Sally
Say it: SAL-ee/ˈsæl.i/
GirlMeans a pet form of Sarah, which means "princess"5 letters2 syllables
#239
in Ireland (2025)
#241 with spellings combined
18
babies in 2025
#153
best rank (1997)
1,085
babies since 1964
Down 31
10-year rank change
Sally through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | #241 |
| 2024 | 11 | #341 |
| 2023 | 15 | #263 |
| 2022 | 15 | #288 |
| 2021 | 10 | #389 |
| 2020 | 11 | #355 |
| 2019 | 19 | #248 |
| 2018 | 13 | #333 |
| 2017 | 15 | #301 |
| 2016 | 12 | #360 |
| 2015 | 25 | #210 |
| 2014 | 13 | #353 |
| 2013 | 18 | #274 |
| 2012 | 18 | #281 |
| 2011 | 14 | #342 |
| 2010 | 15 | #333 |
| 2009 | 13 | #359 |
| 2008 | 33 | #176 |
| 2007 | 18 | #259 |
| 2006 | 18 | #238 |
| 2005 | 12 | #300 |
| 2004 | 16 | #235 |
| 2003 | 19 | #200 |
| 2002 | 19 | #197 |
| 2001 | 23 | #173 |
| 2000 | 16 | #213 |
| 1999 | 24 | #153 |
| 1998 | 19 | #179 |
| 1997 | 32 | #153 |
| 1996 | 17 | #227 |
| 1995 | 23 | #187 |
| 1994 | 28 | #158 |
| 1993 | 13 | #266 |
| 1992 | 24 | #185 |
| 1991 | 16 | #237 |
| 1990 | 17 | #221 |
| 1989 | 16 | #228 |
| 1988 | 9 | #329 |
| 1987 | 8 | #348 |
| 1986 | 15 | #250 |
| 1985 | 20 | #225 |
| 1984 | 9 | #320 |
| 1983 | 19 | #232 |
| 1982 | 18 | #248 |
| 1981 | 17 | #251 |
| 1980 | 24 | #216 |
| 1979 | 17 | #253 |
| 1978 | 17 | #244 |
| 1977 | 14 | #262 |
| 1976 | 27 | #199 |
| 1975 | 27 | #190 |
| 1974 | 19 | #228 |
| 1973 | 20 | #225 |
| 1972 | 22 | #208 |
| 1971 | 8 | #303 |
| 1970 | 15 | #223 |
| 1969 | 22 | #197 |
| 1968 | 19 | #197 |
| 1967 | 17 | #192 |
| 1966 | 9 | #236 |
| 1965 | 22 | #167 |
| 1964 | 13 | #206 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Sally mean?
A pet form of Sarah, which means "princess"
English, a pet form of Sarah with l in place of r.
Say it right
SALee
The story of Sally
Sally began as a pet form of Sarah, the Hebrew name meaning princess. Small children often swap an r for an l, and many English nicknames grew that way: Molly and Polly from Mary, Hal from Harry, and Sally from Sarah. Over time Sally became a full name in its own right.
In Ireland the novelist Sally Rooney is its best-known bearer today.
Sally was already in use in Ireland when the CSO records begin, and it has never been out of use since. Its best rank was number 153 in 1997, and it had the most babies in 2008, with 33. It picked up again recently, with 18 girls named Sally in 2025. The CSO counts Sallie and other spellings as separate names.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Sally (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Sally (name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Sally | 18 | 1,085 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #230 (2001); 48 babies since 1999.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.