Neutral names starting with S: Difference between revisions

'''Sacha'''. French. Form of the Russian unisex name '''Sasha''', which itself is a pet form of the masculine name Alexander.<ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/Sasha</ref><ref name="20knames4">https://www.20000-names.com/androgynous_names_unisex_names_04.htm</ref> 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,<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SA/SACHA/index.html</ref> whereas in France, it's more often for boys.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/sacha</ref> US SSA data shows about 933 people named '''Sascha''', used as a feminine name 77% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SA/SASCHA/index.html</ref> In the US, '''Sasha''' is feminine 96% of the time, so that spelling is not gender-neutral in that country.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SA/SASHA/index.html</ref> Keywords: two syllables.

'''Sage'''. English. This became a neutral given name in the 1990s, which has been growing in popularity into the 2010s.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/sage</ref> Meaning "Wise and experienced; mature or venerable," or "A cooking herb, or the unrelated but similar-smelling plant, sagebrush" in English.<ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sage</ref> US SSA data shows about 2,029 people with this name, used as a feminine name 65% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SA/SAGE/index.html</ref> Keywords: aromas, English word names, food, longevity, nature, one syllable, plants.  

'''Sam'''. English. Short for names which may be feminine or masculine, such as feminine Samantha, or masculine Samuel or Samson. Sam is a more neutral name in the Netherlands, and more masculine in many other countries. <ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/sam-1</ref> US SSA data shows about 168,904 people with this name, used as a masculine name 99% of the time,<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SA/SAM/index.html</ref> 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,<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SA/SAMMI/index.html</ref> while '''Sammie''' is masculine 73% of the time,<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SA/SAMMIE/index.html</ref> and '''Sammy''' is masculine 96% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SA/SAMMY/index.html</ref> 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]].

'''Santana'''. English and Spanish. From the surname, and from many place names called Santa Ana.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/santana/submitted</ref> These places are named for the Catholic figure known in English as Saint Anne, who the mother of the Virgin Mary (in the apochrypha).<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/anna</ref> 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,<ref name=crawley>{{cite web|url=http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/ANNE.HTM |title=Lives of Saints, John J. Crawley & Co., Inc |publisher=Ewtn.com |access-date=2013-08-15}}</ref> miners,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcah.columbia.edu/courses/medmil/pages/non-mma-pages/text_links/st_anne.html |title=Butler, Alban. ed. Michael Walsh. Lives of the Patron Saints. Burns and Oates: Kent, 1987. p. 53-4 |publisher=Mcah.columbia.edu |access-date=2013-11-03}}</ref> sailors, and protector from storms.<ref name=ottawa>{{cite web |url=http://www.olomc-ottawa.com/Anne&Joachim.html |title=Saint Anne and Saint Joachim, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Ottawa, Ontario |publisher=Olomc-ottawa.com |access-date=2013-08-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810123226/http://www.olomc-ottawa.com/Anne%26Joachim.html |archive-date=2014-08-10 }}</ref> US SSA data shows about 3,501 people named Santana, used as a feminine name 56% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SA/SANTANA/index.html</ref> Keywords: Christian, three syllables, travel.

'''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).<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/schuyler</ref> US SSA data shows about 2,159 people with the given name Schuyler, used as a masculine name 77% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SC/SCHUYLER/index.html</ref> 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.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/skyler</ref><ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SK/SKYLER/index.html</ref> US SSA data shows about 1,760 people with the spelling variant '''Skylar''', used as a feminine name 75% of the time.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/skylar</ref><ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SK/SKYLAR/index.html</ref> Keywords: air, education, intelligence, literature, two syllables, writing.

'''Scout'''. English. 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''.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/scout</ref><ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scout</ref> 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.<ref>Laura Hakala, "Scouting for a tomboy: Gender-bending behaviors in Harper Lee's to Kill A Mockingbird" (2010). ''Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 176.  https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1176&context=etd</ref> US SSA data shows about 163 people with this name, used as a feminine name 68% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SC/SCOUT/index.html</ref> Keywords: exploration, literature, one syllable, travel.

'''Selby'''. English. From the surname, from the place name. Meaning "Willow farm" in Old Norse.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/selby</ref> US SSA data shows about 961 people with this name, used as a masculine name 72% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SE/SELBY/index.html</ref> Keywords: plants, trees, two syllables.

'''Shalom''' (שָׁלוֹם). Hebrew. Traditionally a masculine name. Meaning "Peace" in Hebrew, and also used as a greeting.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/shalom</ref> US SSA data shows about 1,277 people with this name, used as a masculine name 65% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SH/SHALOM/index.html</ref> Keywords: two syllables.

'''Shay''' (שַׁי). Hebrew. Also transcribed '''Shai'''. Meaning "Gift" in Hebrew.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/shay-2</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/shai</ref> US SSA data shows about 7,634 people named Shay, used as a feminine name 60% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SH/SHAY/index.html</ref> US SSA data shows about 585 people with the variant '''Shaya''', used as a feminine name 52% of the time.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/shaia/submitted</ref><ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SH/SHAYA/index.html</ref> US SSA data shows about 330 people with the variant '''Shey''', used as a masculine name 51% of the time.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/shey/submitted</ref><ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SH/SHEY/index.html</ref> 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 surname, meaning "Descendant of the searcher" in Gaelic.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/sheridan</ref> US SSA data shows about 4,866 people with this name, used as a feminine name 68% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SH/SHERIDAN/index.html</ref> Keywords: Generation Y, Generation Z, three syllables.

'''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.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/shiloh</ref> US SSA data shows about 1,658 people with this name, used as a feminine name 68% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SH/SHILOH/index.html</ref> Keywords: Biblical, two syllables.

'''Sidney'''. English. From the English surname, from various English place names, meaning "Wide island" in Old English.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/sidney</ref><ref>https://surnames.behindthename.com/name/sidney</ref> US SSA data shows about 64,263 people with this name, used as a masculine name 77% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SI/SIDNEY/index.html</ref> 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.<ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silver</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/silver</ref> US SSA data shows about 1,792 people with this name, used as a feminine name 78% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SI/SILVER/index.html</ref> Keywords:  English word names, metal, prosperity, treasure, two syllables.

'''Sky'''. English. Meaning "the upper atmosphere; the region that makes an apparent great vault over the earth; heaven" in English.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/sky</ref><ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sky</ref> US SSA data shows about 2,377 people with this name, used as a feminine name 66% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SK/SKY/index.html</ref> Keywords: air, English word names, one syllable.

'''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.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/sol-2</ref> 2. Spanish and Portuguese. Masculine. Meaning "the sun" in Spanish and Portuguese.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/sol-1</ref> US SSA data shows about 7,708 people named Sol, used as a masculine name 75% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SO/SOL/index.html</ref> 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.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/solace/submitted</ref><ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solace</ref> US SSA data shows about 37 people with this name, used as a feminine name 72% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SO/SOLACE/index.html</ref> Keywords: African diaspora, English word names, kindness, happiness, love, modern, two syllables, virtue.

'''Stevie'''. English. Diminutive of masculine Stephen or feminine Stephanie.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/stevie</ref> US SSA data shows about 6,580 people with this name, used as a masculine name 59% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/ST/STEVIE/index.html</ref> Keywords: two syllables.

'''Storm'''. English, Dutch, Danish, and Norwegian. Meaning "Storm" in English.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/storm</ref> 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.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/ST/STORM/index.html</ref> (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.)<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/ST/STORMY/index.html</ref> Keywords: air, battle, English word names, power, weather.

'''Sung''' (성). Korean. Variant transcription of the neutral name '''Seong'''. Meaning depends on the ''hanja'' characters chosen to write it.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/sung</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/seong</ref> US SSA data shows about 20,793 people with this name, used as a masculine name 84% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SU/SUNG/index.html</ref> Keywords: one syllable.

'''Sutton'''. English. From the surname Sutton, from the place names, meaning "South town" in English.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/sutton/submitted</ref> US SSA data shows about 395 people with this name, used as a masculine name 53% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/S/SU/SUTTON/index.html</ref> Keywords: two syllables.