Savage
Of Germanic origin, denoting an uncivilized or wild person.
Name Census estimates that about 124 living Americans carry the first name Savage. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Savage today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Savage births was 2019 (15 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Savage. 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
124
~ 1 in 2,764,148 Americans
Peak year
2019
15 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,067
Tracked since 2012
Popularity
Savage: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Savage from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 65 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Savage 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 Savage during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Savage
The name Savage is an English given name derived from the Old French word "salvage," meaning "wild" or "uncultivated." The name has its roots in the Latin word "silvaticus," which means "of the woods" or "forest-dwelling." Initially, the name was used as a surname for those who lived in forested or rural areas.
In the Middle Ages, the name Savage gained popularity as a descriptor for individuals who were considered uncivilized or lacking in refinement. It was often used to refer to those who lived outside the boundaries of society, either by choice or circumstance. Some historical records from this period mention individuals with the name Savage, but they were typically from lower social classes or marginalized groups.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Savage as a given name dates back to the 14th century. A man named Savage de Arden was mentioned in the Plea Rolls of Warwickshire, England, in 1349. However, it is unclear whether Savage was his given name or a surname at that time.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the given name Savage. One of the most prominent was Savage Landor (1775-1864), an English writer and biographer known for his works on literary figures like William Shakespeare and Samuel Johnson.
Another influential figure was Savage Mostyn (1701-1757), a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament who played a significant role in the development of the copper industry in Wales during the 18th century.
In the realm of sports, Savage Reeves (1923-1976) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the New York Rangers and the Chicago Black Hawks in the 1940s and 1950s.
Savage Opress (c. 32 BBY) was a fictional character from the Star Wars universe, a Dathomirian Zabrak Sith Lord who appeared in the animated series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."
Finally, Savage Messiah (1963-2008), born Michael Chetcuti, was a British artist and musician known for his experimental and avant-garde works, particularly in the field of industrial music.
It is worth noting that while the name Savage has been used throughout history, its connotations of wildness and lack of refinement have made it less common as a given name in modern times. Nevertheless, it remains a distinctive and evocative choice for those seeking a unique name with a rich historical background.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Savage
People
Savage + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Savage 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
Savage: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Savage?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 124 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Savage 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 2,764,148 US residents.
Is Savage a common name?
We classify Savage as "Very Rare". It ranks above 67.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 125 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Savage most popular?
The single biggest year for Savage was 2019, when 15 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Savage is about 7 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Savage a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Savage in the SSA data are male. 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.