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Sparrow

♀ Girl

Pronounced SPAIR-oh /ˈspɛr.oʊ/High

Meaning: The small, common songbird; from Old English spearwa — emblem of the humble and divinely noticedHigh

In 30 seconds: The little bird nothing overlooks: Sparrow names the humble songbird scripture says God watches over. Tiny, tender, and quietly profound — with a pirate's swagger on the side.

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Origin HighEnglish

MeaningThe small, common songbird; from Old English spearwa — emblem of the humble and divinely noticed

U.S. rank (2025)#4157 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births35 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2017

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,003

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

Sparrow is the everyday songbird — Old English spearwa — long a symbol of the lowly and the divinely cared-for ('are not two sparrows sold for a penny?'). As a given name it belongs to the modern bird-name wave; Nicole Richie's daughter Sparrow (a son, in fact) and Jack Sparrow's swashbuckle both keep it visible.

It registers thinly for girls. Rare, humble, and watched-over.

Did you know? 'His eye is on the sparrow' — the gospel hymn drawn from Jesus's words that not one sparrow falls unnoticed — gives this small bird's name a vast tenderness.

Overall data confidence 90%

Oxford English Dictionary — sparrow — word etymology

Variations

SparowSparrowe

Nicknames

SparRow

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Sparrow…

Wren— the fellow tiny bird name for girls

Lark— a companion songbird word-name

Birdie— the affectionate bird-themed nickname-name

Winslow— lands in the same popularity range

Meadow— a fellow English choice

Explore names like Sparrow

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sparrow mean?

Sparrow is the small songbird, from Old English spearwa — an emblem of the humble and divinely noticed.

How do you pronounce Sparrow?

It's said SPAIR-oh /ˈspɛr.oʊ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Sparrow a boy or girl name?

Sparrow is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Sparrow?

Sparrow is a rare bird-name in the U.S.