Sky
UnisexEnglish, Old Norse· “sky”
- Meaning
- sky
- Origin
- English, Old Norse
- Pronunciation
- SKY
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #949
- US babies 2025
- 272
- Best rank
- #712 (2021)
- Peak year
- 2021
Meaning and origin of Sky
Sky is an English and Old Norse name that means “sky”.
Sky comes straight from the English word for the heavens, which was borrowed in the Middle Ages from the Old Norse sky, meaning "cloud." The older English word for the sky was heaven. As a given name, Sky belongs to the family of nature names that became popular from the late twentieth century, used for both boys and girls. It suggests open space, freedom and calm, and it is one of the simplest names to spell and pronounce. The variant Skye also refers to the Scottish island of Skye. Sky works well as a first or middle name.
Other spellings with the same sound: Skye.
Popularity over time
Sky first appears in US Social Security records in 1958. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 24 different years, starting in 1999. Its best national rank was #712 in 2021, the same year it reached its highest count of 405 babies. In 2025, 272 babies were named Sky, and it ranked #949 nationally. That is 26% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,989 in 1980, #993 in 2000, #999 in 2010, and #949 in 2025. Of the 9,743 US girls named Sky since records began, 33% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 2,491 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Bellamy, Scout, Khari, Layne, and Finnley.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sky ranked highest in Utah, Connecticut, and Georgia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #534 | 8 |
| Connecticut | #536 | 6 |
| Georgia | #577 | 19 |
| Louisiana | #670 | 7 |
| Florida | #690 | 25 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Sky is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 77% of US babies named Sky were girls and 23% were boys.
Sky is usually pronounced SKY, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with S and ends in “-ky”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Skye.
Middle names for Sky
A few middle names that flow with Sky: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sky
Similar names
Lists that include Sky
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sky mean?
Sky is an English and Old Norse name that means “sky”.
What is the origin of the name Sky?
Sky has English and Old Norse roots. Sky comes straight from the English word for the heavens, which was borrowed in the Middle Ages from the Old Norse sky, meaning "cloud." The older English word for the sky was heaven.
Is Sky a popular name?
Yes. Sky ranked #949 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Sky a boy or girl name?
Sky is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 77% of US babies named Sky were girls and 23% were boys.
How do you pronounce Sky?
Sky is usually pronounced SKY. 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