Girls · #32 in 2025
Scarlett: Meaning, Origin & Popularity
- Origin
- English occupational surname and color association
- Meaning
- Associated with scarlet cloth
- Pronunciation
- SKAR-let
- Nickname options
- Scar, Lettie, Scout, Scottie
Origin and meaning
Scarlett comes from an English surname associated with making or selling scarlet cloth. Its link to the rich red color is immediate today, but the surname's occupational history is part of the name's story too.
U.S. popularity
Scarlett ranked #32 for girls in the United States in 2025, with 5,644 girls given this spelling. Its highest recorded U.S. rank was #14, reached in 2022. Historical coverage: 1880–2025. Peak refers to rank, not the largest number of births.
Source: Social Security Administration; historical peaks calculated from its national name files. Rankings count each spelling separately within the listed sex.
The Hello Baby Names take
Scarlett has a confident, dramatic sound. The strong opening and crisp ending keep it from feeling overly sweet, while Lettie offers a softer, vintage coded option. It suits parents who enjoy romantic names with a noticeable edge.
Things to consider
Scarlett and Scarlet sound identical in English. The double-T form is a separate statistical entry, so by sound Scarlett might feel more popular than the rank would indicate.
If you love Scarlett, consider…
- Violet: Keeps the rich color with a softer opening.
- Ruby: Condenses the red-toned imagery into two syllables.
- Charlotte: Shares several sounds with a more traditional feel.
- Stella: Offers a crisp, compact alternative.
- Sienna: Softens the color-inspired style.
- Audrey: Keeps the poise without the dramatic consonants.
- Victoria: Adds length and formal presence.
- Vivian: Brings a similarly assertive V-centered sound.