Saffron
A feminine name of Persian origin referring to the vivid orange-yellow spice.
Name Census estimates that about 700 living Americans carry the first name Saffron. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Saffron today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Saffron births was 2006 (36 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Saffron. 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
700
~ 1 in 489,649 Americans
Peak year
2006
36 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,564
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Saffron: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Saffron from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 261 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Saffron remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Saffron 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 Saffron during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Saffrons live
Origin
Meaning and history of Saffron
The name Saffron has its origins in the Middle English word "saffron," which derives from the Old French "safran" and ultimately from the Arabic "za'faran." This Arabic word refers to the vibrant orange-red spice derived from the crocus flower.
In ancient times, saffron was highly valued for its color, flavor, and fragrance. It was used in cooking, dyeing fabrics, and as a perfume. The name Saffron likely emerged as a reference to the valuable spice, reflecting its rarity and beauty.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Saffron can be found in the 16th century. A notable bearer was Saffron Walden, an English botanist and herbalist born around 1530. She was known for her extensive knowledge of plants and their medicinal properties.
Another historical figure with the name Saffron was Saffron Bradshaw, an English actress who lived from 1690 to 1769. She was a renowned performer in the theaters of London during the early 18th century.
In the 19th century, Saffron Tomkins (1833-1918) was an American author and journalist who wrote extensively on women's rights and social issues. Her works focused on promoting equality and advocating for progressive causes.
Saffron Skinner (1867-1947) was a British artist and illustrator known for her intricate botanical illustrations. Her detailed depictions of plants and flowers were highly acclaimed for their accuracy and beauty.
In the 20th century, Saffron Burrows (born in 1972) is a notable British actress known for her roles in films such as "Deep Blue Sea" and "Frida." She has had a successful career in both cinema and television.
The name Saffron has been associated with beauty, rarity, and elegance throughout history, reflecting the rich hues and unique qualities of the spice it derives from. Its enduring presence in various cultures and time periods speaks to its timeless appeal and significance.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Saffron
People
Saffron + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Saffron 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
Saffron: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Saffron?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 700 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Saffron 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 489,649 US residents.
Is Saffron a common name?
We classify Saffron as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 709 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Saffron most popular?
The single biggest year for Saffron was 2006, when 36 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Saffron is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Saffron a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Saffron 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.