Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sierra
GirlSpanish· “mountain range”
- Meaning
- mountain range
- Origin
- Spanish
- Pronunciation
- see-AIR-uh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #616
- US babies 2025
- 476
- Best rank
- #49 (1999)
- Peak year
- 1998
Meaning and origin of Sierra
Sierra is a Spanish name that means “mountain range”.
Sierra is the Spanish word for a mountain range, from the Latin serra, meaning "saw," because a jagged ridge of peaks resembles a saw blade. The name brings to mind the Sierra Nevada of California and Spain, and it became a popular girls' name in the United States in the late twentieth century as nature and landscape names grew fashionable. Sierra is also the letter S in the international radio alphabet, which adds a crisp, practical note. The name has a flowing sound and an outdoorsy, free-spirited character, and it is easy to spell and pronounce.
Popularity over time
Sierra first appears in US Social Security records in 1940. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 48 different years, starting in 1978. Its best national rank was #49 in 1999, and the most babies received it in 1998, when 5,841 were named Sierra. In 2025, 476 babies were named Sierra, and it ranked #616 nationally. That is 40% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #6,000 in 1950, #850 in 1980, #53 in 2000, #214 in 2010, and #616 in 2025. Of the 100,597 US girls named Sierra since records began, 43% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 34,534 babies. Since 2010, 12,513 more have been named Sierra.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Sabrina, Madeline, Gabrielle, Bailey, and Autumn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sierra ranked highest in New Mexico, South Dakota, and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | #215 | 8 |
| South Dakota | #230 | 6 |
| California | #260 | 129 |
| Nevada | #287 | 10 |
| Idaho | #347 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Sierra is usually pronounced see-AIR-uh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with S and ends in “-ra”.
Middle names for Sierra
A few middle names that flow with Sierra: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sierra
Similar names
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Lists that include Sierra
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sierra mean?
Sierra is a Spanish name that means “mountain range”.
What is the origin of the name Sierra?
Sierra has Spanish roots. Sierra is the Spanish word for a mountain range, from the Latin serra, meaning "saw," because a jagged ridge of peaks resembles a saw blade.
Is Sierra a popular name?
Yes. Sierra ranked #616 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Sierra a boy or girl name?
Sierra is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Sierra?
Sierra is usually pronounced see-AIR-uh. 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