Declining since 2015, #509 for girls today.
Popularity of Scarlet since 1939
Babies named Scarlet per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 6 |
| 1940s | 216 |
| 1950s | 348 |
| 1960s | 609 |
| 1970s | 536 |
| 1980s | 493 |
| 1990s | 704 |
| 2000s | 2,616 |
| 2010s | 8,196 |
| 2020s | 3,985 |
Meaning & origin
Scarlet first appeared on U.S. birth records in 1939, but it took decades to gain traction. Its peak year was 2019, when the name reached its highest rank. Since 2015, however, its popularity has been declining: in 2025, it ranked 509th with a rate of 1 in 2,766 births. The name has been most popular in Nevada, Kentucky, and Oregon. Scarlet belongs to a cluster of vivid color names that also includes Ruby and Violet, and its spelling variant Scarlett is more common. Despite the recent downturn, Scarlet remains a recognizable and evocative choice.
Scarlet comes from the Old French 'escarlate,' which referred to a high-quality woolen cloth often dyed bright red. The word entered English as a color term in the Middle Ages. As a given name, it emerged in the 20th century, influenced by the vivid hue and literary associations such as the heroine in Margaret Mitchell's 'Gone with the Wind' (1936).
Where Scarlet 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: Scar, Lettie, Scarly
Sibling names for Scarlet
Names that share Scarlet's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Scarlet
Names whose popularity has moved with Scarlet's over the last 50 years.
