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Sierra

♀ Girl

Pronounced see-AIR-ah /siˈɛr.ə/High

Meaning: From Spanish sierra meaning 'mountain range' or 'jagged ridge,' derived from Latin serra ('saw'), describing the saw-toothed profile of a mountain range when viewed from a distanceHigh

In 30 seconds: Sierra means 'mountain range' in Spanish — the jagged saw-toothed peaks of the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada. Bold, natural, and perfectly American, it peaked in the 1990s.
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Origin HighSpanish
MeaningFrom Spanish sierra meaning 'mountain range' or 'jagged ridge,' derived from Latin serra ('saw'), describing the saw-toothed profile of a mountain range when viewed from a distance
U.S. rank (2025)#616 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births476 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1998
Total births (all-time)≈ 100,587

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199819402025

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

History & Origin

Sierra is the Spanish word for a mountain range, from Latin serra ('saw'), describing the jagged, saw-toothed silhouette of peaks. The word entered American English through Spanish place names, most prominently the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. As a given name, Sierra was first used in the American West, where the mountain range provided inspiration.

Sierra rose to popularity in the 1980s and peaked in the U.S. top 50 in the 1990s, driven by a fashion for Western and nature-inspired names. It has been in steady use since and remains among the most recognizable American nature-names for girls. The Sierra Club association gives it an environmental resonance.

Did you know? The Sierra Nevada — 'snowy mountain range' in Spanish — is the range that sheltered California's gold rush and inspired the founders of the Sierra Club in 1892, making Sierra a name embedded in American conservation history.
Overall data confidence 97%
Behind the Name — Sierra — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CiaraSiennaSera

Nicknames

SiSisi

Famous Bearers

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If you like Sierra…

Savannah— Spanish-derived American landscape name with the same natural, Western character
Montana— American mountain-state name with the same bold, rugged nature-name feel
Skye— Scottish landscape name with the same open, elemental, sky-and-mountain character
Aspen— American nature name evoking Colorado mountain beauty with the same outdoorsy appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Sierra mean?

Sierra is Spanish for 'mountain range,' from Latin serra (saw), describing the jagged saw-toothed profile of mountain peaks.

How do you pronounce Sierra?

It is said see-AIR-ah — three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Sierra a boy or girl name?

Sierra is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Sierra?

Sierra ranked in the U.S. top 50 in the 1990s and has remained in the top 200–300 girls' names through the 2000s–2020s.