Sally
Sally is a girl's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Princess, lady, or noblewoman.
Origin and history
Sally originated as an English diminutive of Sarah, which derives from the Hebrew name meaning princess or noblewoman. It developed into an independent given name by the 18th century and became a classic choice in the United States. Although its peak popularity was in the mid-20th century, it remains a familiar traditional name.
Popularity in the United States
205,229 babies in the United States have been named Sally since 1880. It ranks #198 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1116.
States where it is most popular
- NY (9.1 %)
- CA (8.7 %)
- PA (7.5 %)
- MI (7 %)
- OH (6.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,010 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,668 |
| 1900-1910 | 3,294 |
| 1910-1920 | 9,301 |
| 1920-1930 | 13,472 |
| 1930-1940 | 34,680 |
| 1940-1950 | 45,344 |
| 1950-1960 | 46,706 |
| 1960-1970 | 24,344 |
| 1970-1980 | 9,275 |
| 1980-1990 | 6,127 |
| 1990-2000 | 4,166 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,582 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,095 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,165 |
Famous people named Sally
- Sally Field: Actress, Director
- Sally Ride: Astronaut, Physicist
- Sally Hawkins: Actress
Nicknames
Sal
Fun facts
- Sally developed in English as a pet form of Sarah through the common sound exchange of 'r' for 'l', similar to how Molly came from Mary.
- Astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983.