Sally

♀ Girl

Pronounced SAL-ee /ˈsæl.i/High

Meaning: Princess; English pet form of Sarah, from Hebrew sarah (princess, noblewoman)High

In 30 seconds: An English pet form of Sarah meaning 'princess,' like Sadie and Sara all from the Hebrew. It peaked in the 1940s–1950s and is now firmly vintage — with the same quiet charm as Betty, June, and Dorothy.

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Origin HighHebrew, English

MeaningPrincess; English pet form of Sarah, from Hebrew sarah (princess, noblewoman)

U.S. rank (2025)#1158 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births201 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1947

Total births (all-time)≈ 205,227

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

Sally is an English diminutive of Sarah, from the Hebrew sarah (princess, noblewoman, one who rules). The path from Sarah to Sally went through Middle English: Sarah → Sal → Sally, a rhyming nickname pattern common in medieval English (Mary/Molly, Margaret/Peggy).

Sally was in the U.S. top 20 from the 1930s through the 1950s and has declined steadily since. It ranked #1098 for girls in 2024. Its association with astronaut Sally Ride gives it an inspiring modern dimension.

Did you know? Sally Ride (1951–2012) was the first American woman in space (1983) and the third woman in space overall — her name is now synonymous with space exploration and female firsts in American history.

Overall data confidence 94%

Behind the Name — Sally — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

SalliSallie

Nicknames

Sal

Famous Bearers

★Sally Ride (1951–2012)
American astronaut and physicist, the first American woman in space (1983) aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.

If you like Sally…

Sarah— the parent name from which Sally derives

Sadie— another English pet form of Sarah in the same vintage tier

Polly— rhyming mid-century pet name from the same era

Molly— pet form of Mary from the same rhyming nickname tradition

Nellie— vintage -ie name from the same early-20th-century generation

Explore names like Sally

By themeenglish hebrew vintage diminutive mid-century princess

By meaningRoyal / Noble

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Sally mean?

Sally means 'princess,' as an English pet form of Sarah, from Hebrew sarah (princess, noblewoman).

How do you pronounce Sally?

It's said SAL-ee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Sally a boy or girl name?

Sally is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Sally?

Sally ranked #1098 for U.S. girls in 2024.