Sagan

♀ Girl

Pronounced SAY-gun /ˈseɪ.ɡən/High

Meaning: Sagan is a surname used as a given name, carried into modern use by astronomer Carl Sagan and by the French novelist Francoise Sagan (a pen name). The surname's own origin is unsettled. Used here for a girl, though it leans to boys.Low

In 30 seconds: A starry surname name: Sagan honors astronomer Carl Sagan (said 'SAY-gun'). More often a boy's name — we note the lean.

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningSagan is a surname used as a given name, carried into modern use by astronomer Carl Sagan and by the French novelist Francoise Sagan (a pen name). The surname's own origin is unsettled. Used here for a girl, though it leans to boys.

U.S. rank (2024)#13174 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1988

Total births (all-time)≈ 421

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

Sagan is a surname turned given name. Its rise owes almost everything to Carl Sagan (1934-1996), the astronomer and science communicator behind Cosmos; the French writer Francoise Sagan took the name as a pen name, lifting it from a Proust character. The surname's deeper origin is unsettled, which we note. As a first name it leans strongly to boys, and we flag that here (said 'SAY-gun').

For girls it appears only very rarely in the U.S. Rare, intellectual, and surname-cool.

Did you know? Sagan is a science name — a nod to Carl Sagan, who taught a generation to look up. Francoise Sagan, the French novelist, chose the name too, borrowing it from Proust.

Overall data confidence 36%

References — Sagan — Surname name; Carl Sagan; Francoise Sagan pen name; boy-lean

Variations

SagenSagannSegan

Nicknames

SageSagiGan

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Sagan…

Sage— the short form and a nature name

Logan— a like -gan surname sound

Reagan— a similar surname pick used for girls

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sagan mean?

Sagan is a surname used as a first name, best known from astronomer Carl Sagan. Its own origin is unsettled, which we note.

How do you pronounce Sagan?

It's said SAY-gun /ˈseɪ.ɡən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Sagan a boy or girl name?

Sagan is used here for a girl, but it leans strongly to boys in the U.S., which we note.

How popular is Sagan?

Sagan is very rare for girls in the U.S., and more often given to boys.