Sawyer
Sawyer is a unisex name of English origin meaning “one who saws wood.” It ranked #122 in the United States in 2025. An occupational surname turned given name, most famously associated with Mark Twain's adventurous character Tom Sawyer.
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how do you pronounce Sawyer?
SAW-yer
where does the name Sawyer come from?
An English occupational surname for a sawyer, who cut timber into planks, work done in pairs over a saw pit; it has also absorbed similar-sounding names such as the Jewish Seger and Sager.
It has grown increasingly popular as a gender-neutral first name.
how popular is this name?
Sawyer has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 35 years since 1991. It peaked at #94 in 2015, and ranked #122 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #122 |
| 2024 | #131 |
| 2023 | #127 |
| 2022 | #131 |
| 2021 | #114 |
| 2020 | #116 |
| 2019 | #106 |
| 2018 | #100 |
| 2017 | #95 |
| 2016 | #97 |
| 2015 | #94 |
| 2010 | #173 |
| 2000 | #460 |
| 1991 | #945 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Sawyer fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Sawyer
Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer, published in 1876, is the name's best-known bearer and precedes its use as a given name. Its modern currency as a first name is American and recent, and it is used for both sexes.
what are the nicknames and variants of Sawyer?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Sawyer?
- Tom Sawyer (fictional character by Mark Twain)
what names are similar to Sawyer?
what names go well with Sawyer?
Sibling names that share Sawyer's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Sawyer
What does the name Sawyer mean?
Sawyer means “one who saws wood”.
What is the origin of the name Sawyer?
Sawyer comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Sawyerr and Sayer.
How popular is the name Sawyer?
Sawyer ranked #122 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2015, at #94, and it has spent 35 years in the top 1,000 since 1991.
Is Sawyer a boy or girl name?
Sawyer is a unisex name, used for both boys and girls.
How do you pronounce Sawyer?
Sawyer is pronounced SAW-yer, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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