Sade
A feminine name of Nigerian origin meaning "crown" or "princess".
Name Census estimates that about 9,671 living Americans carry the first name Sade. It is a predominantly female name (98.9% of registrations). The average person named Sade today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sade births was 1986 (1,259 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sade. 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.
Key insights
- • Although Sade is used almost entirely for girls, the SSA data does show 113 boys registered with the name since 1880.
People living today
9.7K
~ 1 in 35,441 Americans
Peak year
1986
1,259 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,162
Tracked since 1985
Gender
Gender distribution for Sade
Sade leans heavily female at 98.9% of total registrations, but 113 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Sade as a male name
- Ranked #12,044 in 2024
- 6 male births in 2024
- Peak: 1989 (17 births)
Sade as a female name
- Ranked #2,162 in 2024
- 88 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1986 (1,245 births)
Popularity
Sade: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sade from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 3,526 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sade 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 Sade during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sades live
The SSA's state-level files cover 32 states and territories. New York, California, Florida recorded the most babies named Sade, while Washington, Minnesota, Kentucky recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 262 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Sade
The name Sade is derived from the Yoruba language spoken in parts of West Africa, particularly in modern-day Nigeria. It originated as a word meaning "crown" or "royalty" and was often given to children born into noble or royal families.
In the 18th century, the name Sade gained recognition in the Western world through the writings of the French philosopher and novelist, the Marquis de Sade (1740-1814). Although he did not bear the name Sade as a first name, his controversial works and reputation for exploring themes of sexuality and cruelty brought the name into the public consciousness.
One of the earliest recorded instances of Sade as a first name dates back to the late 19th century, when Sade Alexis-Baker (1857-1948) was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She became a prominent educator and activist, working tirelessly to promote educational opportunities for African American children.
In the 20th century, the name gained further prominence with the rise of the Nigerian-born British singer-songwriter, Sade Adu (born 1959). Her smooth, soulful vocals and sophisticated blend of genres made her one of the most successful and influential musicians of her time, earning her numerous awards and accolades.
Another notable figure bearing the name Sade was the American novelist and playwright, Sade Delano Woodard (1920-2002). Her works often explored themes of race, identity, and the African American experience, earning her critical acclaim and numerous literary honors.
In the world of sports, Sade Ogundipe (born 1984) is a Nigerian-born American hurdler and sprinter who has represented the United States in several international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
Finally, Sade Baderinwa (born 1969) is an American television journalist and news anchor, known for her work with WABC-TV in New York City, where she has covered major events and reported on issues affecting the local community.
People
Sade + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sade 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
Sade: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sade?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9,671 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sade 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 35,441 US residents.
Is Sade a common name?
We classify Sade as "Rare". It ranks above 97.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10,000 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sade most popular?
The single biggest year for Sade was 1986, when 1,259 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sade is about 30 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sade a female name?
Yes, 98.9% of people registered as Sade 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.