Rising since 1985, #1,057 for girls today.
Popularity of Sapphire since 1979
Babies named Sapphire per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 198 |
| 1990s | 878 |
| 2000s | 944 |
| 2010s | 1,529 |
| 2020s | 1,494 |
Meaning & origin
Sapphire entered the U.S. naming lexicon in 1979, a latecomer compared to other gemstone names like Ruby or Pearl. Its modern ascent is striking: ranked 1057th in 2025 with a 1-in-6898 frequency, the name has been climbing steadily since 1985, and its peak year in 2022 shows its growing appeal. The most enthusiastic states for Sapphire are Louisiana, New York, and North Carolina, indicating a broad geographical spread. This gemstone name fits well with the contemporary trend of using precious stone names for girls, offering a vivid and rare choice.
Sapphire is a modern English name taken directly from the gemstone, which itself comes from the Greek 'sappheiros' meaning a blue precious stone, possibly of Semitic origin. The name has been used sporadically since the 1970s, with a notable increase in popularity in the 21st century, reflecting the broader trend of gemstone names.
Where Sapphire 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.
“Sapphire” around the world
Where Sapphire lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
New Zealand
12
babies in 2025
Sources: NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Sibling names for Sapphire
Names that share Sapphire's style, for a brother or sister.
