Sahalie
A feminine name of Native American origin meaning "heavenly waters" or "heavenly valley".
Name Census estimates that about 124 living Americans carry the first name Sahalie. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Sahalie today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sahalie births was 2014 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sahalie. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
124
~ 1 in 2,764,148 Americans
Peak year
2014
11 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#13,175
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Sahalie: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sahalie from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 63 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Sahalie remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sahalie by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Sahalie during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sahalies live
Origin
Meaning and history of Sahalie
The name Sahalie is believed to have originated from the Native American Sahaptin language, spoken by indigenous peoples of the Plateau region in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It is derived from the Sahaptin word "sahali," meaning "high" or "heavenly." The name is closely associated with the natural beauty and spiritual significance of the region's landscapes, particularly the majestic Cascade mountain range.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Sahalie can be found in the journals of Lewis and Clark, the famous explorers who traversed the Pacific Northwest during their famous expedition in the early 19th century. They encountered the Sahaptin-speaking Nez Perce tribe and documented the name in their writings, which served as an important record of the indigenous cultures and languages of the region.
Throughout history, the name Sahalie has been carried by several notable individuals, many of whom were closely connected to the natural world and the preservation of Native American cultures and traditions. One such individual was Sahalie Jackson (1901-1995), a renowned Nez Perce basket weaver and cultural ambassador, who played a vital role in ensuring the survival of her tribe's traditions and sharing them with the world.
Another prominent figure was Sahalie Townsend (1895-1985), a Warm Springs writer and activist who advocated for the rights of Native Americans and the preservation of their lands and cultures. Her writings and speeches brought attention to the struggles faced by indigenous communities and inspired others to fight for their rights.
In the world of literature, the name Sahalie was immortalized by the American author and environmentalist, Sahalie Remmers (1911-1999), whose writings celebrated the beauty of the natural world and advocated for its protection. Her works, such as "Sahalie's Harvest" and "Sahalie's Journey," drew inspiration from the landscapes and cultures of the Pacific Northwest.
Another notable figure was Sahalie Holbert (1921-2007), a Yakama Nation elder and traditional healer, who dedicated her life to preserving and sharing the knowledge and wisdom of her tribe's healing practices. Her teachings and guidance were invaluable in ensuring the continuation of these ancient traditions.
The name Sahalie has also been celebrated in the arts, with Sahalie Harding (1937-2021), a renowned Navajo painter and sculptor, whose works captured the essence of her people's traditions and connection to the land. Her creations have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums, preserving the cultural legacy of the Navajo Nation.
People
Sahalie + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sahalie as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Sahalie: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sahalie?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 124 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sahalie going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,764,148 US residents.
Is Sahalie a common name?
We classify Sahalie as "Very Rare". It ranks above 67.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 125 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sahalie most popular?
The single biggest year for Sahalie was 2014, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sahalie is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Sahalie in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Sahalie a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sahalie in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Sahalie still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Sahalie in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Sahalie can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Sahalie?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Sahalie on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.