Most Popular Baby Names in South Dakota (2025)

In 2025, the most common boy's name registered in South Dakota was Oliver (66 births) and the most common girl's name was Lainey (50).

South Dakota sits in the Midwest region, West North Central division. Regional preference is visible in this data: neighbouring states often share a top name that the national list ranks lower.

Across 18 years of records (2008 to 2025), the top boy's name changed 12 times and the top girl's name changed 12 times.

The longest unbroken run at #1 belongs to Liam on the boys' side (3 consecutive years) and Emma on the girls' side (2).

2025 Boys

  1. 1Oliver66
  2. 2Liam60
  3. 3Henry50
  4. 4Hudson50
  5. 5Noah50
  6. 6Theodore47
  7. 7Beau42
  8. 8William41
  9. 9Leo40
  10. 10Maverick38
  11. 11Elijah35
  12. 12Brooks33
  13. 13Asher32
  14. 14James32
  15. 15Bennett31
  16. 16Ezra31
  17. 17Cooper30
  18. 18Levi30
  19. 19Colter29
  20. 20Stetson29

2025 Girls

  1. 1Lainey50
  2. 2Charlotte44
  3. 3Evelyn39
  4. 4Emma36
  5. 5Olivia36
  6. 6Eleanor32
  7. 7Ellie31
  8. 8Harper31
  9. 9Nora31
  10. 10Amelia30
  11. 11Lucy30
  12. 12Ella29
  13. 13Ivy29
  14. 14Hazel27
  15. 15Lily27
  16. 16Sophie27
  17. 17Willow27
  18. 18Aurora25
  19. 19Emery25
  20. 20Isla25

Number one by year in South Dakota

Top three each year, boys then girls.

YearBoysGirls
2025Oliver, Liam, HenryLainey, Charlotte, Evelyn
2024Liam, Oliver, HenryAmelia, Charlotte, Lainey
2023Oliver, Henry, HudsonAva, Charlotte, Nora
2022Oliver, Hudson, WilliamEvelyn, Harper, Amelia
2021Henry, Oliver, TheodoreEvelyn, Emma, Charlotte
2020Oliver, Liam, HenryHarper, Charlotte, Amelia
2019Liam, Oliver, WyattEmma, Harper, Ava
2018Grayson, Henry, LiamHarper, Emma, Olivia
2017Oliver, Owen, LincolnEmma, Olivia, Harper
2016Oliver, Liam, OwenEmma, Harper, Olivia
2015Oliver, Owen, LiamHarper, Emma, Olivia
2014Liam, Lincoln, LoganHarper, Ava, Olivia
2013Liam, Noah, CarterEmma, Harper, Olivia
2012Liam, Mason, JacobEmma, Harper, Sophia
2011Mason, Carter, WilliamAva, Emma, Olivia
2010Jacob, Mason, NoahSophia, Ava, Emma
2009Ethan, Noah, GavinEmma, Ava, Isabella
2008Jacob, Mason, NoahEmma, Olivia, Addison

Other Midwest states

Iowa · Illinois · Indiana · Kansas · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · North Dakota · Nebraska · Ohio · Wisconsin

All 50 states and DC

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular baby name in South Dakota?
For births registered in 2025, Oliver was the top boy's name (66) and Lainey was the top girl's name (50), according to Social Security card applications filed for South Dakota births.
Where does this South Dakota data come from?
The Social Security Administration publishes a state-specific file of names taken from Social Security card applications. It covers 2008 onward in the range shown here and is public domain.
Why are some names missing from the South Dakota list?
SSA withholds any name with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state and year. That is a privacy rule, not a gap in the records, so a missing name means "fewer than 5", never zero.
Do these counts include every baby born in South Dakota?
They include births with a Social Security card application that lists South Dakota as the state of birth. Names are counted as written on the application, so spelling variants are counted separately.
How often is the South Dakota ranking updated?
SSA releases the previous year's data annually, usually in the first half of the following year. Past years do not change once published.

U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) - Popular Baby Names (state-specific) · Names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state and year are withheld by SSA.