Baby names starting with S
107 names beginning with S, each with an editorial meaning and origin note and its real popularity rank from the 2025 U.S. Social Security Administration data. Rank is U.S.-only and reflects how records are grouped in that source.
- Sabrina the Latin name of the River Severn in Britain, and of the legendary maiden said to have drowned in it in Geoffrey of Monmouth's history
- Sadie pet form of Sarah, from Hebrew Sarah = 'princess, noblewoman'
- Safa from Arabic 'safa' = purity, clarity; also Al-Safa, one of the two hills in Mecca walked between during the pilgrimage
- Sage from the herb, Latin 'salvia' from 'salvus' = safe, well, for its healing use; also read as the English word for a wise person
- Saige modern respelling of Sage, from Old French 'sauge' = the herb sage; the English word 'sage' = wise comes separately from Latin 'sapere' = to be wise
- Sailor English occupational word name, one who sails, from Old English 'segl' = sail
- Saint English word name, from Latin 'sanctus' = holy, consecrated
- Salem from Hebrew 'shalem', of the same root as 'shalom' = peace; an old name for Jerusalem, and the Massachusetts town named after it
- Sally medieval English diminutive of Sarah, from Hebrew Sarah = 'princess, noblewoman'
- Salvador Spanish 'salvador' = saviour, from Latin 'salvare' = to save; a devotional name for Christ
- Sam short form of Samuel, from Hebrew Shemu'el = 'God has heard' / 'name of God'
- Sama Arabic 'sama' = sky, heaven
- Samantha an 18th-century American coinage, most likely a feminine built on Samuel with the ending of Anthea; Samuel from Hebrew = 'God has heard'
- Samara origin debated - variously the Russian city on the Volga, a name linked to the Semitic root sh-m-r 'to guard', or the Latin botanical term 'samara' = a winged seed
- Samir Arabic 'samir' = a companion in evening conversation, one who talks through the night; a separate Sanskrit Samir means wind, breeze
- Samira Arabic feminine of Samir, a companion in evening conversation
- Samson from Hebrew Shimshon, built on 'shemesh' = sun
- Samuel from Hebrew Shemu'el, read either as 'name of God' or as 'God has heard', from 'shama' = to hear; the biblical account plays on the second
- Sandra Italian short form of Alessandra (Alexandra), from Greek 'alexein' = to defend + 'aner', stem 'andr-' = man
- Saniyah from Arabic 'saniyya' = brilliant, splendid, exalted, the feminine of 'sani'
- Santana Spanish surname from the contracted form of Santa Ana = Saint Anne; Anne is from Hebrew Hannah = 'grace, favour'
- Santi Spanish short form of Santiago, from Sant Iago = 'Saint James'
- Santiago Spanish, a contraction of Sant Yago = 'Saint James'; the shrine city of Santiago de Compostela carries it, and James goes back to Hebrew Ya'aqov
- Santino Italian diminutive of Santo, from Latin 'sanctus' = holy
- Santos Spanish and Portuguese 'santos' = saints, from Latin 'sanctus' = holy; originally given for the feast of All Saints
- Sapphire English gem name, from Greek 'sappheiros' = blue stone, via Latin 'sapphirus'; probably borrowed into Greek from a Semitic source
- Sara spelling of Sarah usual in Spanish, Italian and Arabic use, from Hebrew = 'princess, noblewoman'
- Sarah from Hebrew Sarah = 'princess, noblewoman'
- Sarai Hebrew Saray, the earlier name of Sarah, usually read as 'my princess'
- Sariyah modern American name in the -iyah pattern, an elaboration of Sara/Sarah, from Hebrew Sarah = 'princess, noblewoman'
- Sasha Russian pet form of Alexander and Alexandra, from Greek 'alexein' = to defend + 'andros' = man
- Saul from Hebrew Sha'ul = 'asked for, prayed for'
- Savanna variant of Savannah, from the English word 'savanna' = open grassy plain, from Taino 'zabana' by way of Spanish 'sabana'
- Savannah from the word for open grassland, taken into English through Spanish 'sabana' from a Taino word; also the Georgia city and river
- Sawyer occupational surname for a man who saws timber, from Middle English 'sawier'
- Saylor transferred surname, usually an Americanized spelling of German 'Seiler' = rope-maker; also read as the English word sailor
- Scarlet from the rich cloth called scarlet, Old French 'escarlate'; the English colour word came from the fabric rather than the other way round
- Scarlett occupational surname for a dealer in scarlet, a rich cloth, from Old French 'escarlate'; fixed in modern use by Gone with the Wind (1936)
- Scarlette modern respelling of Scarlett, from an English occupational surname for a dyer or seller of scarlet cloth, from Old French 'escarlate'
- Scott surname meaning 'a Scot', from Late Latin Scotti, first the Gaelic-speaking people of Ireland and later of Scotland
- Scottie pet form of Scott, from a surname meaning 'a Scot', from Late Latin Scotti, originally the Gaelic-speaking people of Ireland and later of Scotland
- Sean Irish form of John, taken in through the French Jean; ultimately Hebrew Yochanan = 'Yahweh is gracious'
- Sebastian from Latin Sebastianus = 'man of Sebaste', a city in Asia Minor whose name is Greek 'sebastos' = venerable, august
- Selah from Hebrew 'selah', a word appearing in the Psalms and in Habakkuk, probably a musical or liturgical direction; its exact sense is uncertain
- Selena Latin form of Greek Selene, the moon and its goddess, from 'selas' = light, brightness
- Selene Greek Selene, the moon and its goddess, from 'selas' = light, brightness
- Selina variant of Celina, either from Greek 'selene' = moon or from the Latin Caelina, from 'caelum' = heaven
- Semaj modern American coinage: James spelled backwards; James itself goes back to Hebrew Ya'aqov (Jacob)
- Serafina Italian and Spanish form of Seraphina, from the Hebrew 'seraphim', the fiery six-winged angels, from a root meaning to burn
- Seraphina from Latin Seraphinus, from the seraphim, the highest order of angels; the Hebrew root 'saraph' means to burn
- Serena Latin 'serena' = calm, clear, untroubled
- Serenity from the English word, Latin 'serenus' = clear, calm, untroubled
- Sergio Italian and Spanish form of the Roman family name Sergius, of Etruscan origin and unknown sense
- Seth from Hebrew Shet, explained in Genesis by 'shat' = to set, to appoint
- Seven English number name, from Old English 'seofon' = seven; a number long carrying symbolic weight in the Bible and in folklore
- Sevyn modern American respelling of the English word 'seven'
- Shane anglicized spelling of Sean, the Irish form of John, from Hebrew Yochanan = 'Yahweh is gracious'
- Shawn anglicized respelling of Sean, the Irish form of John
- Shay from the Irish surname O Seaghdha, from a personal name read as 'hawk-like' or 'stately'; also a short form of Shayla and Shannon
- Shea from the Irish surname O Seaghdha, from a personal name read as 'hawk-like' or 'stately'
- Shelby transferred English surname from a place name, from Old Norse 'selja' = willow (or a personal name) + 'byr' = farm, settlement
- Shepherd transferred English occupational surname, from Old English 'sceaphierde' = sheep-herder
- Shiloh from Hebrew Shiloh, the sanctuary town of early Israel; the word itself is obscure, often read as 'tranquil' and taken by some as a title in a disputed prophecy
- Shivansh Sanskrit compound of Shiva, the god, + 'amsha' = part, portion; 'a part of Shiva'
- Siena from the Tuscan city of Siena, whose name is traced to the Gaulish Senones; the reddish-brown pigment sienna is named after it
- Sienna from the Italian city of Siena, by way of sienna, the reddish-brown earth pigment named after it
- Sierra Spanish 'sierra' = mountain range, literally 'saw', from Latin 'serra'
- Silas Greek short form of Silvanus, from Latin 'silva' = wood, forest; also treated as a Greek form of Saul
- Silvia from Latin 'silva' = wood, forest; Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus in Roman legend
- Simon from Hebrew Shim'on = 'he has heard'; in Greek it merged with an existing name from 'simos' = snub-nosed
- Sincere English word name, from Latin 'sincerus' = pure, whole, genuine
- Skye from the Isle of Skye, whose Gaelic name is of debated sense and often read as the winged isle; reinforced in English by the word sky
- Skylar respelling of the Dutch surname Schuyler, from 'schuiler' = one who takes shelter, a scholar; reinterpreted in America under the pull of the word sky
- Skyler respelling of the Dutch surname Schuyler, from 'schuiler' = one who takes shelter, a scholar
- Slade transferred English surname, from Old English 'slaed' = valley, dell; a name for someone who lived in a hollow
- Slater transferred English occupational surname, for a roofer who worked in slate
- Sloane from the Irish surname O Sluaghadhain, from 'sluagh' = host, army; 'raider, warrior'
- Sofia spelling of Sophia usual in Spanish, Italian, Scandinavian and Slavic use, from Greek 'sophia' = wisdom
- Sol from Spanish and Latin 'sol' = sun; in Spanish use also from the Marian title Maria del Sol
- Solana Spanish 'solana' = sunny place, from Latin 'sol' = sun
- Soleil French 'soleil' = sun, from Latin 'sol'
- Solomon from Hebrew Shelomoh, built on 'shalom' = peace
- Sonny English pet name from the word son, used as an affectionate term of address
- Sophia from Greek 'sophia' = wisdom
- Sophie French form of Sophia, from Greek 'sophia' = wisdom
- Soren Danish form of Latin Severinus, from 'severus' = stern, serious
- Spencer occupational surname from Old French 'despensier' = one who dispenses provisions, the keeper of a household's stores
- Steele transferred English surname, from Old English 'stiele' = steel, a byname for someone hard or dependable
- Stella Latin 'stella' = star; put into English by Sir Philip Sidney's sonnet sequence Astrophil and Stella
- Stephanie French feminine of Stephen, from Greek 'stephanos' = crown, wreath
- Stephen from Greek Stephanos = crown, wreath, garland
- Sterling either from the English word for standard silver, itself of debated origin, or from a surname taken from the Scottish city of Stirling
- Stetson transferred surname of uncertain origin; familiar in America from the broad-brimmed hat made by the Philadelphia hatter John B. Stetson
- Steven English spelling of Stephen, from Greek 'stephanos' = crown, wreath; borne by the first Christian martyr
- Stevie pet form of Stephen and Stephanie, from Greek 'stephanos' = crown, wreath
- Sullivan from the Irish surname O Suileabhain, from 'suil' = eye plus a disputed second element, giving readings such as dark-eyed or one-eyed
- Sultan Arabic 'sultan' = power, authority; used as a title for a ruler
- Summer from the season, Old English 'sumor'
- Sunnie modern respelling of Sunny, from the English word 'sun'; 'bright, cheerful'
- Sunny English word name, from 'sunny' = full of sunshine, cheerful; from Old English 'sunne' = sun
- Sutton transferred surname from an English place name, from Old English 'suth' = south + 'tun' = settlement; 'south farmstead'
- Sydney variant of Sidney, a transferred English surname; either from Old English 'sid' = wide + 'eg' = island, water-meadow, or a contraction of the Norman place name Saint-Denis; root debated
- Syed from Arabic 'sayyid' = lord, master; used as a title for descendants of the Prophet Muhammad
- Sylas variant spelling of Silas, from Latin Silvanus, from 'silva' = wood, forest; in the New Testament possibly a Greek rendering of Hebrew Sha'ul (Saul)
- Sylvia from Latin 'silva' = wood, forest; in Roman legend Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus
- Sylvie French form of Silvia, from Latin 'silva' = wood, forest
- Syncere modern American respelling of the English word 'sincere', from Latin 'sincerus' = pure, genuine
Only names carrying a meaning note are listed here. Popularity-only records exist for many more spellings and are reachable through the full directory search.
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