The name Sagan is of French origin and means "wanderer" or "vagabond." It is derived from the Old French word "sage," which means wise man or philosopher. The name has a long history, dating back to medieval France when it was often used as a surname for people who were considered wise or learned.
The name Sagan gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, largely due to the influence of astronomer and science writer Carl Sagan. Born in 1934, Sagan became known for his work on understanding the cosmos and promoting scientific literacy. His best-selling book "Cosmos" and accompanying TV series helped popularize the name among parents seeking unique and meaningful names for their children.
Today, Sagan is still a relatively uncommon name but continues to be associated with intelligence, curiosity, and a sense of wanderlust or adventure. It is often chosen by parents who want to give their child a distinctive name that reflects their interests in science, philosophy, or exploration. Overall, the name Sagan has a rich history and meaningful origins that continue to resonate with parents today.
The name Sagan has seen a varied history of popularity among parents in the United States since 1987. The first year with recorded data shows 19 babies being named Sagan, which was followed by an increase to 65 births in the next year.
However, the numbers fluctuated greatly throughout the following years, indicating that the name's popularity was not consistent or widespread during this period. There were only 5 births in 1992 and as low as 6 in some years until 2004 when it started to see a slight increase with 8 births.
In the 2010s, we began to notice a steady rise in popularity for the name Sagan. Starting from 12 births in both 2011 and 2012, there was an upward trend reaching a peak of 26 births in 2016. This consistency in popularity continued into the early 2020s with 18 births recorded in both 2022 and 2023.
In total, from 1987 to 2023, there have been 414 babies named Sagan born in the United States. This data suggests that while the name Sagan may not have always been a top choice for parents, it has gained steady popularity over time and is now among the more common names chosen for newborns today.