Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Sawyer
UnisexEnglish· “one who saws wood”
- Meaning
- one who saws wood
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- SAW-yur
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #122
- US babies 2025
- 2,941
- Best rank
- #94 (2015)
- Peak year
- 2015
Meaning and origin of Sawyer
Sawyer is an English name that means “one who saws wood”.
Sawyer is an English occupational surname for someone who sawed wood, from Middle English sawier. Mark Twain gave it literary fame through The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, published in the eighteen-seventies, whose clever, mischievous hero has become an American icon. As a first name Sawyer follows the trend of trade names such as Cooper and Carter. It is used for both boys and girls, with a warm, adventurous feel. The name needs no nickname, and its soft ending pairs easily with many surnames.
Popularity over time
Sawyer first appears in US Social Security records in 1913. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 35 different years, starting in 1991. Its best national rank was #94 in 2015, the same year it reached its highest count of 4,272 babies. In 2025, 2,941 babies were named Sawyer, and it ranked #122 nationally. That is 31% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #461 in 2000, #173 in 2010, and #122 in 2025. Of the 65,838 US boys named Sawyer since records began, 52% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 17,914 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Quinn, Parker, Riley, and Avery.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sawyer ranked highest in West Virginia, Maine, and Vermont.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | #18 | 48 |
| Maine | #27 | 31 |
| Vermont | #32 | 12 |
| Montana | #33 | 27 |
| Mississippi | #38 | 51 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Sawyer is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 23% of US babies named Sawyer were girls and 77% were boys.
Sawyer is usually pronounced SAW-yur, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with S and ends in “-er”.
Middle names for Sawyer
A few middle names that flow with Sawyer: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sawyer
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Lists that include Sawyer
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sawyer mean?
Sawyer is an English name that means “one who saws wood”.
What is the origin of the name Sawyer?
Sawyer has English roots. Sawyer is an English occupational surname for someone who sawed wood, from Middle English sawier.
Is Sawyer a popular name?
Yes. Sawyer ranked #122 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Sawyer a boy or girl name?
Sawyer is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 23% of US babies named Sawyer were girls and 77% were boys.
How do you pronounce Sawyer?
Sawyer is usually pronounced SAW-yur. 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