Saran
A French originated name meaning "tranquil" or "peaceful".
Name Census estimates that about 637 living Americans carry the first name Saran. It is a predominantly female name (96.3% of registrations). The average person named Saran today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Saran births was 2006 (22 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Saran. 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
637
~ 1 in 538,076 Americans
Peak year
2006
22 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
2016 SSA rank
#9,418
Tracked since 1951
Gender
Gender distribution for Saran
Saran leans heavily female at 96.3% of total registrations, but 25 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Saran as a male name
- Ranked #11,888 in 2016
- 6 male births in 2016
- Peak: 2006 (8 births)
Saran as a female name
- Ranked #9,418 in 2024
- 11 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1986 (20 births)
Popularity
Saran: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Saran from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 156 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1980s peak, Saran remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Saran 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 Saran during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sarans live
Origin
Meaning and history of Saran
The name Saran is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "sarana," which means "shelter" or "refuge." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were seen as a source of protection or sanctuary.
In Hindu mythology, there are references to Saran being a name associated with Lord Vishnu, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Lord Vishnu is often depicted as the protector and preserver of the universe, which aligns with the meaning of the name Saran as a provider of shelter or refuge.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Saran was Saran Dip, a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived during the 7th century CE. He is credited with making significant contributions to the field of astronomy and is known for his work on planetary models and calculations related to the motion of celestial bodies.
Another notable figure with the name Saran was Saran Nath Batra, an Indian independence activist and freedom fighter who played a prominent role in the struggle against British colonial rule in the early 20th century. He was born in 1888 and dedicated his life to the cause of Indian independence, participating in various non-violent protests and civil disobedience movements.
In more recent history, Saran Devi was a celebrated Indian classical singer and musician who specialized in the Khyal style of Hindustani classical music. She was born in 1936 and is renowned for her contributions to preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Indian music.
Saran Kaur was a Sikh warrior and military leader who lived in the late 18th century. She played a crucial role in the resistance against the Mughal Empire and is remembered for her bravery and leadership during the turbulent times of the Sikh struggle for independence.
Saran Raghavan is a contemporary Indian-American journalist and author who has worked for various renowned publications, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. He is known for his investigative reporting and has received numerous awards for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 2022.
People
Saran + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Saran 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
Saran: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Saran?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 637 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Saran 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 538,076 US residents.
Is Saran a common name?
We classify Saran as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 668 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Saran most popular?
The single biggest year for Saran was 2006, when 22 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Saran is about 30 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Saran a female name?
Yes, 96.3% of people registered as Saran 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.