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Home › Baby Names Directory › Savannah

Savannah

♀ Girl

Pronounced suh-VAN-uh /səˈvæn.ə/High

Meaning: Treeless plain; grassy flatland — from Spanish sabana, borrowed from Taíno zabanaHigh

In 30 seconds: A place name from Spanish via the Taíno language meaning 'treeless plain,' Savannah carries the languid, romantic charm of the Georgia city and has been a popular American girls' name since the 1990s.
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Origin HighSpanish, Taíno
MeaningTreeless plain; grassy flatland — from Spanish sabana, borrowed from Taíno zabana
U.S. rank (2025)#135 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births2,141 girls (0.13% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 191,471

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200018802025

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

Savannah derives from the Spanish sabana, borrowed from the Taíno word zabana, meaning an open grassy plain without trees. The word entered English as both a geographic term and a city name.

As a given name Savannah surged in the United States in the early 1990s after the release of the film Forrest Gump, which featured scenes in Savannah, Georgia. It has been a top-50 girls' name since the 2000s.

Did you know? Savannah, Georgia, founded in 1733, was the first planned city in what became the United States — its famous grid of squares remains one of America's most beautiful urban designs.

Variations

SavannaSavana

Nicknames

VanVannaSavvy

Famous Bearers

  • ★Savannah Guthrie (1971-)
    American journalist and co-anchor of NBC's Today
  • ★Savannah Chrisley (1997-)
    American television personality

If you like Savannah…

Brooklyn— American city-to-girls'-name with the same Southern/coastal charm
Georgia— Southern U.S. state name with the same romantic place-to-name feel
Aurora— three-syllable nature name with the same sweeping, warm imagery
Maleah— shares Savannah's Spanish roots
Savanna— shares Savannah's Spanish roots

Frequently Asked

What does the name Savannah mean?

Savannah comes from the Spanish sabana, borrowed from the Taíno zabana, meaning a large open grassy plain without trees.

How do you pronounce Savannah?

It is said suh-VAN-uh /səˈvæn.ə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Savannah a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Savannah?

Savannah has been in the U.S. top 50 girls' names since the early 2000s.

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