Total births
4,729
Girls' name · since 1964
Sahara
Since 1964, U.S. Social Security records show 4,729 babies named Sahara, peaking in 2006. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #1643
- among girls today
- 4,729
- born since 1964
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 91%
- more common than other girls
Yes -- Sahara is the #1643 most popular girls' name in the U.S. today, with 4,729 recorded since 1964.
Social Security Administration records show Sahara recorded 4,729 times among girls since 1964, holding rank #1643 nationally today, ahead of 91% of girls, peaking in the 2000s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1964 to 2025.
- #1643 among girls today
- 4,729 born since 1964
- 2000s peak decade
- 91% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Sahara is currently the #1643 girls' name in America, more common than 91% of girls - 4,729 born since 1964, peaking in the 2000s.
- #1643
- among girls today
- 4,729
- born since 1964
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 91%
- more common than other girls
Sahara vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#1643
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 91% of names given to girls today.
2000s
Peak decade
33% of everyone ever named Sahara was born in this single decade.
2006
Single peak year
248 babies were named Sahara in 2006 - its busiest year on record.
How Sahara compares
4,729 Top 14% higher than 86% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Sahara's all-time total is 12x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Sahara | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 4,729 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 248 | 48 | 19,840 |
Sahara's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Sahara's SSA record in two at 1997 and the more recent half accounts for 83% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 17%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1964, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2006 peak of 248, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Sahara at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2006
Current rank
#1,643
Active since
1964
Sahara popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1964–2025
- Peak year (2006)
- 248
- Annual births at peak, across 62 years of records
Sahara popularity over time - boys
5 total births recorded since 2003 (Sahara as boys' name)
Sahara by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Sahara's strongest decade.
1,546 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 33% of all-time use.
Sahara births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 5
1960s
5 births
- 1970s 93
1970s
93 births
- 1980s 238
1980s
238 births
- 1990s
1990s
744 births
- 2000s
2000s
1,546 births
- 2010s
2010s
1,347 births
- 2020s
2020s
756 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 1,546 births (33% of all-time use).
How Sahara compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Sahara's total volume
Sahara vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Sahara by state
Where Sahara concentrates geographically, total births since 1964
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 671 | 14.2% |
| #2 | New York | | 363 | 7.7% |
| #3 | Texas | | 330 | 7.0% |
| #4 | Florida | | 310 | 6.6% |
| #5 | Pennsylvania | | 178 | 3.8% |
| #6 | Georgia | | 106 | 2.2% |
| #7 | Illinois | | 90 | 1.9% |
| #8 | North Carolina | | 71 | 1.5% |
California share of Sahara's total US births 14.2%
Even split
671 of 4,729 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 29 reporting states.
Sahara appears in 29 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Sahara? ▼
Sahara has been given to 4,729 babies in the U.S. since 1964, according to SSA data. Among girls, it ranks #1643 as of the latest data. 248 babies were born in 2006, its single highest year.
When was Sahara most popular? ▼
Sahara was most popular in the 2000s decade with 1,546 total births. The single peak year was 2006.
Where is Sahara most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Sahara are California (671 births), New York (363 births), Texas (330 births).
How long has the name Sahara been used? ▼
Records for Sahara go back to 1964, giving 62 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Sahara? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Sahana, Sahar, Sahasra, Sahra, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Sahara's data
- Sahara's usage has stayed within range of its 2000s decade-level peak (1,546 total births) through the 2020s (756) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Saharas (671 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Sahara
Nearby Names Like Sahara
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Sahara
Sahana Girl
#1777 2,870 births
Sahar Girl
#3352 2,453 births
Sahasra Girl
#3169 1,704 births
Sahra Girl
#7705 874 births
Sahily Girl
#1608 648 births
Compare Sahara side by side: Sahara vs Sahana Sahara vs Sahar Sahara vs Sahasra
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Sahara
Malky #1642
2,687 births · Peak 2025
Amaria #1644
2,912 births · Peak 2004
Tianna #1641
13,411 births · Peak 1995
Amiah #1645
4,832 births · Peak 2008
Kaelyn #1640
15,566 births · Peak 2009
Adore #1646
1,108 births · Peak 2022
Sidra #1639
1,883 births · Peak 2025
Harlynn #1647
1,310 births · Peak 2017
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1964–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Sahara: #1643 Girls' Name - 4,729 Births, Peak 2006." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/sahara. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Sahara draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.