Declining since 2011, #6,546 for girls today.
Popularity of Saffron since 1974
Babies named Saffron per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2006, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Saffron's real moment was 2012.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 66 |
| 2000s | 261 |
| 2010s | 250 |
| 2020s | 134 |
Meaning & origin
Saffron is a spice name that entered the American naming landscape in the mid-1970s, first recorded in 1974. Its popularity peaked in 2012 when it ranked 4,654th, but it has since declined in use. As of the latest data from 2023, the name ranked 6,546th, with roughly 1 in 94,545 newborns receiving it. The name has never been particularly common; it has not appeared in any top state lists. Its trajectory has been falling since 2011, reflecting a broader shift away from some of the more whimsical nature and spice names. Saffron remains a distinctive choice, appealing to parents looking for a name with a warm golden hue and a subtle exotic flavor.
Saffron was adopted as a given name in the late 20th century, directly from the English word for the spice. The spice's name itself traces back through Old French safran to Arabic za'faran, of uncertain ultimate origin. As a name, Saffron first appeared in the United States in 1974 and saw a rise in usage during the 1990s and 2000s, peaking in 2012 at its highest rank of 4,654. It is part of a trend of spice and color names such as Ginger and Amber.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Saffy, Ronnie
Sibling names for Saffron
Names that share Saffron's style, for a brother or sister.
