Sahara Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Sahara has its roots in Arabic, meaning 'desert'. It evolved from the Arabic term 'ṣaḥrāʾ' through Latinized forms to its modern usage in English. The name is associated with beauty and vast, arid landscapes, and it gained popularity in the late 20th century. There is no biblical relevance associated with the name.
The name Sahara is most popular in Florida, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Sahara has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Sahara' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 24088th out of 24088 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 12526th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6814th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2628th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1443rd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1711th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Sahara' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sahara"
Pronunciation
/səˈhɑːrə/
Origin
Arabic
Etymology
The name 'Sahara' is derived from the Arabic word 'ṣaḥrāʾ', which means 'desert'. It refers specifically to the vast desert region in North Africa, known as the Sahara Desert.
Meaning
desert
Language Evolution
ṣaḥrāʾ (Arabic), Sahra (Latinized form), Sahara (modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the late 20th century, influenced by the exotic imagery and cultural significance of the Sahara Desert.
Variants & Derivatives
Sahra, Sahar, Saharah
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Sahara is perceived as unique and exotic, often associated with beauty and vast landscapes.
Famous People
Sahara Ray (model and social media influencer), Sahara Davenport (drag performer and reality TV personality)
Explore More Sahara Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sahara"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Sahara"
"Sahara" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 24088th of 24088 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 12526th of 12526 | 5 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 6814th of 19264 | 103 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2628th of 27321 | 687 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1443rd of 35406 | 2,326 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1711th of 30306 | 1,508 |
Regional Popularity of "Sahara" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Sahara" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - |
94.04% 3803rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
73.89% 2723rd/3685 |
51.20% 2291st/4475 |
62.71% 3257th/5194 |
33.34% 2106th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
37.01% 1696th/4582 |
22.99% 1187th/5164 |
23.00% 1682nd/7313 |
18.49% 1380th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
48.69% 1940th/3984 |
32.65% 1465th/4487 |
24.14% 1647th/6822 |
26.64% 1672nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Sahara"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sahara" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.