Unique Names that Start With S

Term for a native-born Israeli, first brought to notice in Edna Ferber's 1929 novel Cimarron.  Prickly pear has been interpreted to mean tough on the outside, soft and sweet within.

Sabra

Ghanaian name meaning "God hears me", known to fans of "The Great British Bake Off" thanks to charismatic contestant Selasi Gbormittah.

Selasi

An old aristocratic English name which also belongs to Cambridge college, named for George Augustus Selwyn, the first Bishop of New Zealand, subsequently Bishop of Lichfield. 

Selwyn

Whether it's an updated form of Sheila or an alternative form of Shailene, Sheilyn rose  more than 4000 places up the US stats. between 2022 and 2023.

Sheilyn

A surprisingly modern word name, only recorded since the 20th century, Solaris is also the title of a 1961 science fiction novel by Polish author Stanisław Lem, which has been adapted for the big screen several times. An unexpected route to Sol or Solly as nicknames.


Solaris

A name made up of opposites that blend seamlessly into one. Evoking ideas of astrology, tarot cards, graphic tees, and holiday resorts, Soluna fits in with Top 1000 options like Marisol, Solveig, Stella, Solana and Luna.  

Soluna

Unusual choice that was the original name of children's illustrator Tasha Tudor, but is an interesting elaboration of Star, taking it into avian territory. 

Starling

Stella and Luna are stylish night sky <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">name for girls</a>, from the Latin words for star and moon. 

The two names were smooshed together by children's book author Janell Cannon in 1993. Cannon gave the name Stellaluna to a fictional fruit bat. It's since become a beloved picture book and favorite bedtime story. 

Ellen Pompeo named her daughter Stella Luna in 2009.

Stellaluna

Stella Maris ("star of the sea") is an historic title for the Virgin Mary, in use since at least the early medieval period. Although it actually arose from a scribal error in the etymology of the name Mary, it came to be seen as symbolic of Mary's role as "guiding star" on the way to Christ. Under this name, the Virgin Mary is believed to intercede as a guide and protector of seafarers in particular, and many coastal churches are named Stella Maris or Star of the Sea.

Stellamaris

The Salishan are ingenious people from the Pacific North West, made up of four major groups who speak one of 23 Salishan languages. The name "Salish" is an anglicization of Séliš, the local name of the Salish Tribes of the Flathead Reservation in Montana. They are known for their weaving and work with red cedar wood. 
 
It also appears in the name of a sea in the Pacific Ocean, the Salish Sea, which was renamed in 2009 to reflect the significance of the water to the Salishan, and to recognize the importance of taking care of it.
 
Rarely used as a given name, it is notably borne by Salish Matter, a social media star and a competitive gymnast, who is the daughter of YouTuber and photographer Jordan Matter. In response to questions about his daughter's name, her father explained it was inspired by a cruise in the Pacific North West that the family took when her mother, Lauren Boyer, was pregnant with her. On hearing the name of the Salish Sea, her then three-year-old brother insisted it was his sister's name, and it stuck.
 
A name that might appeal to those who have Salishan ancestry they wish to honor, or an alternative to the more popular Sailor, Selah, and Shiloh, Salish appeared in the US stats for the first time in 2024, when it was given to five girls.

Salish

Satya can be either a feminine or masculine name. It is strongly connected to the virtue, and in order to have "satya" one must be truthful not only in words, but also in actions and thoughts. Satya is a great name for those in the West who have Indian roots or are looking for a discreet  virtue name.

Satya

This mythological sea monster, as described in Homer's Odyssey, lives on one side of a narrow channel of water opposite her counterpart, Charybdis. Scylla is described as having 12 feet and six heads on long snaky necks, each head having a triple row of sharklike teeth. She had the habit on snacking on passing sailors, including several of Odysseus's crew.
 
There are two other Scyllas in Greek mythology: a princess of Megara who betrays her city and sabotages her father, and a one of the Danaids, notable for killing her cousin Proteus. Pronounced as SIL-uh in English but as skul-lah in Greek, it is derived from skyllo, meaning to "pluck, tear, plunder, and torment".
 
While its meaning and mythological connections may feel rather bloodthirsty or off-putting to many, Scylla has been appearing in the US stats since 2017, with 7 babies given the name in a recent year. Sometimes used as a short form of Biblical Priscilla (if spelled Priscylla),it would make a daring choice, with a somewhat familiar sound. It may be best, however, to save it for a fictional character.

Scylla

Shanice

A Puritan-virtue type name that could possibly work for a modern baby with its rhythmic four-syllable sound and admirable meaning.

Sincerity

A popular Irish name virtually unknown here, but one that feels like it could follow in the footsteps of Siobhan and Saoirse. It's pronounced SOR-ka, but with a little hiccup between the 'r' and the 'c' that's difficult for non-Gaelic speakers to reproduce. Spelled (and pronounced) Sorsha, she is a major character in the movie Willow.

Sorcha

Sweet, spirited, and unexpected as a given name, reality TV star Lala Kent brought Sosa into the spotlight when she chose it for her daughter in 2024. A Spanish name deriving from the Portuguese surname Sousa, Sosa is a unique choice that still fits in with the likes of Luna, Rosa, Nova, and Luz. 
 
The literal meaning of Sosa is "from Sousa", Sousa being a river in Portugal that takes its name from either the Latin salsus meaning "salty" or saxa meaning "stones, rocks, pebbles". As a surname, Sosa appears in a variety of forms, including Souza, D'Souza, and de Sousa. 
 
Sosa ticks lots of boxes then: it's a place name, a nature name, a surname, and a unique name that's concise and zippy. It's possible that Lala Kent chose the name for its salty water meaning, so that it matches big sister Ocean's name. 
 
Occasionally used on boys in the US, coming years might just see it used more often on girls.

Sosa

A literary name with a simple yet alluring sound, Sula may appeal as an alternative to those who like Lula, Lola, Susannah, and Tallulah. The protagonist and titular character of Toni Morrison's 1973 novel, the name may relate to the Old Testament Shulammite (and the Hebrew shalom) or to the Latin Ursula, meaning "little she-bear".
 
Alternative interpretations of the name are that it derives from Estonian and Finnish, either via the names Sulev and Sulo, meaning "good-natured", "charm" and "grace" or from the word sula, relating to thawed ice or something molten and melted. It is also the name of various places in Norway, likely derived from the Old Norse súla meaning "pillar, cleft", and is additionally the name of a genus of seabirds and a Latvian word for "juice".

Sula

Sypha Belnades is a witch in the Castlevania franchise, which includes video games and a Netflix TV series. Her name debuted on the charts in 2021, during the show's fourth season, when it was given to five baby girls. Sypha was inspired by the word "cipher."

Sypha

One of the more subtle occupational surnames, Sayer is a pleasant, open, last-name-first name, particularly apt for a family of woodworkers -- or writers. 
 
Some parents are beginning to consider Sayer as a less popular alternative to Sawyer, which it may be a variation of, or a separate occupational name for someone who recited poetry and news, or even another occupational name an for assayer, who tested metals or tasted food.
 The most well known surnamed Sayer is the British singer Leo Sayer.

Sayer

British last name that, though rather gentle, feels like a sharper, sleeker Shelby. Todd Selby, known primarily by his last name, is a hip photographer of interiors.

Selby

unique names that start with the letter S, including Sabra, Selasi, Selwyn, Sheilyn, Solaris, Soluna, Starling, Stellaluna, Stellamaris, Salish, Satya, Scylla, Shanice, Sincerity, Sorcha, Sosa, Sula, Sypha, Sayer, and Selby. (Page 13)