Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Savanna
GirlSpanish, English· “grassy plain”
- Meaning
- grassy plain
- Origin
- Spanish, English
- Pronunciation
- suh-VA-nuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #1,090
- US babies 2025
- 222
- Best rank
- #210 (2000)
- Peak year
- 2006
Meaning and origin of Savanna
Savanna is a Spanish and English name that means “grassy plain”.
Savanna is taken from the word for a tropical grassland dotted with trees. English borrowed it from Spanish sabana, which came from a word in Taíno, a language of the Caribbean. The spelling Savannah is shared with the historic city in Georgia, while Savanna keeps closer to the geographical term. As a given name it became popular in the United States in the late twentieth century, fitting the taste for open, sunlit nature names. It has a relaxed Southern warmth, with Anna and Vanna as possible nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Savannah.
Popularity over time
Savanna first appears in US Social Security records in 1916. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 40 different years, starting in 1984. Its best national rank was #210 in 2000, and the most babies received it in 2006, when 1,502 were named Savanna. In 2025, 222 babies were named Savanna, and it ranked #1,090 nationally. That is 65% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #4,924 in 1980, #210 in 2000, #374 in 2010, and #1,090 in 2025. Of the 32,974 US girls named Savanna since records began, 40% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 9,048 babies. Since 2010, 8,741 more have been named Savanna.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Fatima, Jazmine, Julissa, Joselyn, and Kira.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Savanna ranked highest in New Jersey, Kansas, and Minnesota.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #564 | 14 |
| Kansas | #676 | 5 |
| Minnesota | #720 | 7 |
| Washington | #896 | 7 |
| Wisconsin | #908 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Savanna is usually pronounced suh-VA-nuh, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with S and ends in “-na”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Savannah.
Middle names for Savanna
A few middle names that flow with Savanna: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Savanna
Similar names
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krihs-TEE-nuh
“follower of Christ” · Spanish
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Katrina Girl
kuh-TREE-nuh
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Lorena Girl
loh-REH-nuh
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Savanah Girl
suh-VA-nuh
“form of Savannah; grassy plain” · English
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Johana Girl
joh-HAN-uh
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Susana Girl
soo-SAH-nuh
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Ariadna Girl
ah-ree-AHD-nah
“most holy (form of Ariadne)” · Spanish
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Malena Girl
muh-LAY-nuh
“blend of María and Elena, or Magdalena” · Spanish
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Divina Girl
dih-VEE-nuh
“divine” · Latin
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Ximena Girl
hee-MEH-nuh
“possibly from Simon, 'he has heard'” · Spanish
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Briana Girl
bree-AH-nuh
“possibly high, noble” · Irish
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Elaina Girl
ih-LAY-nuh
“form of Helen; often said to mean torch” · Greek
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Lists that include Savanna
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Savanna mean?
Savanna is a Spanish and English name that means “grassy plain”.
What is the origin of the name Savanna?
Savanna has Spanish and English roots. Savanna is taken from the word for a tropical grassland dotted with trees.
Is Savanna a popular name?
Not especially. Savanna ranked #1,090 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Savanna a boy or girl name?
Savanna is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Savanna?
Savanna is usually pronounced suh-VA-nuh. 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