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The short answer
Savannah is a feminine English name taken directly from the English word for a large grassy plain, which ultimately derives from the Taíno (Native American) word sabana. Behind the Name records it coming into use as a given name in America in the 19th century and being revived in the 1980s by the movie Savannah Smiles (1982). It is pronounced sə-VAN-ə. In the United States it ranked #135 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Savannah as from the English word for the large grassy plain, ultimately deriving from the Taíno (Native American) word sabana. It came into use as a given name in America in the 19th century and was revived in the 1980s by the movie Savannah Smiles (1982).
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Taíno | sabana | grassy plain |
Popularity
Savannah ranked #135 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #135 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Savanah, Savanna, Zavanna
Related names: None documented.
What the name feels like
Savannah reads as a soft, sun-lit nature name, drawing on the same word-as-name appeal as Summer or Autumn while carrying an extra syllable of Southern warmth (also the name of a U.S. city).
Style tags: nature name, word name, three syllables
Editorial interpretation: This style impression is editorial judgment, not linguistic fact; Behind the Name documents the word's landscape meaning, not any city association.
If you like this name
Names that share Savannah's nature-word feel or its sound.
Similar by meaning
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Savannah mean?
Savannah means "grassy plain". It comes from the English word for the landscape, ultimately from the Taíno word sabana.
Is Savannah a popular name?
Yes. Savannah ranked #135 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Why did Savannah become popular?
Behind the Name notes it was used in America from the 19th century and was revived in the 1980s by the movie Savannah Smiles (1982).
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Savannah — supports etymology, pronunciation, history, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
