Declining since 2006, #1,962 for girls today.
Popularity of Sahara since 1964
Babies named Sahara per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 93 |
| 1980s | 238 |
| 1990s | 744 |
| 2000s | 1,546 |
| 2010s | 1,347 |
| 2020s | 756 |
Meaning & origin
Sahara entered U.S. birth records in 1964 and saw a significant rise in popularity during the early 2000s, reaching its peak rank in 2006. Since then, its usage has been falling, but it remains a recognizable choice. In 2025, it ranks #1,962, with about 1 in 16,401 baby girls receiving the name. The name is most popular in North Carolina, Georgia, and Illinois. As a place-name derived from the Arabic word for desert, Sahara evokes a sense of vastness and natural beauty, appealing to parents drawn to geographical and nature-inspired names.
Sahara derives from the Arabic word ṣaḥrā' (صحراء), meaning 'desert' or 'wilderness'. It entered English as a geographical name for the vast North African desert, and later gained use as a given name, particularly for girls, from the late 20th century onward.
Where Sahara is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sari, Hara, Sah
Sibling names for Sahara
Names that share Sahara's style, for a brother or sister.
