Name meaning & stats
Sally
Sally (English origin). 142,195 US babies since 1940, peak 1947. Notable Sallys are 1.3× over-represented as professors.
What it means
No agreed meaning on record
English
A pet form of Sarah.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1947
142,195 US babies were named Sally between 1940 and 2025.
Where Sallys end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | 0.9× | High · 46 people |
| Writer | 1.2× | High · 43 people |
| Politician | 1.0× | High · 29 people |
| Professor | 1.3× | High · 25 people |
Among notable women who are professors, Sallys show up 1.3× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Sally has a surprise career: 1.6×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 90% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1947)