Looking for girl names starting with S?
From classic Sarah to trending Stevie, there’s no shortage of appealing possibilities. After all, the letter S ranks fourth for girls’ names, behind A, E, and M.
Part of that popularity is the one-two punch of Sophia and Sofia, among the most popular names for girls around the world. Now Sophie has also joined the US Top 100, making it even more of a dominant sound.
But S names can be distinctive and different, too. This letter gives us everything from surnames Sutton and Sloane to vintage delights like Sadie and Susanna.
One S name to watch? Simone. Following the staggering achievements of Simone Biles in 2021 – she’s the most decorated American gymnast of all time – it could prove inspiring to parents.
MOST POPULAR GIRL NAMES STARTING WITH S
SOPHIA (#5)
Sophia sounds traditional, and maybe it is – the name has been around for ages. But it’s far more popular in 2021 than it was in 1920 – or at any previous point. A flowing sound combined with a great meaning – wisdom – make Sophia a favorite for our daughters.
SOFIA (#17)
Add up all the girls named Sophia and Sofia, and this name rivals #1 Olivia in terms of popularity. But Sofia, the preferred spelling in Spanish as well as Italian and many Slavic and Scandinavian languages, comes in about a dozen spots behind the ‘ph’ version of the name.
SCARLETT (#21)
A colorful choice that started out as a surname for someone who dyed or sold fabric, Scarlett brings to mind two women: Gone With the Wind’s Scarlett O’Hara and Hollywood A-lister Scarlett Johansson. The first convinces us that the name has a long history of use; the second makes us see it as twenty-first century ready.
STELLA (#42)
The Latin word for star, Stella directs our gaze towards the heavens. Or wait, is that Hollywood? Cinematic history includes Marlon Brando bellowing “Stella!” in A Streetcar Named Desire. Stella fits with all the Ella-Bella names we’ve loved in recent years.
SKYLAR (#63)
A simplified form of Dutch surname name Schuyler, this spelling fits with our love of last-names-first. But it also feels a little bit like a nature name, thanks to the first syllable sky.
SAVANNAH (#67)
Ages before we embraced place names for our children, Savannah Smiles became a modestly successful 1982 movie. Suddenly, Savannah went from sometimes-heard to the Top 1000. It hasn’t slowed down much since, remaining in the Top 100 from 1993 onward.
SERENITY (#70)
A meaning-rich word name, Serenity succeeds because it shares the same three-syllable, ends-with-y structure of so many girls’ names, from traditional Emily and Dorothy to surnames Kimberly and Kennedy to old school virtue picks like Felicity and Verity.
SOPHIE (#75)
The French form of Sophia also makes the Top 100 – and lately, it’s the version of the name climbing in use.
SADIE (#78)
A spunky, sassy nickname name that feels equal parts vintage and modern, Sadie was boosted – in a big way – by reality television’s Duck Dynasty. The series – and Sadie Robertson – have faded from the spotlight, but Sadie helped popularize a wave of nickname names.
SARAH (#87)
Classic, traditional Sarah stepped straight out of the Bible and on to birth certificates. It’s never left the US Top 1000 – in fact, only rarely has it left the Top 100.
SAMANTHA (#90)
A feminine form of classic Samuel, Samantha emerged many years later, probably in the 1700s. It remained rare, until a television character cast a spell on us all, in the 1960s supernatural sitcom Bewitched. The show also gets credit for launching Tabitha.
SUMMER (#149)
A warm and sunny seasonal name, Summer has gone from hippie chic to mainstream favorite.
SIENNA (#166)
A color name inspired by the reddish clay of the earth in Siena, Italy. Despite the single-N spelling of the place name, it’s Sienna that parents prefer in the US.
SLOANE (#181)
A sleek and tailored surname with ties to Princess Di, Ferris Bueller, and Entourage, Sloane has gone from rarity to mainstream favorite in recent years.
SARA (#183)
Sarah-with-an-h has always been more popular, but Sara-without-an-h is nearly as classic.
SAGE (#223)
A mix of nature name, colorful choice, and meaning-rich successor to Sophia, all in one compact, unisex package.
SAWYER (#238)
Tom Sawyer makes this an Americana storybook name. Sawyer fits right in with Harper and Sloane.
SELENA (#241)
Luna is the Roman goddess of the moon; Selena is her Greek equivalent. The late Mexican-American singer Selena put this name on parents’ radar; it skyrocketed following her tragic 1995 death and has remained in steady use since.
SYDNEY (#243)
Part-place name, part-borrowed-from-the-boys, Sydney could be a smash-hit now … except that it already peaked in the late 1990s.
SAYLOR (#308)
Saylor feels like a mix of surname-names Piper and Harper, and 90s favorite Taylor. Sailor – with an ‘i’ – doesn’t currently make the Top 1000 at all.
TRENDING GIRL NAMES STARTING WITH S
SCOUT (#874)
An adventurous name made literary by To Kill a Mockingbird’s Jean Louise “Scout” Finch.
SHAY (#928)
We tend to see this name as a phonetic take on Shea, but it might also be Hebrew in origin, too. It’s sleek and modern, without feeling invented.
STORMI (#951)
The birth of Kendall Jenner’s daughter made headlines when she chose this name. No matter you feel about the reality show royals, they do get some things about naming right.
SUTTON (#323)
A surname name boosted by likeable Broadway-turned-small screen actor Sutton Foster, of Bunheads and Younger fame.
STEVIE (#410)
Nickname-name Stevie brings to mind two women: iconic rock star Stevie Nicks, as well as popular sitcom Schitt’s Creek’s Stevie Budd. The latter likely explains the name’s recent boost, but Nicks – born Stephanie – makes it feel like a name we’ve always known could be used for a daughter.
SALEM (#607)
A Biblical place name, real Salems appear all over the map. The Massachusetts town, with its legendary witch trials, takes this name in a spooky direction. But maybe that’s not fair. Depending on the name’s origin, it might mean peace or safety, both positive meanings.
SEVYN (#761)
A number name with a twist, possibly influenced by singer Sevyn Streeter – born Amber. The number name conveys ideas about good fortune, but also spiritual ones tied to the seventh day of rest.
SARIAH (#844)
A lovely, flowing name, Sariah could appeal to many parents on style alone. But it’s also a name from the Book of Mormon, which might add to its popularity for some families.
SUNNY (#696)
Bright and warm, Sunny makes a casual and cheerful choice for a daughter. It’s a long weekend of a name, born on the beach. Comedian Adam Sandler has daughters named Sadie and Sunny.
SYLVIE (#776)
Take Sophia, mix in Ava and Ivy, and the logical conclusion is rising favorite Sylvie.
SAIGE (#595)
Sage-meets-Paige.
SAOIRSE (#741)
Actor Saoirse Ronan put her oh-so-Gaelic name on the map. Bonus? A fantastic meaning: freedom.
OVERLOOKED S NAMES FOR GIRLS
SABRINA (#389)
A name with poetic roots and ties to an iconic Audrey Hepburn role, Sabrina’s boost likely comes from Kiernan Shipka’s turn on Netflix’s fresh take on long-running character Sabrina.
SAMARA (#350)
A pretty alternative to Samantha, boosted by the villain in 2002 horror sensation The Ring.
SARAI (#472)
An older version of Sarah, far less common but every bit as wearable.
SASHA (#605)
Originally a nickname for Alexander or Alexandra, Sasha now stands on its own. Beyonce’s 2008 album I Am … Sasha Fierce gave the name a little lift.
SERENA (#421)
A tranquil name worn by a legendary athlete.
SHILOH (#454)
An Old Testament place name, rich with meaning, and derived from a word meaning peaceful.
SIERRA (#540)
From a Spanish word referring to a mountain range, Sierra sounds rugged and delicate, all at once.
SIMONE (#875)
A long-time name on the edges of the US rankings, Simone could soar. After all, Simone Biles’ career continues to flourish, making this a hero name.
SKYE (#467)
Along with Sky – and Skylar and Skyla – this sound is quite stylish for our daughters.
SYLVIA (#504)
How can Sylvie be trending, while the more popular Sylvia appears on the overlooked list? Easy. Sylvia has hovered in the US Top 1000 around the 500 mark for years, while Sylvie is a rising newcomer to the charts. That said, Sylvia could catch on for all the same reasons – and plenty of Sylvias might be Sylvies, too.
RARE GIRL NAMES STARTING WITH S
SALOME
We meet “the daughter of Herodias” in the New Testament. Tradition tells us she’s named Salome. Her mom puts her up to dancing for King Herod – and demanding the head of John the Baptist as reward. That’s given Salome a bad girl vibe, but there’s more than one side to her story.
SAPPHIRE
The blue gemstone fits in with color names, as well as more traditional picks like Ruby and Pearl.
SERAPHINA
Fiery Seraphina comes from a Late Latin name associated with a class of six-winged angels. It sounds a little bit like Sarah mixed with Josephine, and it also brings to mind to many elaborate girl names we love, from Alexandra to Isabella.
SHEA
An Irish import, Shea might signal that the parents are baseball fans. That’s because of legendary Shea Stadium, long-time home to the New York Mets. It’s named for Bill Shea, who brought baseball back to New York, and was heavily involved in professional sports in the region.
SICILY
A place name that feels every bit as wearable as Roman or Siena.
SOLANA
A Spanish place name, it refers to somewhere “exposed to the sun,” from the Latin solanum. It’s a lovely, sun-drenched image, and an appealing mix of modern Sol and traditional Ana, too.
SOLEIL
The French word for sun, Soleil is pronounced soh-lay … maybe a little bit of a challenge, but only a little. It’s summery and meaningful, a bright name with an upbeat, sophisticated sound.
SORAYA
A Persian name, Soraya refers to the Pleiades constellation. It also brings to mind Princess Soraya, wife of the Shah of Iran in the twentieth century. Their marriage ended in divorce in the 1950s; Soraya remained internationally famous throughout her life.
SUNDAY
A calendar name in the key of Summer, Sunday feels spiritual and meaningful – and very rare.
SUSANNA
Surprising, but true – Susanna hasn’t appeared in the US Top 1000 for years. Susannah-with-an-h is even rarer. But this traditional, lyrical girls’ name could wear well today.
What are your favorite girl names starting with S?
This post was first published on June 1, 2020. It was revised and updated on October 10, 2020 and again on June 14, 2021.
I have always been drawn to girls’ names beginning with S. I have a daughter called Susanna and granddaughters named Sarah and Sophia (often called Sophie).
My favourite S names are Sunny, Sylvie, Scout & Skye!
My favourites from the post: Serenity, Soleil and Solana (never heard of Solana before… I think it sounds divine❤)
And may I add Sojourner, Seren, Sophronia, Siofra and Severine?
I would also like to add my longtime, personal favorite: Selma. My husband nixed it for our daughter because he said it seemed old and outdated, but for me, it represents strength and beauty. As a black female it represents a place o and time of hope and I think that is something we all need right now.
Selma is lovely … and yes, richly meaningful for a daughter born today.
Savine. I first heard it in a Joe Abercrombie novel I read recently.
Sabine is one of the top contenders for our baby due this month.
My sister in law is a Susannah in her 20s. I’d never guess the name o be so rare. I had a little baby doll when I was a girl named Sarah…
I love Sunny, Sylvie, Soleil… and now adding Sutton to my list!
Sofie has long been a favourite of mine, but I wouldn’t use it because of the popularity of Sophia/Sofia. I’ve known sooooooooo many little Sophias over the past 10 years. Stunning name though, and a lovely meaning.
I think Serenity is a beautiful choice, but my personal “S” favorites are: Sabrina and Scarlett.
I think Saoirse is gorgeous, but I would be worried about the issue of constantly correcting pronunciation and spelling.
My favourite S name is Serena! I really enjoyed this post, there are lots of lovely ones.