Saida
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "happy" or "fortunate".
Name Census estimates that about 1,194 living Americans carry the first name Saida. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Saida today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Saida births was 2008 (42 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Saida. 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
1.2K
~ 1 in 287,064 Americans
Peak year
2008
42 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,742
Tracked since 1953
Popularity
Saida: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Saida from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 332 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Saida remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Saida 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 Saida during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Saidas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Saida, while Ohio, Florida, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 65 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Saida
The name Saida has its origins in Arabic, derived from the word "sa'ida" which means "fortunate" or "happy." It is a feminine name that has been in use for centuries across various regions of the Middle East and North Africa.
In the early Islamic era, the name Saida gained popularity as it was associated with the concept of happiness and blessings. It was often given to newborn daughters as a symbol of joy and good fortune. The name can be found in historical records and literature from this period, reflecting its cultural significance.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Saida dates back to the 9th century, when a renowned Islamic scholar and poet, Saida bint al-Husayn al-Khuzai, lived in Basra, Iraq. She was known for her expertise in Arabic literature and her contributions to the field of poetry.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Saida. In the 12th century, Saida al-Hurra was a prominent figure in the Almoravid dynasty, ruling over parts of modern-day Morocco and Spain. She was known for her leadership skills and military prowess.
Moving to the 19th century, Saida Lutfullah was an influential Egyptian writer and activist who advocated for women's rights and education. She played a significant role in the Egyptian feminist movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the realm of arts and literature, Saida Gerritse was a Dutch painter and illustrator who lived from 1871 to 1949. She was renowned for her vibrant depictions of landscapes and still-life scenes, capturing the beauty of the natural world.
Another notable figure was Saida Menon, an Indian freedom fighter and social reformer who lived from 1912 to 1972. She actively participated in the Indian independence movement and worked tirelessly to uplift the status of women in society.
Throughout its history, the name Saida has been imbued with a sense of joy, fortune, and cultural significance, transcending borders and inspiring generations of women across various regions and backgrounds.
People
Saida + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Saida 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
Saida: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Saida?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,194 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Saida 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 287,064 US residents.
Is Saida a common name?
We classify Saida as "Rare". It ranks above 91.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,243 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Saida most popular?
The single biggest year for Saida was 2008, when 42 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Saida is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Saida a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Saida 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.