Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sable
GirlEnglish, Slavic· “black; the fur-bearing animal”
- Meaning
- black; the fur-bearing animal
- Origin
- English, Slavic
- Pronunciation
- SAY-bul
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,717
- US babies 2025
- 64
- Best rank
- #902 (1986)
- Peak year
- 1986
Meaning and origin of Sable
Sable is an English and Slavic name that means “black; the fur-bearing animal”.
Sable comes from the name of a small mammal of northern Asia, the sable, prized for its dark fur. The word came into English through Old French from a Slavic source, as in the Russian sobol. In heraldry, sable is the name for the color black, and in poetry the word is used for dark or somber things. As a given name Sable has a sleek, modern sound and is used mainly for girls. It is said SAY-bul, two syllables with the stress on the first. The name fits with other color and texture names like Ebony and Velvet.
Popularity over time
Sable first appears in US Social Security records in 1923. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 1 different years, starting in 1986. Its best national rank was #902 in 1986, the same year it reached its highest count of 181 babies. In 2025, 64 babies were named Sable, and it ranked #2,717 nationally. That is 300% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #5,965 in 1950, #3,207 in 2000, #10,333 in 2010, and #2,717 in 2025. Of the 1,702 US girls named Sable since records began, 33% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 503 babies. Since 2010, 372 more have been named Sable.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Porsche, Cherelle, Shaquita, Meggan, and Lakendra.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sable ranked highest in Florida and Texas.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 96% of US babies named Sable over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Sable is usually pronounced SAY-bul, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with S and ends in “-le”.
Middle names for Sable
A few middle names that flow with Sable: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sable
Similar names
Mable Girl
MAY-bul
“variant of Mabel; lovable” · English
#2,450
Amber Girl
AM-ber
“amber, fossil resin” · English
#520
Scarlette Girl
SKAHR-luht
“bright red” · English
#1,180
Rachelle Girl
ruh-SHEHL
“variant of Rachel, 'ewe'” · French
#3,375
Rochelle Girl
roh-SHEHL
“little rock (French)” · French
#4,646
Rubie Girl
ROO-bee
“variant of Ruby, red gemstone” · English
#4,051
Scarlett Girl
SKAR-liht
“red; seller of scarlet cloth” · English
#32
Hazel Girl
HAY-zuhl
“hazel tree” · English
#21
Ruby Girl
ROO-bee
“red gemstone” · Latin
#64
Nicole Girl
nih-KOHL
“victory of the people” · French
#383
Michelle Girl
mih-SHEHL
“who is like God?” · French
#465
Giselle Girl
jih-ZEL
“pledge” · French
#382
Lists that include Sable
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sable mean?
Sable is an English and Slavic name that means “black; the fur-bearing animal”.
What is the origin of the name Sable?
Sable has English and Slavic roots. Sable comes from the name of a small mammal of northern Asia, the sable, prized for its dark fur.
Is Sable a popular name?
Not especially. Sable ranked #2,717 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sable a boy or girl name?
Sable is mainly a girl's name. About 96% of US babies named Sable over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Sable?
Sable is usually pronounced SAY-bul. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings