Girl · #5,407 in 2026

Sayonara

Sayonara is a 1957 American romantic drama film directed by Joshua Logan, and starring Marlon Brando, Patricia Owens, James Garner, Martha Scott, Miyoshi Umeki, Red Buttons, Miiko Taka and Ricardo Montalbán. It tells the story of an American Air Force pilot during the Korean War who falls in love with a famous Japanese dancer. The screenplay was adapted by Paul Osborn from James A.

Current Rank
#5,407
Peak Rank
#5,407 (1958)
Total Babies
6
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1958
First Year
1958
Last Year
1958
Peak Year
#5407
Peak Rank
6
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Sayonara

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Sayonara is a 1957 American romantic drama film directed by Joshua Logan, and starring Marlon Brando, Patricia Owens, James Garner, Martha Scott, Miyoshi Umeki, Red Buttons, Miiko Taka and Ricardo Montalbán. It tells the story of an American Air Force pilot during the Korean War who falls in love with a famous Japanese dancer. The screenplay was adapted by Paul Osborn from James A.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Sayonara

Sayonara first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1958, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1958, when 6 Sayonaras were born — ranking #5,407 that year. As of 2026, Sayonara ranks #5,407 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Sayonaras have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Sayonara

Phonetically similar names — useful when Sayonara is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sayonara

What does the name Sayonara mean?
Sayonara is a 1957 American romantic drama film directed by Joshua Logan, and starring Marlon Brando, Patricia Owens, James Garner, Martha Scott, Miyoshi Umeki, Red Buttons, Miiko Taka and Ricardo Montalbán. It tells the story of an American Air Force pilot during the Korean War who falls in love with a famous Japanese dancer. The screenplay was adapted by Paul Osborn from James A.
How popular is Sayonara in 2026?
In 2026, Sayonara ranks #5,407 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Sayonara most popular?
Sayonara reached its peak popularity in 1958, ranking #5,407 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Sayonara a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Sayonara is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Sayonara?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Sayonara include Valaire, Carmena, Veneita. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Sayonara

Sayonara is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1958 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Sayonara's peak popularity came in 1958 when it ranked #5,407. Use the chart and map above to compare Sayonara's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.