Sophia has been the number one baby name for girls since 2011, and with good reason: It's sensible and sweet and makes beautiful use of the soft starting sound. But it's not the only "S" name that deserves credit — we've got our eyes on all the other "S" names for girls that are just as strong and much less common.
Because the "S" sound is always so beautiful, there's room to get creative with new names. But there are also a lot of great "S" names that can be pulled from the archives … it's just a matter of preference.
-
Sable: An old word that means "black" in Old English and "sand" in French, Sable is also the name of a small, fox-like animal that's always been valued for the quality of its fur.
-
Sage: As a plant, sage is believed by many to have healing and cleansing properties, and in fiction a sage is a wise figure who gives profound advice. So whichever namesake you choose, little Sages are destined to great things.
-
Salem: Salem comes from Arabic and Hebrew where it means "peace" or "peaceful soul." In English, its history is a bit more tumultuous because it's often associated with the Salem Witch Trials. But if nothing else, its history gives this quiet name a feisty side, which only improves it in our books.
-
Santana: Spanish in origin, Santana spiked in popularity in the 1980s for girls and in the early 2000s for boys. The character on the TV show Glee brought some much-needed attention back to this fun and feminine name.
-
Scotland: The name Scotland is a pretty obvious reference to the country in the United Kingdom. In 2012, Kourtney Kardashian gave her daughter Scotland as a middle name, so with any luck we'll see more of this name in the next few years.
-
Scout: Scout got its start with Harper Lee's classic 1960 novel To Kill A Mockingbird, and since then has been picked up more and more often as a first name for girls. Demi Moore and Bruce Willis named their daughter Scout, and now she's an actress in her own right.
More from The Stir: 20 Lovely Literary Baby Names for Girls
-
Sedona: Sedona is a gorgeous city in Arizona that's famous for its red rock formations. The city itself was named after Sedona Schnebly, the city's first postmaster's wife, which means that you'll actually be naming your daughter after her … but she was famous for her hospitality and industriousness, so she's not a bad namesake, either.
-
Selene: Though this variation had a brief spike in popularity in the early 2000s, different versions of Selene (Selena, Selina, Seline, Celine) have always been used — and with good reason. It's an elegant, understated name shared with the Greek goddess of the moon.
-
Shailene: Though it remains a pretty uncommon name, actress Shailene Woodley could kick start a trend. It's similar in sound to popular names like Cheyenne and Shannon, and there's no reason this one shouldn't take off, too.
-
Shasta: Shasta was popular for a short time in the 1980s, but we think it's time to bring it back. It's a Native American tribe from Northern California and the name of a mountain and river in the same area, giving this gorgeous name earthy, natural roots.
-
Shea: Also spelled Shay or Shae, this name is a feminine version of the traditional Irish name Seamus. Though it has a simple sound, it's warm and strong and brings to mind the healing shea butter.
-
Sheridan: Sheridan comes from the Irish name Siridean, which means "peaceful." It's used often for buildings and businesses, but it's bright and energetic and definitely deserves more attention as a first name.
__More from *The Stir*: [25 Rad Girl Names That Begin with an 'R'](http://thestir.cafemom.com/pregnancy/184343/25_rad_girl_names_that)__
- Shoshanna: Shoshanna is derived from the Hebrew word for rose, and comes with built-in nicknames like Shosh, Anna, or Shanna. It's also the name of one of the girls on the TV show Girls, which proves that it has a future as a fun and modern name.
- Sierra: This name is all about the mountains: It translates to "mountain" in Spanish, and of course is the name of the famous mountain range on the West Coast. It's also a beautiful name for girls — we love the very feminine "ie" sound.
- Sita: In Hindu mythology, Sita is the heroine of the Ramayana epic and traditionally called the "ideal woman." Though those are obviously big shoes to fill, Sita is still a beautiful name for girls with a delicate sound.
- Skylar: Skylar first hit the charts in the 1980s, and it's stuck around since then. It's also used a lot in pop culture: You'll meet a Skylar in Good Will Hunting and in Breaking Bad.
- Sloane: Though it's just recently seen the popularity it's long deserved, Sloane has been around for a while. It's actually a form of an old Irish surname, and we love it on characters like Sloane Peterson from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
- Sookie: Though it's actually a form of the name Susan, Sookie has been getting attention in its own right recently. Though it can also be spelled Sukie, both the Gilmore Girls' and True Blood's Sookies spell it with "oo," so that's our first choice.
__More from *The Stir*: Warning: [20 Friendliest Baby Names May Cause Uncontrollable Smiling](http://thestir.cafemom.com/pregnancy/183498/warning_20_friendliest_baby_names)__
- Spencer: Spencer has always been a popular name for boys, but it's time girls get a chance with this charmer, too. Kelsey Grammer's daughter is named Spencer, and Spencer Hastings is a major character on the TV show Pretty Little Liars.
- Stella: Stella literally translates to "star" in Latin, which means that this name's meaning is as magical as its sound. The first recorded use of Stella as a name was way back in the 16th century, and we hope this star sticks around for a while longer.
- Story: Though it's pretty uncommon, Story is a sweet choice for a girl's name. And before they're old enough to appreciate the creativity, Tor And Tory make for great (and pretty normal) nicknames.
- Surrey: Surrey is a variation of the Hebrew name Suri, but one with deeper English roots. It's also the name of a county in England that's just outside of London.
- Susanna: The song "Oh! Susanna" is one of the most well known American minstrel songs, and that just goes to show how timeless Susanna is as a name. Though there are tons of variations (we also love Suzannah), Susanna is the most basic one to build off of.
- Sybelle: A updated version of Sybil, Sybelle sounds like a name fit for a Disney princess. It has a classic sound and is uncommon enough that she'll be the only Belle at the ball.
- Sylvia: Sylvia is the feminine form of the name Slivius, which comes from the word for "wood." It's old fashioned, but has never really gone out of style — it's always hit the charts, and that probably won't change any time soon.
What's your favorite "S" name?
For more great baby name ideas, visit Baby Name Wizard.
Image via OMolleker/shutterstock; Jcomp/shutterstock
