Savannah? Sienna? Sage? Sasha? Here are some popular and unusual names that begin with the letter S.

The letter S is a very common first letter of girls' names. According to the U.S. Social Security Baby Name Index, three of the top 20 names in 2006 began with the letter S-- Sophia, Samantha, and Sarah-- and dozens of other S names were present in the top 1000. If you're looking for a popular, classic, or uncommon name that begins with the letter S, here are some beautiful choices.

Popular & Trendy Names That Start With S

• Sophia/Sofia. Like other old-fashioned names (such as Olivia and Isabella), Sophia has recently been plucked out of obscurity to join the top 10 baby names, at #9 in 2006. Sofia wasn't far behind, at #56. Sophie, which is a very popular name in Great Britain, is also gaining popularity and has climbed to #125. Derived from the Greek, these names have a beautiful meaning-- "wisdom."
• Samantha. Samantha's been on the Top 10 since 1988, and since it has a classic sound that doesn't feel trendy, it probably will be around for awhile. With the built-in nicknames Sam and Sammy (and the less common Mantha), this name has versatility. Samantha comes from an Hebrew expression that means "God heard."
• Sarah/Sara. Other than Mary, Sarah is by far the most enduring and timeless baby name for girls. In 2006, Sarah was at #15, and Sara was at #72. The name translates simply to "princess." An interesting alternative is Sarai, which was the Biblical Sarah's original name.
• Savannah. Perhaps piggy-backing off the success of Samantha, this Southern place name ranked at #30 in 2006. Savanna is also a popular spelling.
• Sydney. As a place name and an androgynous name, it's no wonder that Sydney is trendy--at #34 in 2006.
• Stephanie. This female variation of Steven is kind of a falling star that was hot in the 1970s and 1980s, but it's still commonly used at #70. Stephanie comes from a Greek name that means "crown or garland."
• Sadie. Sadie's a rising star that's risen out of granny obscurity to #157-- and climbing. Parents may see this as a nice alternative to Sarah, as it's derived from that name.
• Sienna & Sierra. Sienna's in. It's recently climbed form the bottom of the charts to #177. Sierra is out. Trendy a decade ago, it's down to #141, and falling fast. Neither of these trendy names seem like they're going to be around for long. A similar name that's also climbing the charts is Serenity.

Classic Baby Girl Names That Begin With S

• Susan & Suzanne. These Baby Boomer stars were popular until about the 1980s and then nosedived down the charts. Pity, as they're great classic names. These names come from the Hebrew name Shoshanna (a pretty choice for parents seeking a unique Hebrew name), which means "lily."
• Sharon. Sharon screams 1953 and isn't used much anymore, but it's a classic that will never sound truly dated. Like Susan, Sharon comes from a Hebrew expression that means "fertile plain."
• Sonia/Sonya/Sonja. These names have a strong international flavor, and sound classy without being pretentious. They're derived from the same source as Sophia and mean "wisdom."
• Shirley & Sheila. These pre-Baby Boom classics probably aren't coming back soon. Shirley and Sheila are playing bridge at a Boca Raton retirement community, but unlike their bridge partners Sophie and Sadie, their names aren't back in vogue.

Unusual Baby Girl Names that Start With S

• Sasha. Traditionally a masculine nickname for Alexander, this playful name with a Slavic sound seems like it should be more trendy than it is-- so snatch it up before everyone else finds it.
• Sabrina. Of disputed origin, this pretty Italian name became better known in America after Charlie's Angels. If you're looking for a less common alternative to Samantha or Savannah, look no further.
• Shayna. If you're Jewish, you're probably familar with the Yiddish term "sheine maidele," which means "pretty girl."
• Shay, Shayla, & Shaylee. If you're looking for a fresher alternative to the Kayla-Kaylee-Bailey-Hailey trend, these names haven't charged to the top of the charts-- although don't be surprised if they do.
• Stella. Stella's slowly becoming a bit more popular, probably thanks to the rise of Ella, but it hasn't reached trendy status yet. Stella comes from a Latin expression that means "star" (as in "stellar").
• Siobhan. This classic Irish name is pronounced shi-VON, and is typically spelled phoenetically by American parents as Shivonne or Shivon. The name was fairly popular among African Americans in the 1970s. The name is derived from a French name that means "God's grace."
• Summer. Way too cheerful, or sunny and sweet? You decide. Summer's one of those names that's always a little popular but never trendy.
• Skylar, Skye, & Skyla. Skylar's the most popular of the these three names, possibly due to Minnie Driver's character in Good Will Hunting.
• Sage. Looking for a chic, one-syllable alternative to Paige, Brooke, or Claire? Sage is looming low on the popularity charts, ready to be discovered. Sage is also a great middle name, as it's short and sweet.

See also:

Baby Names That Begin With C

Baby Names That Begin With R