Most popular girl names in the 50s in South Dakota

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June 4, 2026
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Most popular girl names in the 50s in South Dakota

Perhaps no decade in US history conjures up more imagery of all-American idealism than the 1950s. A politically conservative era, the '50s introduced the world to some of the most enduring cultural touchstones of the USA: milkshakes, Elvis Presley, "I Love Lucy," and sock-hops. One might imagine classic American kids named Jimmy and Susie splitting a hot-fudge sundae at a local soda shop鈥攁nd you'd actually be historically accurate. James and Susan were in fact two of the most popular names of the decade.

compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 50s in South Dakota using data from the . Names are ranked by number of babies born.

Keep reading to see if your name made the list.

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FreelySky // Shutterstock

#30. Bonnie

Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 551
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8 (#427 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,007 (#49 most common name)

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FamVeld // Shutterstock

#29. Jane

Jane is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 567
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 82,908 (#50 most common name)

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Tatiana Katsai // Shutterstock

#28. Lori

Lori is a name of English origin meaning "bay laurel".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 587
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 55,904 (#76 most common name)

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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#27. Jean

Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 591
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 72,257 (#59 most common name)

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#26. Cindy

Cindy is a name of Greek origin meaning "woman from Mount Kynthos".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 617
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 83,929 (#47 most common name)

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#25. Brenda

Brenda is a name of Norse origin meaning "sword".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 618
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 209,243 (#18 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#24. Kathy

Kathy is a name of Greek origin meaning "pure".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 656
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 157,930 (#22 most common name)

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Dasha Muller // Shutterstock

#23. Judy

Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 675
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 118,061 (#27 most common name)

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#22. Connie

Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 679
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 88,760 (#39 most common name)

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#21. Peggy

Peggy is a name of English origin meaning pearl.

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 766
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 84,289 (#46 most common name)

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Fuller Photography // Shutterstock

#20. Janet

Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 812
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 167,519 (#20 most common name)

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DONOT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#19. Sharon

Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 899
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 232,809 (#14 most common name)

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Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock

#18. Cheryl

Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 964
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 171,390 (#19 most common name)

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Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock

#17. Diane

Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 977
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 210,627 (#17 most common name)

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Matva // Shutterstock

#16. Julie

Julie is a name of Latin origin meaning "youthful".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 995
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 86,678 (#42 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#15. Donna

Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,005
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 270,333 (#10 most common name)

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Shyamalamuralinath // Shutterstock

#14. Kathleen

Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,068
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 224,341 (#15 most common name)

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s_oleg // Shutterstock

#13. Deborah

Deborah is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,166
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 430,541 (#5 most common name)

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DONUT6_STUDIO // Shutterstock

#12. Cynthia

Cynthia is a name of Greek origin meaning "moon goddess".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,226
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 263,429 (#11 most common name)

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Natee K Jindakum // Shutterstock

#11. Carol

Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,266
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 222,654 (#16 most common name)

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javi_indy // Shutterstock

#10. Pamela

Pamela is a name of Greek origin meaning "all sweetness".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,283
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 237,395 (#13 most common name)

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pixelheadphoto digitalskillet // Shutterstock

#9. Sandra

Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,308
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 251,594 (#12 most common name)

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Marlon Lopez MMG1 Design // Shutterstock

#8. Karen

Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,452
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 332,533 (#8 most common name)

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Oleksiy Avtomonov // Shutterstock

#7. Nancy

Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,571
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 286,812 (#9 most common name)

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Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock

#6. Barbara

Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,616
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 345,723 (#6 most common name)

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phadungsak sawasdee // Shutterstock

#5. Patricia

Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,623
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 459,686 (#3 most common name)

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Elvira Koneva // Shutterstock

#4. Susan

Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 1,996
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 437,773 (#4 most common name)

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Malakhova Ganna // Shutterstock

#3. Debra

Debra is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "bee".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,055
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 341,346 (#7 most common name)

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Max Bukovski // Shutterstock

#2. Linda

Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,413
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 6 (#459 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 564,363 (#2 most common name)

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#1. Mary

Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".

South Dakota
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 2,873
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#187 most common name)

National:
- Babies from 1950 to 1959: 625,609 (#1 most common name)

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