Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sally
GirlEnglish, Hebrew· “princess”
- Meaning
- princess
- Origin
- English, Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- SA-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,158
- US babies 2025
- 201
- Best rank
- #52 (1939)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Sally
Sally is an English and Hebrew name that means “princess”.
Sally began as a diminutive of Sarah, from the Hebrew for "princess." In the Bible, Sarah is the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. Sally became an independent name in England by the eighteenth century and later spread widely in the English-speaking world. The astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, is a famous bearer. Sally has a cheerful, vintage sound and an easygoing warmth. It pairs well with longer middle names and needs no nickname.
Other spellings with the same sound: Sallie, Salley, Sallee.
Popularity over time
Sally has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 124 different years. Its best national rank was #52 in 1939, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 5,265 were named Sally. In 2025, 201 babies were named Sally, and it ranked #1,158 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #203 in 1920, #78 in 1950, #327 in 1980, #705 in 2000, #1,145 in 2010, and #1,158 in 2025. Of the 205,229 US girls named Sally since records began, 23% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 45,344 babies. Since 2010, 3,260 more have been named Sally.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Sue, Lynda, Rosemary, Joanne, and Dianne.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sally ranked highest in Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and North Carolina.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | #611 | 9 |
| Oklahoma | #613 | 7 |
| North Carolina | #769 | 13 |
| Alabama | #807 | 6 |
| Utah | #821 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Sally is usually pronounced SA-lee, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with S and ends in “-ly”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Sallie, Salley, and Sallee.
Middle names for Sally
A few middle names that flow with Sally: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sally
Similar names
Polly Girl
PAH-lee
“pet form of Mary via Molly” · English
#2,318
Dolly Girl
DAH-lee
“pet form of Dorothy, "gift of God"” · English
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Carly Girl
KAHR-lee
“free man” · English
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Susan Girl
SOO-zuhn
“lily” · English
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Ally Girl
A-lee
“pet form of Alison or Alexandra” · English
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Betty Girl
BEH-tee
“short for Elizabeth; my God is an oath” · English
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Ashly Girl
ASH-lee
“ash tree clearing” · American (modern coinage)
#1,273
Janice Girl
JA-nihs
“elaboration of Jane; God is gracious” · English
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Janie Girl
JAY-nee
“pet form of Jane; God is gracious” · English
#1,329
Nelly Girl
NEH-lee
“pet form of Eleanor, Helen or Ellen” · English
#1,294
Betsy Girl
BET-see
“my God is an oath (via Elizabeth)” · English
#2,724
Judy Girl
JOO-dee
“short for Judith, woman of Judea” · Hebrew
#1,874
Lists that include Sally
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sally mean?
Sally is an English and Hebrew name that means “princess”.
What is the origin of the name Sally?
Sally has English and Hebrew roots. Sally began as a diminutive of Sarah, from the Hebrew for "princess." In the Bible, Sarah is the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac.
Is Sally a popular name?
Not especially. Sally ranked #1,158 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sally a boy or girl name?
Sally is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Sally?
Sally is usually pronounced SA-lee. 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