Baby Names That Start With S, Girls and Boys
S is one of the most used starting letters in English speaking countries, covering everything from classic (Samuel, Sarah) to modern (Skylar, Sawyer) to internationally rooted names (Santiago, Sienna). This page gives a quick overview of both genders. For a deeper list, see girl names starting with S and boy names starting with S.
Popular S names right now
- Sophia / Sofia (Greek, meaning wisdom)
- Scarlett (English, from an occupational surname tied to scarlet colored cloth)
- Stella (Latin, meaning star)
- Sebastian (Greek, meaning from Sebaste, commonly read as venerable)
- Samuel (Hebrew, meaning God has heard)
- Santiago (Spanish, meaning Saint James)
- Silas (Greek/Latin roots, commonly read as meaning of the forest)
- Sawyer (English, an occupational surname meaning one who saws wood)
Quick facts
| Common origins | Greek, Hebrew, English, Spanish |
| Common meaning themes | wisdom, star, hearing/listening |
| Note | Sophia has held a top-5 spot for girls in US Social Security Administration rankings for over a decade |
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular baby name starting with S?
Sophia has been consistently among the top girls’ names in the US for over a decade according to Social Security Administration data. For boys, Sebastian and Samuel are both currently strong choices.
Are there gender neutral S names?
Skylar and Sawyer are both used across genders, though usage currently leans toward one side depending on the country and year.
Related reading
Full girl list: girl names starting with S. Full boy list: boy names starting with S. Browse other letters: baby names hub (in progress).