Sailor
Sailor was the 1134th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 206 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 1056th; the most babies were born in 2016 (245). Over the last ten years it has moved down 40 places. More babies were named Sailor in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Saylor) dancer, acrobat (surname) · Old French, English
- Rank in 2025
- #1,134 girls, down 47 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 206girls
- Girls and boys
- 83% girls, 17% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2016245 babies
- Total since 1880
- 4,290babies recorded
What does the name Sailor mean?
Sailor is a spelling of Saylor, pronounced the same way, so it shares Saylor's meaning and origin.
Saylor is an English surname. Wiktionary derives it from Old French sailleor, 'dancer, acrobat', and Wikipedia agrees that it may come from an occupational name for an acrobat. It is often taken for a spelling of sailor, which would be a different word. As a first name it is a recent American choice for both girls and boys, and Wikipedia lists several bearers, among them the actress Saylor Curda.
sailleor (Old French, “dancer, acrobat”)
How sure is this? Probable. The 'acrobat' derivation is given by both sources but tentatively by Wikipedia.
Other explanations you may read: Means 'sailor'.
Related names: Sailor, Sayler.
See also: English names, names from occupations.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Saylor', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Saylor', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Sailor popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,134 | #3,080 | 206 | 40 |
| 2020 | #1,087 | #3,122 | 225 | 37 |
| 2010 | #2,184 | #7,019 | 90 | 12 |
| 2000 | #3,208 | — | 43 | — |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Sailor, counting every spelling?
Sailor is a spelling of Saylor, a name family that ranked #207 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,134 for Sailor on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,677 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saylor | 1,415 | #217 | 6,757 |
| Sailor | 206 | #1,134 | 1,001 |
| Sayler | 48 | #3,290 | 256 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Sailor?
206 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Sailor (0.06 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Sailor born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 41 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Sailor.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Sailor?
About 3,600 people born in the US named Sailor are alive today, with a median age of 9; half are between 5 and 14. That makes Sailor a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Sailor by state
How common Sailor was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Utah (2.4×), Alabama (2.3×), North Carolina (2.2×), Washington (1.6×), Georgia (1.6×). In 24 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Sailor: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Sailor, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Sailor
What does Sailor mean?
Sailor is a spelling of Saylor, which means “dancer, acrobat (surname)” (Old French, English origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Sailor?
Sailor was the 1134th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 206 babies. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked 1056th; the most babies were born in 2016 (245). Over the last ten years it has moved down 40 places. More babies were named Sailor in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Sailor a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 83% girls, 17% boys given the name Sailor in the US.
Where is Sailor most popular?
In 2021–2025, Sailor was most common in Utah (0.30 per 1,000 girls), followed by Alabama and North Carolina.