Declining since 2000, #1,085 for girls today.
Popularity of Savanna since 1916
Babies named Savanna per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2006, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Savanna's real moment was 2000.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 7 |
| 1920s | 16 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 13 |
| 1960s | 18 |
| 1970s | 38 |
| 1980s | 2,057 |
| 1990s | 9,048 |
| 2000s | 13,036 |
| 2010s | 6,592 |
| 2020s | 2,149 |
Meaning & origin
Savanna debuted on U.S. naming records in 1916, but it remained very rare until the late 20th century. Its popularity surged through the 1990s and peaked in 2000, when it reached its highest rank. Since 2000, the name has been falling in usage, reflecting a broader shift away from nature-inspired names that were trendy in that era. In 2025, with a rank of 1,085 and an incidence of 1 in 7,240 girls, it is moderately uncommon. The states where Savanna has been most popular are Kansas, New Jersey, and Minnesota. The name is a direct borrowing of the landscape term, offering a modern and evocative feel without deep historical roots.
Savanna is a nature name derived directly from the English word for the grassy plains of tropical and subtropical regions. The word itself comes from the Spanish 'sabana,' which was borrowed from the Taíno language of the Caribbean, meaning 'open grassland' or 'treeless plain.' The name entered English use in the mid-20th century as part of the broader trend of adopting geographical and natural features as personal names.
Where Savanna 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: Sav, Anna, Vanna, Savi
Variants: Savannah
Sibling names for Savanna
Names that share Savanna's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Savanna
Names whose popularity has moved with Savanna's over the last 50 years.
