Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sade
GirlYoruba· “short form of Folasade, 'honor confers a crown'”
- Meaning
- short form of Folasade, 'honor confers a crown'
- Origin
- Yoruba
- Pronunciation
- shah-DAY
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #2,058
- US babies 2025
- 92
- Best rank
- #213 (1986)
- Peak year
- 1986
Meaning and origin of Sade
Sade is a Yoruba name that is usually said to mean “short form of Folasade, 'honor confers a crown'”.
Sade is usually understood as a short form of the Yoruba name Folasade, meaning honor confers a crown. Yoruba names often carry full phrases, and shortened forms like this are common in Nigeria and among Yoruba families elsewhere. The name became internationally known through the Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu, whose band also carries the name. In English it is typically pronounced shah-DAY. The name is sometimes confused in writing with the French surname Sade, which is unrelated.
Popularity over time
Sade first appears in US Social Security records in 1985. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 16 different years, starting in 1985. Its best national rank was #213 in 1986, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,245 babies. In 2025, 92 babies were named Sade, and it ranked #2,058 nationally. That is 33% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,045 in 2000, #1,815 in 2010, and #2,058 in 2025. Of the 9,981 US girls named Sade since records began, 35% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 3,295 babies. Since 2010, 1,298 more have been named Sade.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Taryn, Cara, Mayra, Christa, and Elyse.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sade ranked highest in Michigan, New York, and Georgia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | #1381 | 5 |
| New York | #1631 | 8 |
| Georgia | #1738 | 5 |
| California | #1924 | 11 |
| Texas | #2017 | 11 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 98% of US babies named Sade over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Sade is usually pronounced shah-DAY, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with S and ends in “-de”.
Middle names for Sade
A few middle names that flow with Sade: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sade
Similar names
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Lists that include Sade
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sade mean?
Sade is a Yoruba name that is usually said to mean “short form of Folasade, 'honor confers a crown'”.
What is the origin of the name Sade?
Sade has Yoruba roots. Sade is usually understood as a short form of the Yoruba name Folasade, meaning honor confers a crown.
Is Sade a popular name?
Not especially. Sade ranked #2,058 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sade a boy or girl name?
Sade is mainly a girl's name. About 98% of US babies named Sade over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Sade?
Sade is usually pronounced shah-DAY. 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