S is a beautiful letter and there's a long history of strong names that start with it, but they're not as popular as you might think. With the exception of Samuel, "S" names aren't used as much as they deserve.
Surprising when you consider "S" is one of those gimme letters on Wheel of Fortune, huh? There's a huge range of names for little boys that begin with "S," so we rounded up our favorites:
-
Sadler: Sadler is an old English surname that descends from the time when there were saddlers, or people who made saddles for a living. Today it stands separate from that, and i works as a sweet name for boys.
-
Salinger: Borrowing from the classic American novelist J.D. Salinger, this name has an instant literary association — but also gets to make use of adorable nicknames like Sal.
-
Samson: Samson has been moving up in the popularity ranks for the past decade or so because it's an easy sound to work with but one that offers an interesting twist on the classic Samuel.
-
Sasha: This androgynous name is actually an old form of the name Alexander, but today it can stand alone. In its full form, it carries beautiful sounds, but it also comes with nicknames like Sash and Ash that boys will love.
-
Sawyer: Sawyer was lost to the archives for a long time, but the character on Lost brought it some much needed attention. But even before that, Tom Sawyer gave this name a hint of mischief that we love.
-
Saxon: Though it comes with a long history based in England and Germany, the name Saxon is generally ignored as a first name. We think it deserves more credit: it's strong, easy to pronounce, and comes with that trendy middle "x."
More from The Stir: 32 Beautiful Baby Names With an 'X' Factor
-
Seneca: Seneca was popular for a short time in the 1970s, but hasn't been used much since. It's generally used as a reference to the Roman philosopher from the first century … or these days to the character in the popular series The Hunger Games.
-
Sergio: Though it's used in many languages and has different pronunciations in each, in English Sergio is usually pronounced "SER-jee-o." The name has a certain command to it, and we love Serge as a nickname.
-
Seymour: Seymour was a popular option for babies for a long time — until it dropped off the charts early in the 20th century. But we're more than ready for this tough name to make a comeback.
-
Shaw: Shaw is a wonderful option for moms a little bored with the standard variations of Shawn/Sean/Shaun. It keeps that sweet sound with a modern twist that we love.
-
Shelton: Since Sheldon now carries the weight of the awkward Big Bang Theory character, Shelton is a great variation with similar sounds that hasn't seen much use since the 1970s. And there's always popular The Voice judge Blake Shelton to refer to.
-
Shiloh: In the Bible, Shiloh is the name of a peaceful and abundant city, and in American history it's known as the site of an important battle in the Civil War. No matter where you borrow it from, though, Shiloh has a sweet and peaceful sound to it that we can't get enough of.
__More from *The Stir*: [25 Stunning 'S' Names for Baby Girls](http://thestir.cafemom.com/pregnancy/184539/25_stunning_s_names_for)__
- Sidney: The roots of this name are in English and French, and it makes for a gentle baby name that's always been popular for boys. As for nicknames, you can't get much cuter than Sid.
- Silas: Though Silas is often considered Biblical in nature, it also translates from Greek to "a forest or wood." That meaning carries a peaceful imagery that fits perfectly with the soft "s" sounds in Silas. It's also the name Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel chose for their little guy.
- Simon: Though it's been popular for a long time, Simon still doesn't get the attention you'd expect from such a sturdy name. It could be considered Biblical or musical depending on how you look at it, and Si and Sim are both great nicknames.
- Sinclair: The name Sinclair, which is actually a condensed version of the name St. Clair, has a long history of literary success: Sinclair Lewis was the first American to win the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature, and Upton Sinclair was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American writer.
- Sirius: Sirius, which is sometimes called the "Dog Star," is the brightest star in Earth's night sky. It's also the name of a favorite character in the Harry Potter series, so on all counts it makes a wonderful name.
- Solomon: Coming from Hebrew, Solomon is a name that means "peace" and is often associated with wisdom. Sol also makes for an adorable and updated nickname.
__More from *The Stir*: [30 Most & Least Sophisticated Baby Names](http://thestir.cafemom.com/pregnancy/182706/30_most_least_sophisticated_baby)__
- Sondre: Sondre is a very popular name in Norway, and we think we know why: it has a gentle sound to it, and it makes use of the always-interesting "re" sound.
- Stanton: Stanton was a popular baby name for a while until it dropped off the charts in the mid-1900s. But with its commanding sound, it won't be long until it makes a comeback.
- Stellan: Stellan is a traditionally Swedish name, but it's been getting more attention recently in the United States. Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany named their son Stellan, and Stellan Skarsgård is a Swedish actor who's famous for movies like Good Will Hunting and Thor.
- Sterling: An old-fashioned name that's still used today, Sterling is perfect for moms looking for something as debonair as it is sweet.
- Streeter: Streeter is a unique name that has a certain boyish spirit to it. Even just Street is a great option (think the nickname on Friday Night Lights), but the comedian Streeter Seidell makes the full version easy to love.
- Stuart: A version of the surname Stewart, Stuart is famous for the charming (and Little) mouse of the same name. It's great by itself, but nicknames like Stu and Stuie make this name even easier to love.
- Sullivan: Another first name that came from a common last name, Sullivan is as strong as it is youthful and energetic. It's been gaining popularity in the last couple of years, but before that hadn't hit the charts since the late 1800s.
What's your favorite "S" name?
For more great baby name ideas, visit Baby Name Wizard.
Image via Pshenina_m/shutterstock; Julien_N/shutterstock
