Rising since 2005, #6,546 for girls today.
Popularity of Saga since 1996
Babies named Saga per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 31 |
| 2010s | 61 |
| 2020s | 81 |
Meaning & origin
Saga is a Scandinavian name rooted in Old Norse mythology, drawing from the goddess Sága, a figure associated with wisdom and storytelling. Its literal meaning is debated, often understood as 'seeing one' from the Old Norse 'sja' (to see) or simply 'story', reflecting the oral traditions of medieval Iceland. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1996 and has since grown in use, reaching a peak rank of 6,546 in 2025, with an estimated 1 in 94,545 girls receiving the name that year. Its trajectory has been steadily rising since 2005, a trend that continues into the 2020s, though it remains uncommon enough to have no top states of use. Saga typifies the modern embrace of concise, mythologically resonant names from Nordic heritage, carrying a literary and feminine but not frilly quality that fits alongside other short Scandinavian imports.
Saga is derived from the Old Norse word 'saga', meaning 'seeing one' or 'story'. In Norse mythology, Sága is a goddess associated with wisdom and storytelling, often identified with the goddess Frigg. The name has been used in Scandinavia since the 19th-century revival of Old Norse names and has gained international popularity in recent decades, particularly in Sweden and Norway.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Sága
Sibling names for Saga
Names that share Saga's style, for a brother or sister.
