A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Sallie since 1880
Babies named Sallie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1916, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Sallie's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 4,840 |
| 1890s | 5,580 |
| 1900s | 5,306 |
| 1910s | 7,378 |
| 1920s | 7,309 |
| 1930s | 5,460 |
| 1940s | 5,128 |
| 1950s | 3,991 |
| 1960s | 2,284 |
| 1970s | 882 |
| 1980s | 659 |
| 1990s | 451 |
| 2000s | 319 |
| 2010s | 239 |
| 2020s | 135 |
Meaning & origin
Sallie is a vintage diminutive of Sarah that enjoyed its greatest popularity in the late 19th century. Its peak year was 1881, when it ranked among the top choices for girls. After a long decline, it has been rising again since 2010. Currently, it ranks 4265 (2025), with about 1 in 48705 newborns receiving the name. Sallie is most common in North Carolina, reflecting its enduring appeal in the American South. The name's gentle, homespun quality and its connection to the classic Sarah give it a sense of both familiarity and distinctiveness.
Sallie is a diminutive form of Sarah, which derives from the Hebrew word 'שרה' (sarah) meaning 'princess' or 'noblewoman'. The name Sarah appears in the Old Testament as the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. Sallie emerged as a pet form in the English-speaking world in the 18th century, alongside the spelling Sally. Its popularity peaked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in the American South.
Where Sallie is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sal
Sibling names for Sallie
Names that share Sallie's style, for a brother or sister.
