Sava

Meaning of Sava

The masculine name Sava finds its primary etymological roots in the Greek ecclesiastical name Sabbas (itself derived from the Aramaic sabba, “old man”) and is indelibly linked to Serbian cultural history through Saint Sava (1174–1236), the first archbishop of an independent Serbian Orthodox Church. Beyond its religious connotations, the name evokes the Sava River—a significant Danubian tributary coursing through Central and Southeastern Europe—thereby imparting a dual heritage of spiritual and geographical resonance. In English contexts, Sava is routinely rendered as /ˈsɑvə/, closely paralleling the Serbian pronunciation SAH-vah. Examination of United States naming data over the past two decades reveals a consistently modest adoption rate, with annual occurrences ranging from five to fifteen and rankings that have oscillated within the 800–930 bracket, most recently achieving thirteen entries and a rank of 911 in 2024. This statistical consistency indicates a niche yet enduring appeal among parents who favor names distinguished by historical depth, ecclesiastical pedigree and phonetic simplicity. Structurally, Sava’s two-syllable form—marked by a sonorant-vowel alternation—ensures clarity in both Slavic and Anglo-American speech communities. As a result, Sava occupies a unique position in contemporary onomastic practice, offering guardians an appellation that is at once venerable, geographically evocative and readily integrated into an English-language milieu.

Pronunciation

Serbian

• Pronunced as SAH-vah (/ˈsɑvə/)