Sibyl
A girl's name of Greek origin with 4,441 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name from Ancient Greek.
Sibyl is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, from the Greek Sibylla, referring to the prophetic women of antiquity who delivered oracles to the ancient world. The name derives from the Aeolic Greek, possibly meaning 'God's will' or 'prophetess.' With over 4,400 births in U.S. records, Sibyl carries the intellectual weight of prophecy and the literary pedigree of characters in works by Disraeli and Aldous Huxley's Point Counter Point.
EtymologyShow more
Sibyl first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1880. Names present in the earliest SSA data (which begins in 1880) were typically carried by immigrants from Europe, handed down through families, or drawn from biblical and classical sources.
Its Greek classification suggests a path from greek linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Sibyl has 123+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 71 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 98 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 6 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 24 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 80 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 157 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 268 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 350 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 332 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 394 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 1,000 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 1,159 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 270 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 174 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 58 | — |
The Story of Sibyl
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1918, Sibyl is a name steeped in history. Girls named Sibyl are most likely born between 1908 and 1928.
How rare is Sibyl?
Only about 1 in every 327,273 babies born in 2024 was named Sibyl — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1910s with 1,159 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Sibyl by the numbers
- Would fill 93 school buses
- Meeting one Sibyl per day would take 12.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(123 years, 1880–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 | #9438 |
| 2023 | 15 | #7584 |
| 2022 | 16 | #7245 |
| 2021 | 14 | #7974 |
| 2020 | 15 | #7520 |
| 2019 | 18 | #6662 |
| 2018 | 15 | #7712 |
| 2017 | 9 | #11488 |
| 2016 | 19 | #6634 |
| 2015 | 12 | #9411 |
| 2014 | 16 | #7591 |
| 2013 | 9 | #11843 |
| 2006 | 6 | #16829 |
| 1997 | 6 | #13480 |
| 1996 | 5 | #15541 |
| 1994 | 5 | #15427 |
| 1992 | 8 | #10343 |
| 1989 | 6 | #12153 |
| 1988 | 8 | #9126 |
| 1986 | 7 | #9413 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sibyl a boy's or girl's name?
When was Sibyl most popular?
How popular is the name Sibyl?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2024