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Scarlett

♀ Girl

Pronounced SKAR-let /ˈskɑːr.lɪt/High

Meaning: Scarlet; bright red; a fine cloth of scarlet colorHigh

In 30 seconds: From Old French for the bright red color, Scarlett was a surname before Margaret Mitchell immortalized it in Gone with the Wind (1936), launching it as a given name.
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Origin HighOld French, English
MeaningScarlet; bright red; a fine cloth of scarlet color
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 58,977

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201619372017

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

History & Origin

Scarlett derives from the Old French word escarlate (from Medieval Latin scarlatum), referring originally to a type of fine, bright red cloth. It became an English occupational surname for cloth traders or dyers before transitioning to a given name.

As a given name, Scarlett was virtually unknown before Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind, featuring the fiery protagonist Scarlett O'Hara, later portrayed by Vivien Leigh in the 1939 film. The name remained uncommon until the 1990s, then surged, entering the U.S. top 20 by the 2010s.

Did you know? Scarlett O'Hara, the heroine of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind (1936), was originally to be named Pansy before Mitchell changed it to the more vivid Scarlett — a choice that became iconic.

Variations

ScarletScarlette

Nicknames

ScarLettie

Famous Bearers

  • ★Scarlett O'Hara (fictional)
    Protagonist of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind (1936), portrayed by Vivien Leigh in the 1939 film.
  • ★Scarlett Johansson (1984–)
    American actress, known for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Marriage Story.

If you like Scarlett…

Violet— shares the color-name heritage with vintage charm
Ruby— another jewel/color name with the same vivid boldness
Aurora— equally vibrant and romantic multi-syllable girls' name
Stella— shares the same bold, warm single-emphasis style
Eleanor— shares the literary association and classic elegance

Frequently Asked

What does the name Scarlett mean?

Scarlett comes from an Old French word for a fine bright red cloth, making it a color name associated with vibrancy and passion.

How do you pronounce Scarlett?

Scarlett is said SKAR-let /ˈskɑːr.lɪt/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Scarlett a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Scarlett?

Scarlett entered the U.S. top 20 girls' names around 2013 and has remained there, boosted by the enduring fame of Scarlett O'Hara and actress Scarlett Johansson.