Sierra
Girl name · #614 in 2025 · Uniqueness 62/100
Sierra ranks #614 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 476 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #404, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,782 girls born in 2025 was named Sierra.
The 85-year story
Sierra first appears in the Social Security records in 1940, when 32 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 5,841 girls were named Sierra — good for #51 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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.
Babies named Sierra per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sierra against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sierra in class?
Sierra scores 62 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 Sierra is most common
Geography matters for names, and Sierra is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Sierras were CA (129), TX (30), NY (24), FL (22), PA (15). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Sierra
Statistically, parents drawn to Sierra tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Briana, Alejandra, Karina, Alyssa, and Kiana.
BrianaAlejandraKarinaAlyssaKianaHannaMikaylaAlexis
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sierra | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 476 | #614 |
| 2024 | 508 | #593 |
| 2023 | 525 | #566 |
| 2022 | 552 | #551 |
| 2021 | 612 | #508 |
| 2020 | 568 | #531 |
| 2019 | 630 | #497 |
| 2018 | 699 | #452 |
| 2017 | 704 | #449 |
| 2016 | 771 | #424 |
| 2015 | 800 | #404 |
| 2014 | 949 | #350 |
| 2013 | 945 | #342 |
| 2012 | 1,170 | #278 |
| 2011 | 1,149 | #278 |
| 2010 | 1,455 | #214 |
| 2009 | 1,676 | #196 |
| 2008 | 1,903 | #175 |
| 2007 | 2,114 | #168 |
| 2006 | 2,466 | #140 |
| 2005 | 3,049 | #105 |
| 2004 | 3,520 | #92 |
| 2003 | 4,242 | #73 |
| 2002 | 4,807 | #62 |
| 2001 | 5,237 | #55 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sierra a popular girl name?
Sierra ranked #614 among girls in 2025 with 476 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #404.
When was the name Sierra most popular?
Sierra peaked in 1998, when 5,841 American girls received the name (ranked #51 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Sierra?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,782 newborn American girls was named Sierra. It scores 62/100 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.