Sabas

♂ Boy

Pronounced SAH-bahs /ˈsɑː.bɑs/Medium

Meaning: From Greek Sabbas, a name usually traced to an Aramaic root meaning 'old man; elder' (and sometimes linked to a word for conversion). It was carried by Saint Sabbas the Sanctified, a fifth-century monk of Cappadocia, and reached Spanish and Italian usage through the church calendar.Low

In 30 seconds: An old saint's name with a Mediterranean warmth: Sabas is traced to an Aramaic word for 'elder' (said 'SAH-bahs').

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Origin MediumGreek, Spanish, Aramaic

MeaningFrom Greek Sabbas, a name usually traced to an Aramaic root meaning 'old man; elder' (and sometimes linked to a word for conversion). It was carried by Saint Sabbas the Sanctified, a fifth-century monk of Cappadocia, and reached Spanish and Italian usage through the church calendar.

U.S. rank (2024)#13814 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1930

Total births (all-time)≈ 739

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Sabas is the Spanish form of Greek Sabbas, a name generally traced to Aramaic saba, 'old man; elder'. Its fame rests on Saint Sabbas the Sanctified (439-532), a Cappadocian monk whose monastery, Mar Saba, still stands in the Judean desert. Through the calendar of saints the name entered Spanish, Italian and Greek naming (said 'SAH-bahs').

It appears only rarely in the U.S., mostly as a heritage name. Rare, saintly, and old.

Did you know? Saint Sabbas the Sanctified founded a desert monastery near Jerusalem in the fifth century that is still lived in today — one of the oldest continuously inhabited monasteries in the world. His name travelled from Greek into Spanish as Sabas.

Overall data confidence 50%

References — Sabas — Greek Sabbas; Aramaic 'elder'; Saint Sabbas the Sanctified

Variations

SabbasSavasSaba

Nicknames

SabSaba

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Sabas…

Tobias— a like biblical-era name with the -as ending

Elias— a like old saint's name in Spanish use

Matias— shares the Spanish -as sound

Lucas— a like two-beat name from the early church

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sabas mean?

Sabas comes from Greek Sabbas, generally traced to an Aramaic word for 'old man; elder'. The exact root is debated, which we note.

How do you pronounce Sabas?

It's said SAH-bahs /ˈsɑː.bɑs/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Sabas a boy or girl name?

Sabas is a boy's name.

How popular is Sabas?

Sabas is a rare name for boys in the U.S.