Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Sharon
GirlHebrew· “plain; from the Plain of Sharon”
- Meaning
- plain; from the Plain of Sharon
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- SHEHR-uhn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,256
- US babies 2025
- 179
- Best rank
- #8 (1943)
- Peak year
- 1947
Meaning and origin of Sharon
Sharon is a Hebrew name that means “plain; from the Plain of Sharon”.
Sharon comes from the Hebrew name of a fertile coastal plain in Israel, often understood as meaning plain. In the Song of Songs the beloved says, I am the rose of Sharon, and the phrase rose of Sharon later became the name of a flowering shrub. Sharon was used as a given name by English Puritans and became very popular in the mid twentieth century in English-speaking countries. It is also a common name in Israel. Sharon has a friendly, familiar feel, and Shari and Shay are possible nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Sharron.
Popularity over time
Sharon first appears in US Social Security records in 1900. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 92 different years, starting in 1925. Its best national rank was #8 in 1943, and the most babies received it in 1947, when 28,533 were named Sharon. In 2025, 179 babies were named Sharon, and it ranked #1,256 nationally. That is 35% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,541 in 1920, #11 in 1950, #129 in 1980, #421 in 2000, #802 in 2010, and #1,256 in 2025. Of the 723,024 US girls named Sharon since records began, 32% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 221,237 babies. Since 2010, 3,975 more have been named Sharon.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Nancy, Carol, Sandra, Judy, and Carolyn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sharon ranked highest in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | #689 | 7 |
| Pennsylvania | #807 | 12 |
| Virginia | #835 | 9 |
| New Jersey | #1019 | 7 |
| Ohio | #1118 | 8 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 98% of US babies named Sharon over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Sharon is usually pronounced SHEHR-uhn, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with S and ends in “-on”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Sharron.
Middle names for Sharon
A few middle names that flow with Sharon: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sharon
Similar names
Shannon Unisex
SHA-nuhn
“from the River Shannon” · Irish
#2,405
Afton Girl
AF-tuhn
“from the Scottish river Afton” · Scottish
#3,519
Payton Girl
PAY-tuhn
“from an English place name” · Old English
#440
London Girl
LUHN-duhn
“from the name of the English capital” · English
#431
Leighton Unisex
LAY-tuhn
“leek enclosure or herb garden” · English
#342
Marion Unisex
MEH-ree-uhn
“diminutive of Marie” · French
#2,044
Eden Girl
EE-duhn
“delight” · Hebrew
#70
Jordyn Girl
JAWR-duhn
“to flow down” · American (modern coinage)
#371
Shiloh Unisex
SHY-loh
“possibly tranquil; biblical place name” · Hebrew
#281
Salem Unisex
SAY-luhm
“peace” · Hebrew
#436
Belen Girl
beh-LEHN
“Bethlehem” · Spanish
#785
Susan Girl
SOO-zuhn
“lily” · English
#1,091
Lists that include Sharon
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sharon mean?
Sharon is a Hebrew name that means “plain; from the Plain of Sharon”.
What is the origin of the name Sharon?
Sharon has Hebrew roots. Sharon comes from the Hebrew name of a fertile coastal plain in Israel, often understood as meaning plain.
Is Sharon a popular name?
Not especially. Sharon ranked #1,256 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sharon a boy or girl name?
Sharon is mainly a girl's name. About 98% of US babies named Sharon over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Sharon?
Sharon is usually pronounced SHEHR-uhn. 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