As history tells, the 1940s were a decade that shaped American life. The country faced World War II, ration books, factory work, radio news, and families waiting for letters from loved ones who were overseas. By the end of the decade, the war was completely over, and people were starting fresh, and the first signs of the baby boom were starting to appear.
Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 40s in South Dakota using data from the Social Security Administration. Names are ranked by number of babies born.
Keep reading to see if your name made the list.
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1 / 30Dorothy is a name of Greek origin meaning "God's Gift".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 497
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,242 (#62 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 132,255 (#20 most common name)
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2 / 30Gloria is a name of Latin origin meaning "glory".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 504
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,242 (#62 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 105,028 (#27 most common name)
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3 / 30Connie is a name of Norman origin meaning "constant".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 507
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,242 (#62 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 56,507 (#49 most common name)
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4 / 30Jean is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "God is gracious".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 515
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,242 (#62 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 80,344 (#36 most common name)
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5 / 30Joan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning God is gracious.
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 540
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,242 (#62 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 117,682 (#24 most common name)
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6 / 30Beverly is a name of English origin meaning "beaver stream or meadow".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 562
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 1,242 (#62 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 95,106 (#31 most common name)
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7 / 30Margaret is a name of Greek origin meaning "pearl".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 569
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 173,025 (#13 most common name)
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8 / 30Cheryl is a name of Greek origin meaning "cherry fruit".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 588
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 51 (#174 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 70,811 (#42 most common name)
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9 / 30Bonnie is a name of Scottish origin meaning "pretty".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 589
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 8 (#427 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 86,868 (#33 most common name)
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10 / 30Marilyn is a name of English origin meaning beloved lake.
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 654
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 98,966 (#29 most common name)
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11 / 30Joyce is a name of Latin origin meaning "lord".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 663
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 151,477 (#19 most common name)
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12 / 30Diane is a name of Latin origin meaning "divine".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 718
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 122,870 (#22 most common name)
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13 / 30Kathleen is a name of Irish origin meaning "pure".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 736
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 152,971 (#18 most common name)
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14 / 30Susan is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "lily".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 745
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 212,010 (#10 most common name)
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15 / 30Betty is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "oath of God".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 755
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 194,620 (#11 most common name)
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16 / 30Janet is a name of Scottish origin meaning "God is gracious".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 768
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 130,746 (#21 most common name)
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17 / 30Nancy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 873
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 252,058 (#7 most common name)
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18 / 30Shirley is a name of English origin meaning "bright".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 889
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 171,776 (#14 most common name)
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19 / 30Janice is a name of English origin meaning "God is gracious".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 945
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 118,880 (#23 most common name)
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20 / 30Judith is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 989
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 218,035 (#9 most common name)
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21 / 30Donna is a name of Italian origin meaning "lady of the home".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,137
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 165,520 (#17 most common name)
Oksana Kuzmina // Shutterstock
22 / 30Sandra is a name of Greek origin meaning "defender of man".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,218
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 265,527 (#6 most common name)
Zdenka Darula // Shutterstock
23 / 30Judy is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "praised".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,308
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,714 (#15 most common name)
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24 / 30Karen is a name of Danish origin meaning "pure".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,408
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 167,698 (#16 most common name)
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25 / 30Patricia is a name of Latin origin meaning "noble".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,411
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 411,412 (#4 most common name)
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26 / 30Barbara is a name of Greek origin meaning "foreign".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,555
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 425,267 (#3 most common name)
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27 / 30Carol is a name of German origin meaning "free man".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,716
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 292,330 (#5 most common name)
Olesia Bilkei // Shutterstock
28 / 30Sharon is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "a fertile plain".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 1,762
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 221,232 (#8 most common name)
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29 / 30Linda is a name of Italian origin meaning "beautiful".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,274
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 5 (#519 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 531,652 (#2 most common name)
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30 / 30Mary is a name of Hebrew origin meaning "drop of the sea".
South Dakota
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 2,703
- Babies from 2015 to 2024: 47 (#187 most common name)
National:
- Babies from 1940 to 1949: 640,070 (#1 most common name)
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