Savannah
suh-VA-nuh
Savannah is an English-language given name derived directly from the English word savannah, which refers to a flat grassland ecosystem found in tropical and subtropical regions.
The word entered English from the Spanish sabana, itself borrowed from the Taino language of the Caribbean.
The name is also strongly associated with the city of Savannah, Georgia, founded in 1733 by James Oglethorpe and one of the oldest cities in the American South.
What the name Savannah means
The city’s historic character, antebellum architecture, and Spanish-moss-draped squares have made Savannah a cultural symbol of Southern elegance, a quality that parents often consciously or unconsciously associate with the name.
In United States baby name records, Savannah entered the top 200 in the 1980s and rose steadily through the 1990s and 2000s, peaking in the top 30 during the 2010s.
It is particularly popular in Southern states, including Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama, where place-name and nature-name conventions overlap.
The name became more widely recognized through cultural appearances including the 1994 film Forrest Gump, where the character Jenny Curran’s hometown carries thematic weight associated with Southern American identity.
More directly, Savannah has been used as a given name in multiple American television dramas and reality series since the 1990s.
Savannah belongs to the broader category of American place and nature names that rose to prominence in the late 20th century, alongside Sierra, Cheyenne, and Dakota.
Its 3-syllable rhythm, open vowel sounds, and strong geographic identity give it lasting appeal across regions and cultural backgrounds.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Savannah
Savannah - similar names
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