Sally
Girl name · #1150 in 2025 · Uniqueness 63/100
In 2025, 201 baby girls were named Sally, placing it at #1150 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1139, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,955 girls born in 2025 was named Sally.
Babies named Sally per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Sally first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 80 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1947, when 5,265 girls were named Sally — good for #70 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sally against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sally in class?
Sally scores 63 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Sally is most common
Geography matters for names, and Sally is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Sallys were CA (16), NY (14), TX (14), NC (13), GA (10). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Sally
Statistically, parents drawn to Sally tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Polly, Nancy, Sandra, Beverly, and Dolly.
PollyNancySandraBeverlyDollySharonJanieShirley
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sally | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 201 | #1150 |
| 2024 | 225 | #1095 |
| 2023 | 171 | #1324 |
| 2022 | 176 | #1336 |
| 2021 | 192 | #1223 |
| 2020 | 200 | #1165 |
| 2019 | 161 | #1392 |
| 2018 | 195 | #1210 |
| 2017 | 245 | #1051 |
| 2016 | 211 | #1184 |
| 2015 | 222 | #1139 |
| 2014 | 209 | #1173 |
| 2013 | 218 | #1116 |
| 2012 | 208 | #1179 |
| 2011 | 212 | #1157 |
| 2010 | 214 | #1143 |
| 2009 | 227 | #1116 |
| 2008 | 227 | #1133 |
| 2007 | 253 | #1041 |
| 2006 | 244 | #1050 |
| 2005 | 244 | #1000 |
| 2004 | 265 | #912 |
| 2003 | 226 | #1020 |
| 2002 | 263 | #870 |
| 2001 | 301 | #785 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sally a popular girl name?
Sally ranked #1150 among girls in 2025 with 201 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1139.
When was the name Sally most popular?
Sally peaked in 1947, when 5,265 American girls received the name (ranked #70 that year). Since 1947 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Sally?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,955 newborn American girls was named Sally. It scores 63/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.