Neutral names starting with S

An alphabetical list of neutral names starting with S, continued from the names page, which see for more information. These are neutral-gender names, otherwise known as unisex names. They are equally appropriate for girls, boys, and people of any gender. Nonbinary people don't have to have neutral names, and many notable nonbinary people have names that are usually either masculine or feminine. Neutral names can help make it safer for people to explore their gender expressions. In English-speaking countries, some of the most familiar gender-neutral names starting with S include Sam, Sascha, Shea, and Skyler. However, there are many more unisex names from around the world that start with S, more than 50 of them, as listed below. Previous page: neutral names starting with R. Next page: neutral names starting with T.

The list
Sacha. French. Form of the East-Slavic unisex name Sasha, which itself is a pet form of both the masculine name Alexander and the feminine name Alexandra. In the USA, Social Security Administration (SSA) data shows about 1,713 people have had the name Sacha, used as a feminine name 83% of the time, whereas in France, it's more often for boys. US SSA data shows about 933 people named Sascha, used as a feminine name 77% of the time. In the US, Sasha is feminine 96% of the time, so that spelling is not gender-neutral in that country. Keywords: two syllables.

Sage. English. This became a neutral given name in the 1990s, which has been growing in popularity into the 2010s. Meaning "Wise and experienced; mature or venerable," or "A cooking herb, or the unrelated but similar-smelling plant, sagebrush" in English. US SSA data shows about 2,029 people with this name, used as a feminine name 65% of the time. Keywords: aromas, English word names, food, longevity, nature, one syllable, plants.

Sakae. Japanese. Depending on the kanji characters with the same pronunciation chosen to write it, this name can mean "Is brilliant" or "Prosperity" in Japanese. This might not be a neutral name in Japan, but it is used as one in the US. US SSA data shows about 297 people with this name, used as a feminine name 64% of the time.

Salem. After the place name, which itself comes from a shortening of the place name Jerusalem, which means "Safe, secure, perfect, complete." There is more than one place named Salem, but the most famous is Salem, Massachusetts in the US, known as a place with a history of killing people who were suspected of being witches. US SSA data shows about 1,802 people with this given name, used as a masculine name 52% of the time.

Sam. English. Short for names which may be feminine or masculine, such as feminine Samantha, or masculine Samuel or Samson. Samantha and Samuel both come from the Biblical Hebrew name Shemuel, meaning "God heard" in Hebrew. Sam is a more neutral name in the Netherlands, and more masculine in many other countries. US SSA data shows about 168,904 people with this name, used as a masculine name 99% of the time, but these official records do not take into account everybody who uses it as a nickname for a longer name. US SSA data shows the variant Sammi is feminine 97% of the time, while Sammie is masculine 73% of the time, and Sammy is masculine 96% of the time. Keywords: one syllable, two syllables. Nonbinary characters in fiction with this name include Sheriff Sam in the podcast Welcome To Night Vale. Notable nonbinary people named Sam include Sam Smith and Sam de Leve.

Saman (سامان). Persian. Meaning "Order, arrangement, disposition" in Persian. US SSA data shows about 752 people with this name, used as a masculine name 66% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Samar. A neutral name, though this varies by culture. 1. سمر.. Arabic. Feminine. Meaning "Evening conversation" in Arabic. 2. ثمر in Urdu and সমর in Bengali. Masculine. From a word meaning "Fruit, profit" in Arabic. US SSA data shows about 1,658 people with this name, used as a feminine name 65% of the time, so it is a neutral name in that country.

Sami. A neutral name, though definitions of it tend to say it is masculine. 1. Finnish. A masculine diminutive of the masculine name Samuel. 2. (سامي). Arabic. A masculine name meaning "Elevated, sublime, supreme" in Arabic. US SSA data shows about 7,202 people with this name, used as a masculine name 74% of the time, so it is a neutral name in that country.

Samnang (សំណាង). Khmer. Meaning "Lucky" in Khmer. US SSA data shows about 511 people with this name, used as a masculine name 82% of the time. Keywords: auspicious, fortune, luck, two syllables.

Sanan (سنن). A unisex name in Arabic meaning “tradition,” or “way of life.” There are 116 people in the United States named Sanan. Keywords: two syllables, arabic

Sandeep (संदीप). Sanskrit. Traditionally a masculine name. A variant of the masculine name Sandip. Meaning "Blazing" in Sanskrit. US SSA data shows about 4,745 people named Sandeep, used as a masculine name 87% of the time. Keywords: fire, light, two syllables.

Sandy. English. A neutral diminutive of masculine name Alexander (from the Greek masculine name Alexandros [Ἀλέξανδρος], meaning "Defending men") or feminine names Alexandra or Sandra (both of which are derived from Alexandros). Alternatively, Sandy can be in reference to the color, or to sand. US SSA data shows about 139,271 people with this name, used as a feminine name 88% of the time. (However, the variants Sandi and Sandie are 100% feminine, so these spellings are not used as gender-neutral names.) Keywords: earth, English word names, two syllables.

Sani (سنيّ). Arabic. Meaning "Brilliant, splendid" in Arabic. US SSA data shows about 172 people with this name, used as a feminine name 78% of the time. Keywords: light, two syllables.

Santana. English and Spanish. A neutral given name, from the surname, and from many place names called Santa Ana. These places are named for the Catholic figure known in English as Saint Anne, who the mother of the Virgin Mary (in the apochrypha). Saint Anne is the patroness of unmarried women, homemakers, people in labor or who want to be pregnant, grandmothers, mothers, educators, horseback riders, cabinet-makers, miners, sailors, and protector from storms. US SSA data shows about 3,501 people named Santana, used as a feminine name 56% of the time. Keywords: Christian, three syllables, travel.

Satsuki (さつき). Japanese. The meaning depends on which kanji characters with the same pronunciation are chosen to write it. One possible choice of meaning is "The month of May" (五月). Keywords: springtime, three syllables.

Satya. Sanskrit. Meaning "Pure, virtuous, truthful, true" in Sanskrit. In Hindi and Nepali, it is transcribed the same way, but written in a masculine form (सत्य) and a feminine form (सत्या). Satya is also a name in Telugu (సత్య), Odia (ସତ୍ୟ), Bengali, Assamese (সত্য), Gurmukhi (ਸੱਤਿਆ), and Kannada (ಸತ್ಯ). US SSA data shows about 1,709 people with this name, used as a feminine name 74% of the time. Keywords: two syllables, virtue.

Saxon. English. From the surname, from the name of the Germanic tribe called the Saxons, who spoke the language that became English. Their name came from a Germanic word sahs, meaning "Knife." US SSA data shows about 376 people with this name, used as a masculine name 89% of the time. Keywords: battle, two syllables.

Schuyler. English. Pronounced "SKIE-lər." From the Dutch surname Schuyler, meaning "Scholar." This came to be used as a masculine or neutral given name after the US general and senator Philip Schuyler (1733-1804). US SSA data shows about 2,159 people with the given name Schuyler, used as a masculine name 77% of the time. US SSA data shows about 2,350 people with the spelling variant Skyler (with spelling modeled after the name Tyler, and which looks more phonetic to English-speakers), used as a masculine name 63% of the time. US SSA data shows about 1,760 people with the spelling variant Skylar, used as a feminine name 75% of the time. Keywords: air, education, intelligence, literature, two syllables, writing.

Scout. English. A neutral name meaning "To explore; one who goes out to search for information" in English. This given name was popularized by the protagonist of the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. In the novel, Scout is a gender nonconforming child described as a tomboy (meaning a young masculine girl), having detective-like adventures in a time and place in the US that had strict gender roles, where society saw it as fairly unacceptable for girls to wear overalls instead of dresses. Scout rejected feminine clothing and girls' hobbies like sewing, chose to be called "Scout" over her given name, and never stopped asserting herself as masculine in clothing, attitude, social habits, and hobbies. Her masculinity was often brought up in the story, as some other characters criticized and pressured Scout to become feminine, but her father was supportive of her being herself. US SSA data shows about 163 people with this name, used as a feminine name 68% of the time. Keywords: exploration, literature, one syllable, travel.

Sea. English. A neutral given name. Meaning "The ocean, or an inland body of salt water" in English. US SSA data shows about 446 people with this name, used as a masculine name 77% of the time.

Seiko. Japanese. Meaning depends on the kanji characters with the same pronunciation chosen to write it. In Japan, this is a feminine name, and -ko is a feminine name ending. However, in the US, this is used as a more neutral name. US SSA data shows about 636 people with this name, used as a masculine name 74% of the time. Keywords: brands, time, three syllables, two syllables.

Selby. English. A neutral name. From the surname, from the place name. Meaning "Willow farm" in Old Norse. US SSA data shows about 961 people with this name, used as a masculine name 72% of the time. Keywords: plants, trees, two syllables.

Semaj. African-American English. From the name "James" spelled backwards. US SSA data shows about 288 people with this name, used as a masculine name 75% of the time.

Seneca. Ancient Roman. Meaning "Old" in Latin. Coincidentally, Seneca is also the name of a Native American tribe, meaning "Place of great stones" in their language. US SSA data shows about 929 people with this name, used as a masculine name 52% of the time.

Seraphim. English. From the Biblical word for a type of angels called seraphim (שׂרף), meaning "Fiery ones" in Hebrew. Traditionally a masculine name, such as for the Saint Seraphim of Sarov, who was a 19th-century Russian mystic. US SSA data shows about 74 people with this name, used as a feminine name 80% of the time. Keywords: angels, Christian, mythology, three syllables.

Shadow. English. From the surname Shadow, or directly from the English word. US SSA data shows about 390 people with this name, used as a masculine name 52% of the time. Keywords: English word names, dark, gothic, night, two syllables.

Shae. English. An English neutral spelling variant of Shea, which is a neutral and anglicized form of the Irish masculine name Séaghdha, possibly meaning "Esteemed, majestic" in Irish. US SSA data shows about 2,103 people with this name, used as a feminine name 79% of the time. Keywords: one syllable.

Shalom (שָׁלוֹם). Hebrew. Traditionally a masculine name, but also now neutral. Meaning "Peace" in Hebrew, and also used as a greeting. US SSA data shows about 1,277 people with this name, used as a masculine name 65% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Shan. Welsh. Traditionally feminine. Anglicized form of the Welsh feminine name Siân, which itself is a form of the feminine French name Jeanne, which itself is a form of the masculine name John, from the masculine Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), meaning "God is gracious." Shan may also be a form of the masculine name Sean (since it has the same pronunciation), which ultimately comes from the masculine name Yochanan as well. US SSA data shows about 7,299 people named Shan, used as a masculine name 69% of the time. Keywords: Biblical names, one syllable.

Shannon. English. This became a neutral given name in the 1930s. From the name of the River Shannon in Ireland, which is named after the goddess of wisdom in Irish mythology, Sionann (older spelling: Sínann or Sínand). Possibly meaning "Old, ancient" in Old Irish. US SSA data shows about 280,557 people named Shannon, used as a feminine name 86% of the time. US SSA data shows about 4,931 people named the variant spelling Shanon, used as a feminine name 75% of the time. Keywords: mythology, two syllables.

Shawn. English. Traditionally masculine. An anglicized form of the masculine Irish name Seán, which is a form of the masculine John, from the masculine Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), meaning "God is gracious." US SSA data shows about 245,184 people with this name, used as a masculine name 89% of the time. Keywords: Biblical, one syllable.

Shay (שַׁי). Hebrew. A neutral name. Also transcribed Shai. Meaning "Gift" in Hebrew. US SSA data shows about 7,634 people named Shay, used as a feminine name 60% of the time. US SSA data shows about 864 people with the given name Shai, used as a feminine name 55% of the time. US SSA data shows about 585 people with the variant Shaya, used as a feminine name 52% of the time. US SSA data shows about 330 people with the variant Shey, used as a masculine name 51% of the time. Keywords: one syllable.

Shayne. English. Traditionally masculine. A variant of the masculine Irish and English name Shane, which is an anglicized form of the masculine Irish name Seán, which is a form of the masculine John, from the masculine Hebrew name Yochanan (יוֹחָנָן), meaning "God is gracious." US SSA data shows about 6,398 people named Shayne, used as a masculine name 78% of the time. Keywords: Biblical, one syllable.

Shea. Irish. This was masculine, but has been a neutral name since at least the 1970s. An anglicized form of the Irish masculine name Séaghdha, possibly meaning "Esteemed, majestic" in Irish. US SSA data shows about 7,926 people with this name, used as a feminine name 60% of the time. Keywords: one syllable.

Sheridan. English. This name had some use as a masculine given name in the 1890s, and then came to be used as a feminine given name in the 1990s and 2000s. From the Irish Gaelic surname, meaning "Descendant of the searcher" in Gaelic. US SSA data shows about 4,866 people with this name, used as a feminine name 68% of the time. Keywords: Generation Y, Generation Z, three syllables.

Shi. Chinese. With Chinese given names such as this, the meaning depends on which characters with the same pronunciation are chosen to write it. US SSA data shows about 5,131 people with this name, used as a feminine name 83% of the time. Keywords: one syllable.

Shia. US SSA data shows about 367 people with this name, used as a masculine name 57% of the time.

Shiloh (שִׁילֹה). Hebrew. This became popularized as a neutral name in the 2000s when a celebrity couple used it for their child. In the Hebrew Bible, this is a place name, meaning "tranquil," and is also used in passages that some interpret as prophecies about the Messiah. US SSA data shows about 1,658 people with this name, used as a feminine name 68% of the time. Keywords: Biblical, two syllables.

Shin (しん). Japanese. With Japanese names, the meaning depends on which kanji characters with the same pronunciation are chosen to write them. Some possible choices for meanings include "Heart" (心), "New" (新), "Trust" (信), "True" (真), or "Forest" (森), or other meanings. In Japan, this is traditionally a gender-neutral name. In the US, SSA data shows about 3,998 people with this name, used as a masculine name 89% of the time. Keywords: one syllable.

Shinobu (しのぶ). Japanese. With Japanese names, the meaning depends on which kanji characters with the same pronunciation are chosen to write them. In Japan, this is traditionally a gender-neutral name. In the US, SSA data shows about 376 people with this name, used as a masculine name 69% of the time. Keywords: three syllables.

Shoney. US SSA data shows about 74 people with this name, used as a feminine name 67% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Sidney. English. From the English surname, from various English place names, meaning "Wide island" in Old English. US SSA data shows about 64,263 people with this name, used as a masculine name 77% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Silver. English. Meaning "the metal silver, or its color," or "like silver, having a dulcet sound, or being eloquently persuasive" in English. US SSA data shows about 1,792 people with this name, used as a feminine name 78% of the time. Keywords: English word names, metal, prosperity, treasure, two syllables.

Simcha (שִׂמְחָה). Hebrew. Meaning "Happiness, joy" in Hebrew. US SSA data shows about 827 people with this name, used as a masculine name 86% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Sky. English. Meaning "the upper atmosphere; the region that makes an apparent great vault over the earth; heaven" in English. US SSA data shows about 2,377 people with this name, used as a feminine name 66% of the time. Keywords: air, English word names, one syllable.

Skye. English. Traditionally feminine. From the name of the Isle of Skye near the coast of Scotland. US SSA data shows about 2,805 people with this name, used as a feminine name 88% of the time. Keywords: air, one syllable, travel.

Sloan. English. A neutral variant of the feminine name Sloane, from the Irish surname, which came from an Anglicized form of the ancient Irish masculine given name Sluaghadhán, meaning "A little raid" in ancient Irish. US SSA data shows about 223 people with this name, used as a feminine name 63% of the time.

Snehal. US SSA data shows about 562 people with this name, used as a masculine name 87% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Sol. 1. Jewish. Masculine. A short form of the Hebrew masculine name Solomon (Shelomoh שְׁלֹמֹה), meaning "Peace" in Hebrew. The ancient and wise King Solomon is traditionally held to be the author of several books of the Hebrew Bible. 2. Spanish and Portuguese. Masculine or neutral. Meaning "the sun" in Spanish and Portuguese. US SSA data shows about 7,708 people named Sol, used as a masculine name 75% of the time. Keywords: Biblical, light, one syllable, sun, wisdom.

Solace. African-American English. Meaning "To give comfort in grief or misfortune; to allay and soothe; to make cheerful" in English. US SSA data shows about 37 people with this name, used as a feminine name 72% of the time. Keywords: African diaspora, English word names, kindness, happiness, love, modern, two syllables, virtue.

Soma. Hungarian. Traditionally masculine. Meaning "Dogwood tree" in Hungarian. US SSA data shows about 720 people with this name, used as a feminine name 61% of the time. Keywords: flowers, two syllables, plants, trees.

Sopheap (សុភាព). Khmer. Meaning "Gentle, proper" in Khmer. US SSA data shows about 669 people with this name, used as a feminine name 65% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Sora. Japanese. With Japanese given names, the meaning depends on which kanji characters with the same pronunciation are chosen to write it. US SSA data shows about 469 people with this name, used as a feminine name 87% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Stacy. English. This was a masculine name until the 1950s, when it became neutral or more feminine. A diminutive of the feminine Russian name Anastasia, which is a form of the masculine name Anastasius, meaning "Resurrection" in Greek. Several saints were named Anastasius or Anastasia, which kept them in use as Christian names. US SSA data shows about 177,151 people with this name, used as a feminine name 89% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Starlin. US SSA data shows about 283 people with this name, used as a masculine name 80% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Starling. English. Meaning "the songbird with iridescent feathers" in English. US SSA data shows about 757 people with this name, used as a masculine name 87% of the time. Keywords: air, animals, birds, cities, English word names, music, nature, songs, two syllables.

Stav (סתָו). Hebrew. Meaning "Autumn" in Hebrew. US SSA data shows about 46 people with this name, used as a masculine name 54% of the time. Keywords: Autumn, one syllable, seasons, time.

Stevie. English. Diminutive of masculine Stephen or feminine Stephanie. US SSA data shows about 6,580 people with this name, used as a masculine name 59% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Storm. English, Dutch, Danish, and Norwegian. Meaning "Storm" in English. US SSA data shows about 1,045 people with this name, used as a masculine name 61% of the time, so it is very gender neutral. (The variant Stormy, however, which about 2,558 people in the US have, is used as a feminine name 90% of the time, so it is not very gender neutral.) Keywords: air, battle, English word names, power, weather.

Sully. English. Diminutive of Sullivan. US SSA data shows about 488 people with this name, used as a masculine name 56% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.

Sundown. US SSA data shows about 70 people with this name, used as a feminine name 67% of the time. Keywords: English word names, dark, light, night, sun, two syllables.

Sung (성). Korean. Variant transcription of the neutral name Seong. Meaning depends on the hanja characters chosen to write it. US SSA data shows about 20,793 people with this name, used as a masculine name 84% of the time. Keywords: one syllable.

Sunny. English. Meaning "Full of sunshine, cheerful" in English. US SSA data shows about 14,051 people with this name, used as a feminine name 74% of the time. Keywords: cute, English word names, light, two syllables, sun.

Sutton. English. From the surname Sutton, from the place names, meaning "South town" in English. US SSA data shows about 395 people with this name, used as a masculine name 53% of the time. Keywords: two syllables.