Siera
An English feminine name derived from the Spanish place name Sierra, meaning "mountain range".
Name Census estimates that about 2,465 living Americans carry the first name Siera. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Siera today is around 28 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Siera births was 1998 (150 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Siera. 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
2.5K
~ 1 in 139,048 Americans
Peak year
1998
150 babies that year
Average age
28
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,967
Tracked since 1983
Popularity
Siera: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Siera from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 1,246 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Siera 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 Siera during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sieras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 28 states and territories. California, Florida, Ohio recorded the most babies named Siera, while Washington, South Carolina, Oregon recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 36 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Siera
The name Siera has its origins in Spanish and Italian cultures, tracing back to the late Middle Ages. It is believed to be a variant spelling of the name Sierra, which itself is derived from the Spanish word "sierra" meaning a jagged mountain range or a saw-like ridge.
In Spain, the name Sierra was initially used as a topographic surname, referring to people who lived near or in the mountains. Over time, it transitioned into a feminine given name, with Siera emerging as an alternative spelling. The earliest recorded instances of the name Siera date back to the 15th century in various Spanish and Italian genealogical records.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Siera was Siera de la Cruz, a Spanish nun and mystic who lived in the late 15th century. She was known for her spiritual visions and writings, which influenced the religious thought of her time.
In the 17th century, Siera Garibaldi was an Italian noblewoman and philanthropist from Genoa. She dedicated her life to supporting the poor and establishing charitable organizations in her region.
During the 18th century, Siera Montoya was a renowned Spanish painter and portraitist. Her works captured the elegance and grandeur of the Spanish aristocracy, and many of her paintings are preserved in museums throughout Europe.
In the 19th century, Siera Alvarez was a Cuban poet and activist who advocated for women's rights and social reform. Her poetry explored themes of freedom, equality, and the struggle for independence.
Another notable figure was Siera Delgado, a Mexican revolutionary who fought alongside Emiliano Zapata during the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. She was known for her bravery and unwavering commitment to the cause of land reform and social justice.
While the name Siera has maintained a presence throughout history, it has never achieved widespread popularity. Its unique spelling and connection to the natural landscape have made it a distinctive and evocative choice for parents seeking a name with a rich cultural heritage.
People
Siera + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Siera 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
Siera: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Siera?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2,465 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Siera 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 139,048 US residents.
Is Siera a common name?
We classify Siera as "Rare". It ranks above 94.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,536 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Siera most popular?
The single biggest year for Siera was 1998, when 150 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Siera is about 28 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Siera a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Siera 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.