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—and you'd actually be historically accurate. James and Susan were in fact two of the most popular names of the decade.

Stacker compiled a list of the most popular baby names for girls in the 50s 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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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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#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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