Dog Names That Start With S
- Seneca
Origin:
Latin surname and Native AmericanMeaning:
"people of the standing rock"Description:
Seneca's distinguished heritage as the name of the ancient Roman philosopher-playwright who tutored Nero, and of an Iroquois tribe makes this an interesting choice for either sex.
- Sandra
Origin:
Diminutive of Alessandra, Italian from GreekMeaning:
"defending men"Description:
2012's Hurricane Sandy blew away whatever style currency Sandra retained from its 1960s Sandra Dee heyday. While in recent years it's been associated with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, as a baby name Sandra is sinking beneath the waves.
- Saylor
Origin:
Surname-name or spelling variation of SailorMeaning:
"ropemaker; dancer, acrobat; boatman"Description:
Currently in the US Top 300, Saylor finds the middle ground between the popular and unisex Taylor, and the more unexpected, wordier Sailor. In fact, it is currently used more often than either of its sound-alikes.
- Severine
Origin:
French, feminine variation of Severus; LatinMeaning:
"stern"Description:
This long-popular name in France sounds fresh, elegant and unusual here. Severine is the name of the most recent gorgeous James Bond Girl in the film Skyfall. Students of film history will associate the name with the complex character Catherine Deneuve played in the 1967 Bunuel classic, Belle de Jour..
- Sinead
Origin:
Irish form of JanetMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
One of the best known of the Irish girls' names, thanks to singer Sinead O'Connor. Though it's still in the Irish Top 100, it's no longer quite as fashionable in Ireland as Aoife or Aisling. But by now everyone in the Western World knows it's pronounced shin-aid and so would have no trouble fitting in on an American playground.
- Smith
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"blacksmith"Description:
Even if it is the Number one surname in the U.S.--with more than 2.5 million bearers--we still think that Smith would make a cool first or middle name, whether or not it has family history.
- Senara
Origin:
Variation of Azenor, BretonMeaning:
"light"Description:
The origins of Senara, the name of a Cornish saint who is patron of the village of Zennor, are not so straightforward. Some say she was the same person as Azenor, a legendary Breton princess whose mother-in-law cast her out to sea in a trunk. Other stories say she was a mermaid turned Christian.
- Sinclair
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"from the town of St. Clair"Description:
Could be a novel way for a boy's name to honor an ancestral Claire.
- Savita
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"sun"Description:
Savita is among the most popular Hindi names for girls, and one that could easily immigrate. Want more ideas? How about the Italian or Spanish Sarita or the simplified Vita or the Scandinavian Sunniva?
- Sosie
Origin:
Diminutive of SusanDescription:
Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon chose this unusual diminutive for their daughter.
- Sierra
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"saw-toothed"Description:
Sierra is a name borrowed from the western mountain range, with Latin rhythm and cowboy charm. It is now probably past its peak for girls, but remains a striking nature-inspired choice for boys, with a strong, surprising and energetic sound. The meaning refers to the sharp, irregular peaks of some of the Western mountains such as the Sierra Nevada.
- Skyler
Origin:
Spelling variation of SchuylerDescription:
While Skylar is currently the most popular spelling choice for girls - and the spelling seen most often - the Skyler option is more (statistically) unisex. Given to boy and girls in nearly equal numbers each year, it ranks around the middle of the US Top 1000 and is given to more than 400 boys every year.
- Spencer
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"keeper of provisions"Description:
Yes, Spencer makes a plausible and powerful female choice these days, though still thought of as primarily for boys. Kelsey Grammer used it for his daughter in the 1980's. Spencer made its first appearance on the girls' Top 1000 in 2017.
- Scarlet
Origin:
Color nameDescription:
The Scarlet spelling makes it less a name, less Gone With The Wind and Scarlett Johansson, and more the bright red color that inspired it in the first place.
- Suzanne
Origin:
French variation of SusanMeaning:
"lily"Description:
Suzanne became popular along with Susan but has just dropped out of the Top 1,000. Wait a generation (or two) in the US, though in France Suzanne is once again tres chic.
- Sian
Origin:
Welsh variation of JaneMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
Simple and pretty and user-friendly, the Welsh Sian was used by U2's Dave "the Edge" Evans for his daughter. In Welsh, it is also spelled Siân.
- Sai
Origin:
Hindi or JapaneseMeaning:
"holy or difference"Description:
As an Indian name, Sai honors spiritual master Shirdi Sai Baba, who was revered by both Hindu and Muslim devotees. Sai is the name of the young heroine of Kiran Desai's prizewinning The Inheritance of Loss, while Sai De Silva is a Real Housewife of NYC.
- Sheila
Origin:
Irish variation of CeciliaMeaning:
"blind"Description:
Sheila peaked in popularity from the 1930s to the 1960s (she reached Number 49 in 1965), along with Maureen and Colleen; parents today would probably go back to the original Cecilia or forward to Shea.
- Selma
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"godly helmet"Description:
Selma has recently been given a more youthful spin via actresses Selma Blair and Salma Hayek. But while Selma has not yet become popular again in the US, it is widely used in both Sweden and Norway.
- Sora
Origin:
Japanese or KoreanMeaning:
"sky; conch shell"Description:
A simple and pretty multicultural name: as a Japanese name, it's unisex and means "sky"; as a Korean name, it's feminine and means "conch shell".