"bright red color"
Origin: Old French escarlate
Language: Old French
Scarlett
Pronunciation: [ sk-AHRL-iht ]
Does Scarlett flow with your last name?
A bold, fiery name with Southern literary roots
English
American
French
Bold
Vintage
Elegant
Strong
Literary
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"seller of scarlet cloth"
Origin: English occupational surname
Language: English
"bright red, scarlet color"
Origin: Old French
Language: English
"seller of scarlet cloth"
Origin: Middle English
Language: English
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The Story of Scarlett
Scarlett originated as an occupational surname for a person who sold or dyed scarlet cloth — a rich, expensive woolen fabric that was a status symbol in medieval Europe. The word comes from the Old French 'escarlate,' derived from Arabic 'siqillat,' a type of rich cloth. As a given name, Scarlett owes much of its appeal to Margaret Mitchell's heroine Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1936).
Scarlett exploded into the top 10 in the 2010s, driven by its association with bold characters and actress Scarlett Johansson. It appeals to parents who want a vintage name with a fiery edge — the name itself evokes passion and determination.
In American culture, Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind is one of the most iconic fictional heroines, embodying Southern resilience and determined ambition. The color scarlet has long symbolized passion and courage in Western tradition.
Historical Record
Scarlett first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 105,410 babies have been named Scarlett in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Scarlett is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #27 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The name Scarlett wasn't widely used as a first name until Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel popularized it
- Scarlett Johansson is the highest-grossing actress of all time at the worldwide box office
Scarlett in Other Languages
French
Scarlett
Chinese
Sijiali
Italian
Scarlatta
Spanish
Escarlata
Japanese
Sukaretto
Popularity Over Time
#27
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Scarlett
S
Scarlett Moffatt
Entertainer
1990
British television presenter and media personality
S
Scarlett Johansson
Actor
1984
American actress and highest-grossing actress of all time, known for Black Widow in the MCU
S
Scarlett Thomas
Writer
1972
British novelist known for The End of Mr. Y
S
Scarlett O'Hara Fictional
Other
Protagonist of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, one of the most famous characters in American literature
S
Scarlett Witch (Wanda Maximoff) Fictional
Other
Marvel Comics and MCU character with powerful reality-altering abilities
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Compare Scarlett with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #27
- Total SSA Count
- 5,894
- Cultural Origins
- English American French
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Common Nicknames
Scar
Letty
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Scarlett
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Scarlett is also used as a boy name, ranked #20787.
View Scarlett as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Scarlett →Compare Scarlett with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Scarlett
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Charlotte
Girl
Germanic origin
"free woman"
#4 in US
Amara
Girl
Latin origin
"bitter, from Latin amara"
#121 in US
Jade
Girl
Spanish origin
"stone of the flank"
#84 in US
Cora
Girl
Hebrew origin
"just, righteous"
#102 in US
Elsie
Girl
Hebrew (via Scottish) origin
"God is my oath"
#155 in US
Samantha
Girl
Hebrew origin
"told by God"
#127 in US
Kennedy
Girl
Irish Gaelic origin
"helmeted chief"
#89 in US
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Frequently Asked Questions About Scarlett
What does the name Scarlett mean?
"bright red color" (from Old French escarlate). "seller of scarlet cloth" (from English occupational surname). "bright red, scarlet color" (from Old French). "seller of scarlet cloth" (from Middle English). Scarlett originated as an occupational surname for a person who sold or dyed scarlet cloth — a rich, expensive woolen fabric that was a status symbol in medieval Europe. The word comes from the Old French 'escarlate,' derived from Arabic 'siqillat,' a type of rich cloth. As a given name, Scarlett owes much of its appeal to Margaret Mitchell's heroine Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1936).
What is the origin of the name Scarlett?
Scarlett has Old French escarlate, English occupational surname, Old French, Middle English, English, American, and French origins. In Old French escarlate, it means "bright red color". In English occupational surname, it means "seller of scarlet cloth". In Old French, it means "bright red, scarlet color". In Middle English, it means "seller of scarlet cloth".
Is Scarlett a boy or girl name?
Scarlett is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #27. As a boy name, it is ranked #20787. Scarlett is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Scarlett?
Scarlett is pronounced sk-AHRL-iht.
How popular is the name Scarlett?
Scarlett is currently ranked #27 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Scarlett?
Common nicknames for Scarlett include Scar and Letty.
What are good middle names for Scarlett?
Popular middle name pairings include Scarlett Rose, Scarlett Grace, Scarlett Mae, Scarlett Anne, Scarlett Jane, and Scarlett Elizabeth.
What are good sibling names for Scarlett?
Names that pair well with Scarlett as siblings include Rhett, Violet, Jasper, Ivy, Sebastian, and Hazel.
How many syllables does Scarlett have?
Scarlett has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Scarlett a common or rare name?
Scarlett is a very popular name, ranked #27 among girl names in the United States.
What girl names are similar to Scarlett?
About the Name Scarlett
Scarlett is a girl name with English, American, and French origins . The name means "bright red color" in Old French escarlate .
Is Scarlett a boy or girl name? Scarlett is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #27 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #20,787. Scarlett is more commonly used as a girl name.
Scarlett is currently ranked #27 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Scarlett has 2 syllables and is pronounced sk-AHRL-iht, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Scarlett include Scar and Letty. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Scarlett include Scarlet, Scarlette, Scarleth . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis