Sabah
The name of Arabic origin refers to early morning or dawn.
Name Census estimates that about 507 living Americans carry the first name Sabah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Sabah today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sabah births was 1996 (22 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sabah. 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
507
~ 1 in 676,044 Americans
Peak year
1996
22 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,902
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Sabah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sabah from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 158 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sabah 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 Sabah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sabahs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Sabah
The name Sabah originates from the Arabic language and has its roots in the Middle Eastern region. It is derived from the Arabic word "sabah," which means "morning" or "dawn." This name is often associated with the beauty and freshness of a new day, signifying a new beginning or a fresh start.
In the Islamic tradition, Sabah is considered a virtuous name, as it is mentioned in the Qur'an as one of the attributes of Allah. The verse "Fa Subhan Allah hina tumsoon wa hina tusbihoon" (Quran 30:17) translates to "So glorify Allah when you enter the evening and when you arise in the morning."
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Sabah can be found in the works of renowned Arab poets and scholars from the 7th and 8th centuries. The name gained popularity during the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th centuries, and was often given to individuals born in the early hours of the day.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Sabah. One of the most prominent was Sabah al-Din Ghaznavi (1020-1099), a Persian Muslim poet and philosopher who lived during the Seljuk Empire. His works, particularly his collection of poems titled "Diwan," have had a lasting influence on Persian literature.
Another notable figure was Sabah al-Din Mahmud Malik al-Muazzam (1165-1227), a Kurdish prince and ruler of the Ayyubid dynasty. He played a crucial role in the defense of the Levant against the Crusaders and was known for his military prowess and strategic acumen.
In the modern era, Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah (1929-2020) was the Emir of Kuwait from 2006 to 2020. He was widely respected for his efforts in promoting regional stability and economic development in the Persian Gulf region.
Additionally, Sabah Amir (1944-2016) was an influential Egyptian writer and literary critic. Her works, which explored themes of feminism and social justice, earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature.
Sabah Fakhri (1933-2022) was a renowned Syrian singer and actress, often referred to as the "Queen of Syrian Song." Her iconic voice and performances captivated audiences across the Arab world, and she played a significant role in preserving and promoting Syrian cultural heritage.
People
Sabah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sabah 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
Sabah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sabah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 507 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sabah 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 676,044 US residents.
Is Sabah a common name?
We classify Sabah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 522 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sabah most popular?
The single biggest year for Sabah was 1996, when 22 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sabah is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sabah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sabah 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.
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.