How popular is the baby name Sabra in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Sabra.

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Popularity of the baby name Sabra


Posts that mention the name Sabra

Baby names that re-emerged most impressively in the U.S. data, 1882 to today

young leaves

We know which names debuted most impressively in the U.S. baby name data, but what about the baby names that returned most impressively? That is, the names that re-emerged in the data (after an absence of at least one year) with the highest number of babies?

Below are the most popular re-emerging names for every single year on record, after the second.

Here’s the format: Girl names are on the left, boy names are on the right, and the numbers represent single-year usage (following an absence). In 1971, for instance, the girl name Devonia returned to the data with 22 babies, and the boy name Idris returned to the data with 21 babies.

  • 1882: Harry, 14; Saul, 15
  • 1883: Luna, 17; Anna, 20
  • 1884: Eulalia & Margaretta, 15; Billie, 18
  • 1885: Philomene, 13; Kirby & Lamar, 14
  • 1886: Ammie, Attie, Drusilla, Eulalia & Narcissus, 14; Emmit & Ivy, 15
  • 1887: Idell, 12; Benjaman, 13
  • 1888: Guadalupe, 18; Hunter, 16
  • 1889: Leonie, 21; Leander, 22
  • 1890: Delila, Hildegarde & Sabra, 17; Buford, Loyal & Pleasant, 13
  • 1891: Marvel, 15; Roswell, 20
  • 1892: Jennette, 16; Vernie, 15
  • 1893: Byrd & Corda, 16; Salvatore, 14
  • 1894: Mozelle, 15; Essie, 18
  • 1895: Consuelo, 16; Adelard, 16
  • 1896: Dorris, 17; Bertrand & Hilliard, 16
  • 1897: Coletta & Marilla, 13; Gale, Harve & Odell, 13
  • 1898: Vlasta, 16; Oakley, 16
  • 1899: Gwen & Velda, 15; Ivory, 14
  • 1900: Ammie, 21; Lonzo, 22
  • 1901: Alvera, 17; Ernesto, 11
  • 1902: Hermine, 17; Junious, 20
  • 1903: Genie, 17: Lesley, 17
  • 1904: Laurel & Santa, 16; Caesar, 15
  • 1905: Ellar, 15; Cicero & Quincy, 15
  • 1906: Osa, 18; Craig & Tracy, 16
  • 1907: Joanne, 19; Gale, 15
  • 1908: Merna, 18; Andres, 19
  • 1909: Aili, 22; Loy, 22
  • 1910: Corean, 21; Lou, 18
  • 1911: Aune, 17; Ozie, 17
  • 1912: Veryl, 21; Arvin, 21
  • 1913: Loise, 25; Magnus, 15
  • 1914: Rema, 23; Elio, 18
  • 1915: Alleyne & Cledith, 20; Reyes, 24
  • 1916: Ercelle & Fayette, 14; Pleas, 25
  • 1917: Lowell, Mazelle & Patria, 16; Woodruff, 18
  • 1918: Victory, 78; Everitt, 19
  • 1919: Lanell, 16; Olney, 21
  • 1920: Iline & Keitha, 18; Heath, 19
  • 1921: Gilberte & Jacklyn, 16; Donold, 16
  • 1922: Basilia & Glayds, 15; Jw, 17
  • 1923: Marvene, 18; Silvestre, 19
  • 1924: Willadeen, 35; Delno, 19
  • 1925: Noralee, 20; Primitivo, 16
  • 1926: Sondra, 20; Torao, 27
  • 1927: Elga & Lindy, 27; Shoji, 81
  • 1928: Remona, 22; Windle, 17
  • 1929: Darla, 19; Davy, 25
  • 1930: Evalene, 17; Anastasio, 17
  • 1931: Marilyne, 17; Meliton, 15
  • 1932: Maribelle & Wynne, 16; Jacqueline, 18
  • 1933: Sheryl, 24; Lanny, 24
  • 1934: Carolynne & Viona, 15; Filiberto, 20
  • 1935: Vanessa, 32; Kenley, 29
  • 1936: Ardene & Lucienne, 18; Domenico, 15
  • 1937: Nadeen, 19; Lavell, 19
  • 1938: Josette, 44; Bertil & Jerol, 18
  • 1939: Charmayne, 18; Wilborn, 15

(The Social Security Administration’s baby name data isn’t perfect, but it does get a lot more accurate starting in the late 1930s because, according to the SSA, “many people born before 1937 never applied for a Social Security card, so their names are not included in our data.”)

  • 1940: Wendell, 25; Wilkie, 61
  • 1941: Aloma, 47; Maximo, 16
  • 1942: Victory, 51; Corey, 27
  • 1943: Corliss, 44; Amando & Cheryl, 16
  • 1944: Drenda, 50; Ruperto, 16
  • 1945: Drena, 37; Arie, 16
  • 1946: Cherylene, 56; Cliffton, 17
  • 1947: Asenath, 32; Baltazar, 20
  • 1948: Valli, 45; Carley, 15
  • 1949: Lark, 66; Buel, Dennison & Nehemiah, 18
  • 1950: Jasmine, 24; Jory, 52
  • 1951: Vendetta, 48; Alfonzia, Clell, Rondy, Ulysee & Vander, 15
  • 1952: Whitney, 20; Adlai, 40
  • 1953: Lugene, 30; Kervin, 18
  • 1954: Jyl, 80; Rahn, 66
  • 1955: Danni, 49; Teri, 17
  • 1956: Kirsti & Skye, 29; Timonthy, 21
  • 1957: Tammara, 38; Creed, 20
  • 1958: Elfreda, 33; Yancy, 24
  • 1959: Torrie, 42; Kym, 41
  • 1960: Pollyanna, 21; Armon & Delray, 20
  • 1961: Marnita, 145; Cord, 45
  • 1962: Anetta & Colinda, 18; Buckley, 18
  • 1963: Michaelann, 30; Georgie & Jerrod, 19
  • 1964: Djuana, 190; Destry, 149
  • 1965: Virna, 38; Horatio, 17
  • 1966: Tamatha, 222; Trevin, 21
  • 1967: Millette, 68; Arnel, Keary, Ky & Ricco, 15
  • 1968: Neely, 40; Griffith, Kacy & Troyce, 16
  • 1969: Francelia, 23; Darrius, 18
  • 1970: Telisha & Zenja, 26; Germaine, 29
  • 1971: Devonia, 22; Idris, 21
  • 1972: Contina, 209; Keelan, 20
  • 1973: Shenika, 33; Bram, 19
  • 1974: Seandra, 31; Reuven, 18
  • 1975: Mandee, 74; Jermale, 19
  • 1976: Niya, 97; Askia, 21
  • 1977: Kizzie, 286; Kenta, 48
  • 1978: Kylene, 88; Kodi, 41
  • 1979: Ranada, 37; Emmet, 19
  • 1980: Hanni, 34; Lando, 25
  • 1981: Jennilee, 37; Tristen, 21
  • 1982: Terran, 27; Ryne, 31
  • 1983: Yomaira, 45; Drue, 16
  • 1984: Leonela, 46; Catlin, 57
  • 1985: Sharda, 70; Justn, 23
  • 1986: Faren, 85; Adison, 21
  • 1987: Conchetta, 42; Najee, 50
  • 1988: Brogan, 36; Nikko, 59
  • 1989: Kyara, 65; Rishawn, 42
  • 1990: Tichina, 25; Telvin, 47
  • 1991: Bronte, 48; Dilon, 21
  • 1992: Oneisha, 39; Levonte, 32
  • 1993: Amairany, 41; Adonnis, 23
  • 1994: Marimar, 101; Corliss, 22
  • 1995: Shatasha, 26; Tryston, 42
  • 1996: Karrington, 34; Tysheem, 20
  • 1997: Neyda, 35; Voshon, 32
  • 1998: Arrion, 29; Amere, 29
  • 1999: Karyme, 40; Neo, 24
  • 2000: Laisa, 36; Perrion, 41
  • 2001: Torrance, 40; Andrik, 46
  • 2002: Naydelin, 58; Bode, 131
  • 2003: Princesa, 70; Anden, 41
  • 2004: Jenascia, 70; Cabot, 29
  • 2005: Jolette, 258; Greco, 40
  • 2006: Akeelah, 403; Corde, 51
  • 2007: Ambrielle, 46; Osmel, 29
  • 2008: Allysson, 61; Rohaan, 18
  • 2009: Ailea, 57; Kipton, 60
  • 2010: Solara, 40; Dyland, 67
  • 2011: Harnoor, 24; Dakhari, 18
  • 2012: Hareem, 54; Lio & Wayden, 19
  • 2013: Tahiry, 112; Zylen, 27
  • 2014: Yazaira, 42; Alyan, 22
  • 2015: Pihu, 19; Jonael, 232
  • 2016: Yurani, 97; Jru, 31
  • 2017: Brennley, 56; Noriel, 50
  • 2018: Roselyne, 87; Torryn, 31
  • 2019: Yameli, 49; Amyas, 21
  • 2020: Elleri, 34; Dutton, 27
  • 2021: Josiane, 41; Elkin, 21
  • 2022: Thena, 25; Kymeir, 23

I’ve already written about some of these names, and I’ll write about others in the future. In the meantime, feel free to beat me to it! Leave a comment and let us know what popularized Jory in 1950, or Marnita in 1961, or Catlin in 1984…

Source: SSA

Image: Adapted from First leaves Novosibirsk Siberia 24.04.2012 by Mikhail Koninin under CC BY 2.0.

Female names in Texas, 1860

Three Texas women (circa 1855)

Vicki Betts, a librarian at the University of Texas, put together an interesting list of female names using the 1860 census records for Smith County in East Texas.

Here’s some background information, per Vicki:

Ninety per cent of the people had emigrated to the county within the preceding ten years, 95.8% born in the states of the future Confederacy, 1.8% in the border states, 1.6% in northern states, and 0.8% in foreign countries. Therefore, these name should be fairly representative of Southern female names in general, with the exception of Alamo, Texas, Texana, etc.

And now the names! Here are the names that appeared most frequently on the 1860 Smith County census:

Mary, 501
Sarah, 271
Martha, 247
Elizabeth, 218
Jane, 199
Ann, 198
Nancy, 176
Margaret, 98
Susan, 95
Frances, 94
Eliza, 74
Amanda, 65
Louisa, 61
Laura, 52
Lucinda, 50
Rebecca, 50
Emily, 49
Catherine, 48
Caroline, 41
Julia, 39
Anna, 31
Isabella, 28
Ellen, 26
Josephine, 25
Harriet, 24
Emmer, 22
Lucy, 22
Rachel, 22
Melissa, 18
Adeline, 17
Malinda, 17
Matilda, 16
Allice, 15
Mariah, 15
Virginia, 15
Minerva, 14
Ella, 13
Eveline, 13
Charlotte, 12
Cynthia, 10
Evaline, 10
Victoria, 10
Emeline, 9
Hannah, 9
Hellen, 9
Theodosia, 9
Angeline, 8
Eudora, 8
Eugenia, 8
Mahala, 8
Ophelia, 8
Permelia, 8
Dorotha, 7
Fannie, 7
Missouri, 7
Olive, 7
Samantha, 7
Tabitha, 7
Ada, 6
Charity, 6
Delilah, 6
Flora, 6
Georgia, 6
Tennessee, 6

Names in the 2-to-5 range:

  • 5: Clementine, Cyntha, Florence, Ida, Joannah, Narcissa, Priscilla, Serena, Texana, Texas
  • 4: Almeda, Amelia, Augusta, Celia, Clara, Cornelia, Dicy, Dora, Henrietta, Janetta, Louisiana, Louvenia, Lulah, Mollie, Parmelia, Penelope, Ruth, Susannah
  • 3: Alma, Amarillo, Angelina, Antonette, Carrie, Casandra, Christiana, Clarissa, Cora, Cordelia, Edna, Emma, Ester, Fanny, Irena, Jemima, Kesiah, Leona, Leonora, Lucretia, Lyddia, Manerva, Maranda, Morando, Mildred, Milly, Narcissus, Olevia, Piety, Rhoda, Sallie, Sefrona, Sophrona, Telulah, Zelida
  • 2: Abigal, Adaline, Adelia, Agnes, Alabama, Alcasarah, America, Amy, Annetta, Araminta, Armelia, Arrenia, Candis, Caledonia, Celina, Easter, Eller, Elvira, Epsey, Exer, Henryetta, Jaly, Judy, Leah, Luella, Madora, Malissa, Marsileet, Medorah, Melinda, Mattie, Minnie, Moranda, Nelly, Olivia, Priscella, Rhody, Roxana, Salena, Sirena, Sophia, Temperance, Viola, Willie

Finally, names that appeared only once:

Abbigal
Abi
Absaly
Adah
Adalade
Adaline
Addia
Adelade
Adella
Ader
Aimenetta
Alamanzer
Alamo
Alcisty
Alis
Allethia
Almanda
Alphine
Alsey
Althie
Alvarado
Alvira
Amarantha
Amarylles
Amazor
Ameda
Americus
Amira
Ansebell
Appy
Arabella
Arainetta
Aramintha
Aranda
Arcadia
Ardalla
Armedilla
Armel
Armelda
Arminda
Artele
Arvezene
Arvilla
Atha
Audella
Aurire
Azeline
Barbary
Belzora
Bendett
Bernessa
Bethania
Bethany
California
Callie
Camella
Camilla
Candas
Candice
Cansandra
Carrentha
Casandre
Castero
Cecily
Celistia
CerroGordo
Christana
Cicily
Claranda
Claricinda
Conzada
Darcus
Deannah
Debra
Delila
Delitha
Della
Delmar
Derinda
Deziah
Dicey
Dilla
Dilly
Disha
Dlia
Dola
Domaris
Dorothea
Dovy
Drucilla
Dulcena
Dyca
Eddie
Edith
Editha
Elander
Eleanor
Elisa
Ellenor
Elmina
Elsy
Elvy
Elwina
Elzina
Elzona
Emaline
English
Eunis
Euphema
Euphemia
Euratasa
Evy
Falby
Fenette
Fillmore
Flore
Florida
Fransina
Georgana
George Eller
Georgiana
Harmoner
Hazeltine
Heepsebeth
Heland
Hester
Hetty
Hilery
Hutoka
Idella
Imogenia
Indiana
Inez
Irine
Isabelle
Isadora
Jeannah
Jerusha
Jessie
Joana
Joicy
Joly
Judah
Judith
Juliett
June
Kasandre
Kasana
Keburah
Keturah
Lailah
Larresa
Larrissa
Laurena
Lavacca
Lela
Leora
Leuella
Levega
Levina
Lewella
Lilla
Lillian
Lilly
Lina
Livana
Livona
Lizza
Loreey
Loreta
Lourana
Lourena
Lourenia
Louretta
Louvena
Louvina
Lova
Lovena
Lucretice
Lurana
Lurena
Lutitia
Luvena
Lydda
Madella
Madosa
Malabry
Mariella
Marietta
Marinda
Marion
Marbre
Marcella
Marcena
Marg
Matta
McReudry
Medarah
Melbry
Melvina
Mercena
Milley
Millison
Minor
Missoura
Mitty
Molly
Morinua
Mouring
Mourmen
Mourning
Nannett
Narcisa
Nebraska
Neome
Neomia
Nicy
Nina
Nisse
Occo
Octavia
Oja
Oliva
Omino
Orpha
Oudelia
Paralee
Paralie
Parilee
Parolee
Parthena
Pauline
Pemelia
Pernetta
Pernisia
Petrona
Phebe
Pheby
Phereby
Philliss
Pleasant
Pope
Prascovia
Pricilla
Prudence
Recella
Resalla
Reozia
Resiah
Rhina
Rosana
Rosanna
Rosena
Sabra
Sabrina
Salina
Samaria
Saphona
Saphrona
Sareta
Sebrina
Sefrone
Seleta
Selethia
Selina
Shaby
Sharlotti
Silena
Sina
Sirena
Sobrina
Sofrona
Solona
Sonora
Sophier
Stacy
Surana
Tabetha
Taletha
Talitha
Telpha
Teressa
Texanah
Texanna
Theodora
Theressa
Tranquilla
Trephemia
Ululie
Vanburena
Vandalia
Varlinda
Vashti
Vasti
Verlinda
Vertula
Victora
Victorier
Vina
Vinolia
Violet
Vunavista
Wennyford
Wilford
Wilmouth
Wineford
Winerfred
Winnaford
Winnfred
Zarilla
Zeban
Zeleame
Zira
Zouley

See any names you like? Any that make you curious?

Here are some thoughts I had:

  • Location names were more common than I thought they’d be. Seven females named Missouri? Six named Tennessee? Huh.
  • I love that Emmer appeared 22 times, while Emma appeared a mere 3 times.
  • The Battle of Cerro Gordo (1847) inspired a handful of namesakes. Cerro gordo is Spanish for “fat hill.”
  • Hutoka: Or, The Maid of the Forest: a Tale of the Indian Wars (1846) by Osgood Bradbury inspired several hundred namesakes nationwide. The book claimed that the fictitious Native American name Hutoka meant “springing fawn.”
  • Martin Van Buren — no doubt the inspiration behind Vanburena — was president of the U.S. from 1837 to 1841.
  • I’m thinking Vunavista was based on buena vista, Spanish for “good view.”

Source: Female First Names in the 1860 Smith County, Texas, Census (article by Vicki Betts)
Image: Three young women, Galveston, Texas (via DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University)

Baby names you can type with one hand: Carter, Tessa, John, Poppy

hands typing on a laptop

When you sign your first name, you use one hand. But when you type it, chances are you need to use both hands — even if your name is a short as Emma, Gus or Ty.

Have you ever wondered which names can be touch-typed on the standard QWERTY keyboard with one hand only? Me too, so I came up with some lists…

Left-handed baby names

  • Ace, Ada, Adeva, Afra, Aqsa, Ara, Arda, Ardra, Artra, Asa, Astra, Astraea, Astrea, Atef, Ava, Awa, Aza, Azeeza, Azza
  • Babette, Barbara, Barrett, Baxter, Bess, Bette, Brad, Brett
  • Cade, Caesar, Cara, Carter, Casara, Case, Cass, Cedar, Ceres, Cesar, Cresta
  • Dara, Dasza, Dave, Dawes, Dax, Deatra, Debra, Dee, Dessa, Dexter, Drew
  • Ece, Ed, Edgar, Edward, Eevee, Efe, Egas, Erva, Esta, Estes, Etta, Eva, Eve, Everard, Everett, Evette, Eze, Ezra
  • Fedde, Freeda, Fred, Fredda
  • Gage, Garret, Garrett, Gerard, Grace, Greg, Greta, Grete, Gretta
  • Rafer, Rava, Rebeca, Rebecca, Reece, Reed, Reese, Retta, Reva, Rever, Rewa, Rex
  • Sabra, Sade, Safaa, Sagar, Sage, Sara, Saras, Sardar, Stassa, Steve, Stewart, Svea, Sverre, Sveva
  • Tad, Tage, Taggart, Ted, Tara, Tate, Tera, Teresa, Tess, Tessa, Tex, Trace, Tracee, Trava
  • Vada, Varda, Varvara, Vera, Verree, Vesta, Vester
  • Wade, Wafa, Ward, Wes
  • Xerra, Xerxes
  • Zada, Zara, Zed, Zera

How funny is it that Dexter, which comes directly from the Latin word for “right,” is typed with the left hand only?

Right-handed baby names

  • Holli, Holly
  • Io
  • Jill, Ji-Min, Jim, Jimi, Jimmy, Jin, Jo, John, Johnny, Jon, Joni, Joy, Juho, Juli, Julio, Jun, Juni, Juno
  • Kiki, Kiko, Kilik, Kim, Kimi, Kimiko, Kimmy, Kimo, Kin, Kip, Kipp, Kippy, Kiyoko, Kiyomi, Kojo, Kollin, Kumiko, Kuuipo, Kyou
  • Lili, Lilly, Lilou, Lilikoi, Lily, Lin, Lino, Loki, Loni, Lonny, Lou, Lulu, Lumi, Lyn, Lynn
  • Miki, Mikki, Mikko, Milly, Milo, Mimi, Min, Minh, Minokimin, Miyu, Molly, Momoko
  • Nik, Nikhil, Niki, Nikki, Niko, Nikol, Nikon, Niilo, Nolon, Nuno
  • Olli, Olujimi, Om
  • Phil, Philip, Phillip, Philo, Pio, Pliny, Plum, Pol, Polly, Pono, Poppy
  • Umiko, Umu
  • Yoko, Yuko, Yumi, Yumiko

I realize that QWERTY “handedness” is not a major baby-naming factor for most people, but I do think it would be cute to pair a one-handed name with another one-handed name — maybe a surname (Teresa Garza, Phillip Hill) or a twin name (Edward & John, Grace & Lily, Zara & Milo). What do you think?

Image by Amelia Bartlett from Unsplash