Sierra Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Sierra originates from the Spanish language, meaning 'mountain range'. It has evolved from Spanish into English and has become popular in recent decades as a nature-inspired name. The name is associated with beauty and strength, reflecting its mountainous roots. There is no biblical relevance connected to it.
The name Sierra is most popular in Alaska, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the West 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 declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Sierra has been stalled for female in MidWest, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too rising for female in MidWest, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too rising for female in South, stalled for male in West, too rising for female in West. Across generations, 'Sierra' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6435th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5006th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 9737th out of 24088 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3609th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4988th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1559th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 133rd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 94th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 462nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Sierra' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sierra"
Pronunciation
/siˈɛrə/
Origin
Spanish
Etymology
The name Sierra is derived from the Spanish word for 'mountain range' or 'saw', referring to the jagged peaks of mountains.
Meaning
mountain range
Language Evolution
Sierra (Spanish), Sierra (English)
Historical Usage
The name Sierra became popular in English-speaking countries in the late 20th century, particularly in the United States, as a nature-inspired name.
Variants & Derivatives
Sierah, Siarra
Modern Popularity & Image
Sierra is often perceived as a trendy and nature-inspired name, evoking images of beauty and strength associated with mountains.
Famous People
Sierra McClain, American singer and actress, Sierra Boggess, American actress and singer
Explore More Sierra Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sierra"
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 "Sierra"
"Sierra" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6435th of 10718 | 35 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 5006th of 16616 | 144 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 9737th of 24088 | 90 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 3609th of 9204 | 117 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4988th of 12526 | 116 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1559th of 19264 | 1,017 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 133rd of 27321 | 35,056 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 94th of 35406 | 55,550 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 462nd of 30306 | 8,255 |
Regional Popularity of "Sierra" 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) |
- | - | - |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
55.42% 3501st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
53.40% 3905th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Sierra" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
74.06% 1145th/1546 |
- | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
89.27% 2622nd/2937 |
76.20% 2654th/3483 |
69.41% 2442nd/3518 |
18.99% 768th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
3.69% 136th/3685 |
4.58% 205th/4475 |
2.52% 131st/5194 |
1.98% 125th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
2.01% 92nd/4582 |
2.25% 116th/5164 |
1.26% 92nd/7313 |
0.98% 73rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
13.55% 540th/3984 |
10.63% 477th/4487 |
8.94% 610th/6822 |
4.51% 283rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Sierra"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sierra" 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.