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Updated August 7, 2024

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Girl name origins & meanings

  • Middle English : Woodsman

What does Sawyer mean and stand for?

The name Sawyer is of English origin and means "woodcutter." It is derived from the Middle English surname for "sawer of wood".

Syllables: 2

Boy name origins & meanings

  • Middle English : Woodsman

What does Sawyer mean and stand for?

The name Sawyer is of English origin and means "woodcutter." It is derived from the Middle English surname for "sawer of wood".

Syllables: 2

Boy name variations

How Popular Is The Name Sawyer

Famous people who gave their babies this name

What Does the Name Sawyer Mean? 

Sawyer is a gender-neutral name of English origin, meaning "wood-worker." It originated as an occupational family name for someone earning their living by sawing wood, but has since become a popular first name. 

How Popular is the Name Sawyer?

Sawyer is the #114 most popular boys' name and #216 most popular girls' name in the U.S., according to 2021 Social Security Administration data. As a boys' name, Sawyer has been consistently popular, only recently falling out of the top 100 which it was in from 2015 to 2018. Not quite as popular as a girls' name, Sawyer has consistently maintained a spot in the mid-200s for women.

However, it is the 5th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Sawyer was at its peak popularity in June 2020. 

Popularity of the Name Sawyer in the United States

Sawyer was searched for most often in the following states:

  • New Hampshire
  • Wisconsin
  • Maine
  • Vermont
  • Kentucky

Famous People Named Sawyer and Sawyer in Pop Culture 

Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg named their son Sawyer, arguably causing the sudden spike in popularity. Celebrities Sara Gilbert and Diane Farr followed suit but for their daughters. Sawyer has also been chosen for characters in Lost and One Tree Hill.

Nicknames for Sawyer

  • Saw
  • Sawy
  • Sully
  • Sy

Pairs Well with These Middle Names

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