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Savannah

♀ Girl

Pronounced suh-VAN-uh /səˈvæn.ə/High

Meaning: Treeless plain; grassy flatland — from Spanish sabana, borrowed from Taíno zabanaHigh

In 30 seconds: A place name from Spanish via the Taíno language meaning 'treeless plain,' Savannah carries the languid, romantic charm of the Georgia city and has been a popular American girls' name since the 1990s.
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Origin HighSpanish, Taíno
MeaningTreeless plain; grassy flatland — from Spanish sabana, borrowed from Taíno zabana
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 164,852

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200018802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Savannah derives from the Spanish sabana, borrowed from the Taíno word zabana, meaning an open grassy plain without trees. The word entered English as both a geographic term and a city name.

As a given name Savannah surged in the United States in the early 1990s after the release of the film Forrest Gump, which featured scenes in Savannah, Georgia. It has been a top-50 girls' name since the 2000s.

Did you know? Savannah, Georgia, founded in 1733, was the first planned city in what became the United States — its famous grid of squares remains one of America's most beautiful urban designs.

Variations

SavannaSavana

Nicknames

VanVannaSavvy

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Savannah…

Brooklyn— American city-to-girls'-name with the same Southern/coastal charm
Georgia— Southern U.S. state name with the same romantic place-to-name feel
Aurora— three-syllable nature name with the same sweeping, warm imagery

Frequently Asked

What does the name Savannah mean?

Savannah comes from the Spanish sabana, borrowed from the Taíno zabana, meaning a large open grassy plain without trees.

How do you pronounce Savannah?

It is said suh-VAN-uh /səˈvæn.ə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Savannah a boy or girl name?

Savannah is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Savannah?

Savannah has been in the U.S. top 50 girls' names since the early 2000s.