Girl Names Starting with S

The Names

• Sabrina: Traces back to the Latin name of the British river Severn (Habren).
• Samira: A name from the Arabic-speaking world. The common interpretation is “evening companion.”
• Sarah: The Hebrew root of this name means “noblewoman” or “princess.” A common spelling variant is Sara.
• Saskia: A name of Germanic origin documented as “the Saxon woman.”
• Selina: Its origin is not conclusively established. The name is often seen as a variant of Celine (Latin for “heavenly”), but a connection to the Greek moon goddess Selene is also widely cited.
• Selma: Different name histories are documented for this name. It is regarded as a Celtic given name meaning “fair view,” but also as an Arabic name derived from the term for “peace.”
• Senta: Documented as a short form of Kreszentia. The Latin word root means “to grow” or “to become larger.”
• Serena: A Latin given name whose meaning is confirmed as “calm” or “serene.”
• Shirin: Originates from the Persian-speaking world. The documented meaning is “sweet” or “pleasant.”
• Sibylle: Traces back to the Greek word for “prophetess” or “seeress.” Variants are Sybille or Sibylla.
• Silvia: The Latin word root “silva” means “forest.” Sylvia is a common alternative spelling.
• Simona: The feminine form of Simon. The Hebrew root of the name means “he has heard.”
• Sina: In European naming practice, Sina is a short form of, among others, names ending in -sina. Independently, there is the Persian boy name Sina, which is linked to the designation Sinai. These name histories have no common blanket translation.
• Skadi: A name from Norse mythology. The Old Norse word root is usually translated as “harm”; she is the documented goddess of hunting and winter.
• Smilla: A literary given name popularized by the Danish author Peter Høeg. He derived it from the Danish word “smil” (smile).
• Sophia: The Greek root of this name means “wisdom.” Sofia is the most common alternative spelling.
• Solveig: An Old Norse name. The older word meaning of the name elements is not conclusively clarified; widespread interpretations are “path of the sun” or “the mistress of the house.”
• Sonja: Documented as a Russian diminutive of Sophia and therefore shares the meaning “wisdom.”
• Stella: Traces back directly to the Latin word for “star.”
• Stephanie: The feminine form of Stephan. The Greek root means “wreath” or “crown.” Stefanie is another established spelling.
• Svenja: A Low German and Frisian formation from the masculine name Sven, whose Old Norse root means “young man.”
• Svea: This name originated as a personification of Sweden (“Svea rike” – realm of the Swedes) and has been documented there since the 17th century.

Pronunciation and Combinations with the Initial Letter S

When you choose a girl name starting with S, it is worth looking at the pronunciation. In German, the S at the beginning of a name before a vowel is generally pronounced voiced (soft), as in Sarah or Sonja. Before the consonants P and T, it is traditionally articulated as “sh” („Sch“), as in Stefanie or Stella. In other languages, such as English or Scandinavian languages, the S often remains voiceless (sharp).

Also pay attention to the transition to the last name. If your last name also begins with an S or “sh” sound, speech can stumble if the first name ends with a similar consonant. Since most girl names starting with S end with a vowel (such as Sophia or Svea), a smooth flow is usually created here. The best way to test this is by saying the first and last name out loud several times in a row.

The Next Step in Finding a Name

The letter S offers a wide range of possibilities. To find out which direction appeals to both of you, you can use the filter function in the HeyName app. Specifically select the initial letter S and set the desired length or language area if needed. This allows you to rate names independently and immediately see which S names appear as mutual matches for both of you. You can then discuss these together at your leisure.

Editorial update: September 22, 2026

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