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Sienna

♀ Girl

Pronounced see-EN-uh /siˈɛn.ə/High

Meaning: Orange-red earth pigment; named after the Italian city of Siena, known for its rich reddish-brown soilHigh

In 30 seconds: A warm, sun-drenched name evoking the terracotta hues of the Tuscan city of Siena. Sienna bursts with color and Italian flair, and has been a top-100 girls' name in several English-speaking countries since the 2000s.
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Origin HighItalian, English
MeaningOrange-red earth pigment; named after the Italian city of Siena, known for its rich reddish-brown soil
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 24,145

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200719602017

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

History & Origin

Sienna (also spelled Siena) is an English given name derived from the Italian city of Siena in Tuscany. The city's name comes from the Roman family Saena. The name became associated with the warm reddish-brown earth pigment known as 'sienna,' made from the clay-rich soil found in the region.

As a given name, Sienna emerged in English-speaking countries in the late 20th century, boosted by the fame of British actress Sienna Miller in the early 2000s. It entered the U.S. top 100 girls' names by the mid-2000s. It belongs to the same warm, color/place-name trend as Scarlett and Violet.

Did you know? Siena, Italy, is famous for its medieval brick architecture, which gives the city its characteristic warm red-brown color — the same pigment artists call 'raw sienna' and 'burnt sienna.'

Variations

SienaCienna

Nicknames

SiEnna

Famous Bearers

  • ★Sienna Miller (b. 1981)
    British-American actress and model, largely credited with popularizing the name in the 2000s.

If you like Sienna…

Scarlett— another vibrant color-inspired girls' name with a warm, rich feel
Violet— color-inspired classic with the same stylish, warm energy
Aurora— similarly luminous, three-syllable Italian-feel name

Frequently Asked

What does the name Sienna mean?

Sienna refers to the warm orange-red earth pigment and the Italian city of Siena in Tuscany, where the distinctive colored clay originates.

How do you pronounce Sienna?

Sienna is pronounced see-EN-uh /siˈɛn.ə/ — three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Sienna a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Sienna?

Sienna has been in the U.S. top 100 girls' names since the mid-2000s and remains popular in several English-speaking countries.