Girl Names That Start with S

There are many beautiful and powerful baby girl names starting with “S” the world over. Whether you have a family tradition of picking girl names with “S” or you just like the sound, we’ve collected the best “S” girl names for you.

From biblical names and common names to unique and rare girls’ names, take a look through the “S” girl names to see if any of them inspire that special name you pick out for your little girl.

Popular Girl Names That Start With S

Sophia

Sophia is the most popular girl’s name starting with “S” in the United States.

The name, meaning “wisdom” in Greek, gained prominence during the Middle Ages among European royalty. Other variants like Sofia and Sophie also enjoy significant popularity. Iconic figures include Italian actress Sophia Loren.

Scarlett

Scarlett has English origins, originally associated with the trade and crafting of scarlet-colored cloth.

Some sources suggest it may derive from the Persian word saghrelat, a type of fabric. The name gained fame with Scarlett O’Hara from Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind. Modern popularity can also be credited to actress Scarlett Johansson.

Stella

The name Stella originates from the Latin word for “star.” It gained literary fame through Sir Philip Sidney’s sixteenth-century poetry with Astrophel and Stella.

Stella’s usage became widespread in the nineteenth century but saw renewed interest from Tennessee Williams’s play A Streetcar Named Desire.

Skylar

Skylar, also spelled Skyler, is a unisex name that started off as a boys’ name. It gained popularity for girls partly due to American soap opera The Young and the Restless.

The name also appeared in other media, such as Good Will Hunting and Breaking Bad, where it was the name of Walter White’s wife, Skyler White.

Serenity

Serenity is a name that conveys calmness and tranquility, derived from the Latin word serenus, which means “clear” or “calm.” Its pleasant sound and peaceful meaning make it a lovely option for a girl’s name.

Sadie

Sadie is a diminutive form of Sarah. This charming name has been shared by actresses like Sadie Frost and Sadie Sink. Its friendly sound and simple spelling add to its widespread appeal.

Sarah

Sarah is a biblical name that means “lady,” “princess,” or “noblewoman” in Hebrew.

She was the wife of Abraham in the Old Testament and is considered the matriarch of the Jewish people. The name remains popular today, with famous Sarahs including Sarah Bernhardt, Sarah Paulson, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Sarah Silverman.

Samantha

Samantha was intended as the feminine form of Samuel. It likely originated in America in the eighteenth century.

The name gained significant popularity in the 1960s, partly due to the television show Bewitched, and saw another resurgence with Sex and the City. Notable Samanthas include actress Samantha Morton and singer Samantha Fox.

Summer

Summer is a delightful name inspired by the warmest season of the year. It comes from the Old English word sumor. Actresses Summer Phoenix and Summer Glau have helped keep this name in the public eye.

Sienna

Sienna is derived from an Italian word meaning “orange-red,” and it is also the name of a historic city in Italy, famous for its reddish-brown clay. Actress Sienna Miller is perhaps the most well-known bearer of this name.

Unique Girl Names That Start With S

Sequoia

Sequoia is an uncommon name inspired by the grand trees found in California.

These trees were named after Sequoyah, a Cherokee scholar who created the Cherokee writing system in the 19th century.

Seraphina

Seraphina originates from the biblical term seraphim, meaning “fiery ones.”

Seraphim were a class of angels described by Isaiah in the Bible. This beautiful name has an angelic origin and a unique charm.

Samara

Samara is a rare name that may derive from either the city Samarra in Iraq or Samara in Russia. It gained popularity after appearing in the 2002 movie The Ring.

Saraid

Saraid is an Irish name that comes from an old word meaning “excellent.” In mythology, Saraid was the daughter of Conn of the Hundred Battles, the high king of Ireland.

Saturnina

Saturnina is the feminine form of Saturninus, derived from Saturn, the Roman god. This name carries a touch of ancient history and mythology.

Sawda

Sawda possibly comes from an Arabic word that means “palm-tree garden.”

Sawda was also the name of one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad.

Sayaka

Sayaka is a pretty Japanese name formed from the words sa (sand or silk), ya (also), and ka (fragrance).

The combination gives the name a sense of grace and beauty.

Seung

Seung is a name commonly used in Korea. Its meaning varies depending on the characters used, such as “rise,” “ascent,” “victory,” or “inherit.” This name has a strong and positive connotation.

Shahnaz

Shahnaz means “delight of the king” in Persian. It is used in Iran and among Arabic and Urdu speakers, giving it a royal and joyful vibe.

Shaima

Shaima likely means “beauty marks” in Arabic.

It was also the name of the daughter of Halima, the foster mother of the Prophet Muhammad, adding a touch of historical significance.

Biblical Girl Names That Start With S

Salome

Salome is an Aramaic name connected to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning “peace.”

In the New Testament, Salome is known for her Dance of the Seven Veils and also for being one of the women who discovered Jesus’s empty tomb. The name gained usage after the Protestant Reformation and remains popular in Georgia.

Sapphira

Sapphira derives from the Greek word for “sapphire.” She is a character in the Acts of the New Testament. The name evokes the beauty of the precious gemstone.

Sarai

Sarai means “my princess” in Hebrew. In the Old Testament, this was the original name of Sarah before God changed it.

Sherah

Sherah is the daughter of Ephraim in the Old Testament. The name means “kinswoman” in Hebrew and reflects familial connections.

Susanna

Susanna is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Shoshannah, which comes from shoshan, meaning “lily.”

The name appears in both the Old and New Testaments, associated with different characters.

Shiloh

Shiloh is an Old Testament place name that may mean “tranquil” in Hebrew. Today, it’s a unisex name and gained popularity with Shiloh Jolie-Pitt.

Shiphrah

Shiphrah means “beautiful” in Hebrew. She is an Old Testament midwife known for defying the pharaoh’s orders.

Shulammite

Shulammite comes from the Hebrew word for “peace” and appears in the Song of Songs in the Old Testament. The name suggests harmony and tranquility.

Syntyche

Syntyche originates from the Ancient Greek word syntychia, meaning “occurrence” or “event.” She is mentioned in Paul’s epistle to the Philippians in the New Testament.

Selah

Selah appears numerous times in the Old Testament’s book of Psalms. It is a Hebrew musical term that possibly indicates a musical pause.

Cool Girl Names That Start With S

Sabina

Sabina is the feminine form of the Roman name Sabinus, which relates to the ancient Sabine people from central Italy.

The Sabine women were known for helping make peace between the Romans and Sabines, and many saints have been named Sabina.

Sacagawea

Sacagawea is a cool indigenous American name that either means “bird woman” in the Hidatsa language or “boat puller” in the Shoshone language.

Shonda

Shonda might be an invented name combining Shawna and Rhonda, or it could have roots in Old French, meaning “stone.”

It’s especially cool due to American screenwriter and producer Shonda Rhimes.

Sappho

This Greek name comes from the Greek word sappheiros, meaning “sapphire.”

Sappho was a famous poet from the seventh century on the island of Lesbos.

Savannah

Savannah originates from the Taino word zabana, which means “large grassy plain.” It became a popular name in America in the nineteenth century.

Semele

In Greek mythology, Semele was loved by Zeus and was the mother of Dionysus.

The origin of the name is uncertain but may come from Phrygia, a region in modern-day Turkey.

September

Although September means “seventh month” in Latin, it actually refers to the ninth month. (It was originally the seventh month in the Roman calendar.)

This name is a cute choice for a girl born in September.

Sevan

This Armenian name is derived from the largest lake in Armenia. It might come from the Uratian word suinia, which means “lake.”

Shqipe

Shqipe means “eagle” in modern Albanian but could also mean “Albanian” in older Albanian or signify “to say clearly.”

Sumati

Sumati means “wise” or “good mind” in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Sumati is the second wife of King Sagara.

More Beautiful Girl Names That Start With S

Sabrina

Sabrina comes from Habren, the Welsh name for the River Severn.

Medieval chronicler Geoffrey of Monmouth said that Sabrina was a princess, and the river was named after her. The name gained popularity through pop culture, notably Samuel A. Taylor’s play Sabrina Fair, the movie Sabrina from the 1950s, and the teen drama Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Saraswati

Saraswati means “possessing water” in Sanskrit. It was the name of a Hindu river goddess linked to learning and the arts.

Selene

This name translates to “moon” in Greek and was the name of the moon goddess in Greek mythology.

Shahrzad

Shahrzad combines the Persian elements shahr (city) and azad (free) to mean “free city.”

The name gained fame from The 1001 Nights, where Shahrzad, also spelled Shahrazad or Scheherazade, was the main character who narrated stories for 1001 nights.

Shiori

This Japanese name can be gender-neutral and means various things based on the Kanji script.

Shi means poem and can be joined with ori to mean “weave.” Commonly, Shiori means “bookmark” for females or “lithe” or “bending” for males.

Simone

Simone, the French feminine form of Simon, is a chic and refined name. Notable bearer of the name is Simone de Beauvoir, a French writer, feminist, and philosopher.

Sunniva

Sunniva comes from the Old English name Sunngifu, which means “sun gift.”

Sayuri

Sayuri, known to Western audiences through Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha, means “small” and “lily” in Japanese.

Sophronia

This literary name comes from Late Greek as the feminine form of Sophronius, meaning “self-controlled” and “sensible.”

The poet Torquato Tasso included this name in his epic poem Jerusalem Delivered.

Soraya

Soraya is the Persian form of Thurayya, meaning “the Pleiades” in Arabic.

Princess Soraya, the last Shah of Iran’s wife, bore this name.

Cute and Pretty Girl Names That Start With S

Sadb

This name means “sweet” from the Old Irish word swādu.

Sadb was popular in medieval Ireland and also appears in Irish mythology, where a woman named Sadb transformed into a deer.

Saffron

Saffron has roots in the Middle East and comes from a Persian word meaning “gold leaves.”

It’s the name of a spice from the crocus flower. Actress Saffron Burrows is one of the known figures with this name.

Sakura

In Japanese, Sakura means “cherry blossom,” bringing to mind soft pink blossoms.

It’s a common name in Japan, with J-Pop stars like Sakura Miyawaki and Sakura Oda bearing it.

Sarolta

Pronounced “Shaw-rol-taw,” this Hungarian name may be a form of Charlotte or derive from the Old Hungarian name Saroldu.

It could mean “white weasel” or “ermine.”

Shania

Shania became well-known due to the country singer Shania Twain.

She chose it based on an Ojibwe phrase meaning “on my way.”

Shelby

Originally from an English surname, Shelby was mostly a masculine name until the main characters in the movies The Woman in Red and Steel Magnolias popularized it for girls.

Shirley

A surname with roots in a place, it meant “bright clearing” in Old English.

Used for both boys and girls, it became especially popular for girls because of Charlotte Brontë’s Shirley and child actress Shirley Temple.

Shelley

Derived from a place name meaning “clearing on a bank” in Old English, Shelley began as an English surname.

It became popular for girls’ names after the 1940s, with actress Shelley Duval being a notable example.

Sirje

An Estonian name likely stemming from the word sinisirje, meaning “blue feathered.”

This word is linked to a magical bird in the Estonian epic Kalevipoeg by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald.

It became a given name in the 1920s and also appeared in the opera Tasuleegid by Eugen Kapp.

Sunshine

If your little girl lights up your life, consider the name Sunshine.

It comes from Old English words meaning “sun” and “shine.”

Common Girl Names That Start With S

Sam

This one-syllable girl name is usually the shortened form of Samantha.

It can also be used for boys as a short form of Samuel or Samson. Famous Sams include director Sam Taylor-Johnson and singer Sam Brown.

Sally

Although Sally is a name in its own right, it began life as a diminutive of Sarah.

Sandra

Sandra is actually a short form of Alessandra and is most likely to have become a name known to the English-speaking world when George Meredith used it as the name of his heroine in the novel Emilia in England.

Actress Sandra Bullock is a famous example of the name.

Serena

This Late Latin name comes from the Latin word serenus, meaning “clear,” “tranquil,” or “serene.”

It featured in Edmund Spenser’s poem The Faerie Queene and was one of the names of the main characters in the TV show Gossip Girl.

Perhaps it’s most famous for tennis player Serena Williams.

Shannon

Shannon comes from the name of the longest river in Ireland, River Shannon.

Some say it could come from the name Sionann, a figure from Irish mythology. As a name, it’s probably known for the actresses Shannon Elizabeth and Shannon Doherty.

Sharon

Sharon comes from the Hebrew word meaning “plain,” referring to the fertile plain near the Israeli coast.

It’s also the name of a flowering plant, known as the rose of Sharon. Actresses Sharon Stone and Sharon Tate, and reality TV personality Sharon Osbourne, are famous examples of this name.

Stephanie

Stephanie is the feminine form of Stephen, which has roots in the Greek words for “crown” and “wealth.”

Silvia

This is the feminine form of Silivius, and it can be spelled in different ways, with Sylvia being another popular spelling.

It was most likely introduced to England by Shakespeare in his play The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Poet and writer Sylvia Plath is one of the famous bearers of this name.

Stacy

Stacy is a diminutive of Anastasia, but it could also come from Stace, a medieval form of Eustace.

It has mostly been a feminine name since the 1950s and can be spelled in different ways, like Stacey or Staci.

Susan

Susan is the English variant of Susanna and has been the most common spelling since the eighteenth century.

Famous Susans include actress Susan Sarandon and writer Susan Sontag.

Powerful Girl Names That Start With S

Salvatrice

Salvatrice is an Italian name derived from Salvatrix, the feminine form of Salvador. This name carries a strong and noble air.

Saoirse

This Irish name means “freedom” in Irish Gaelic. It was first used as a given name in the twentieth century. Actress Saoirse Ronan is a well-known bearer of this name.

Saskia

Saskia comes from the Germanic elements sahs, meaning “Saxon,” a Germanic tribe named after the word “knife.”

It’s a popular name in Germany and the Netherlands. Dutch painter Rembrandt’s wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh, shared this powerful name.

Savitri

This name means “relating to the sun” in Sanskrit.

It’s also the name of a hymn dedicated to the Hindu sun god, Savitr. In Hindu mythology, other characters like the wife of King Satyavan in the Mahabharata are named Savitri.

Scáthach

Meaning “shadowy” in Irish, Scáthach appears in Irish legend as a warrior woman who instructed the hero Cúchulainn in the arts of war.

Scout

Scout comes from the English word meaning “one who gathers information covertly.”

This name became popular due to Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

Sedna

Sedna comes from Inuit mythology. While its meaning is unknown, Sedna was the Inuit goddess of the sea, sea animals, and the underworld.

Semiramis

Semiramis is a Greek form of the ancient Assyrian name Shammuramat, meaning “high heaven.”

In Greek and Armenian sources, Semiramis was an Assyrian queen who conquered much of Asia. She’s a figure of legend but is possibly based on a real queen.

Shakti

Shakti means “power” in Sanskrit.

In Hinduism, it refers to the female counterpart of a god. Shakti, as a name, is the female counterpart of the god Shiva.

Sibyl

This name comes from the Greek word Sibylla, meaning “prophetess.”

In Greek legend, sibyls were female prophets based at holy sites of the ancient world.

Even Christian theologists considered their divine knowledge essential, placing them on par with Old Testament prophets.

The name was revived in England in the nineteenth century with Benjamin Disraeli’s novel Sybil.