Christ" or "Christ-bearer."
Kyle
51 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Kyle
The name Kyle is of Scottish origin and means "narrow strait". It is a unisex name, but more commonly given to boys. People with this name are often described as confident, charismatic, and adventurous.
Samuel
49 baby boys born in South dakota (1996) named Samuel
The name Samuel means "heard by God" or "asked of God". It is of Hebrew origin and is a biblical name. Samuel was a prophet and judge in the Old Testament of the Bible.