Entry № 2131 · Greek origin

Sappho Sappho — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ SAH-foh /

Gender

Girl

Origin

Greek

Meaning

"The lyric poet of Lesbos"

Syllables

Rank · US 2025

№ 0

First recorded

Ancient (Greek)

The meaning

A name that means "the lyric poet of lesbos".

Sappho (Σαπφώ, c. 630-570 BCE) was the Greek lyric poet of the island of Lesbos — Plato called her "the Tenth Muse." Her poems of love and longing survive only in fragments but defined Western lyric poetry.

The words "lesbian" and "sapphic" derive from her name and island.

Plato called her the Tenth Muse.

In its original form

The name in its native script.

Σαπφώ

Transliteration: Sapphṓ
Pronunciation: / ˈsæf.oʊ /
Root: —
Grammatical form: —

Popularity

Where Sappho stands.

Current rank · 2025

№ 0 in the U.S.

All-time peak

№ 0 in 0

Babies named Sappho · last year

87 in the U.S.

First entered SSA top-1000

Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular

Namesakes

Sapphos before her.

Real people

Sappho

Greek lyric poet.

c. 630 – 570 BCE

In fiction

Sappho

Title of Alphonse Daudet's novel.

1884 novel

Names connected to Sappho.

Numerology

The number behind Sappho.

The Seeker

Sappho reduces to seven — the number of the Tenth Muse.

Parents on Sappho

Why families chose this name.

"The Tenth Muse. Six letters. Sappho."

Eleni · Mother of one · Lesbos