My parents named me Cecile and gave me the nickname Sally to avoid the nickname Ceil (as in seal, the animal). I have met very few Sally's my age, most are in my parents' generation. I prefer being called Sally rather than Cecile. People at least know how to spell it, but they also mishear it as Sandy, Shelly, Allie, etc. I am not the social butterfly type, I have always been shy, but less so now that I'm older. There are a ton of songs about girls named Sally. Also, I recently learned that some people use Sally to describe a weak male, as in "He's such a Sally!"
I think this name is very sweet and could suit a lady of any age. It could work on its own, but it could be a nickname for something like Salacia, Salvadora, Salma, Salima, Salome, Sahliha, Salvota, Salvatrice, Salesia, Salda, Salvia (I'm brainstorming because there are so many possibilities, but the original Sarah works too). Anyways, a great name and very versatile nickname.
Sally Fitzgibbons is an Australian professional surfer on the Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour (2009–2013). In June 2019, she was ranked No. 1 in the world for women's surfing after winning the Rio Pro.
Sally Morgan (née Milroy) is an Australian Aboriginal author, dramatist, and artist. Her works are on display in numerous private and public collections in Australia and around the world. Her mother is a member of the Bailgu people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
― Anonymous User 2/27/2023
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I believe that this was one of the first feminine names that I learned. To be honest with you, I've always loved the name Sally; it will always have a place in my heart.
I think it's a shame Sally has gone out of fashion. It's the perfect mix of fun, sweet, professional, and can suit any age.
― Anonymous User 11/18/2022
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EARTHWORM SALLLYYYYYY, SPREADIN’ DISEASES FROM FLORIDA TO CALIIII In all seriousness this is a very cute name I love it I don't get why people hate on it so much. Could see it on anyone but it is definitely feminine. Anyone meaning girls of any age.
― Anonymous User 6/25/2022
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Longer names for Sally could be Salvatrix, Salvatrice, Salome, Salomea, Samuela, Salacia, Salma, Jessalyn, Rosalyn, Rosaline, Rosalina, Rosalind, Rosalia, Rosalba and Rosalinda.
Earthworm Sally was a famous sensational superstar in the 1940's. Born in Florida, she carried diseases from Florida to Cally. Florida to Cally. She's a barber. She'll do your hair.
The name of my dog and she means the world to me. It meaning "princess" suits her personality a lot. I can also see it fit both younger and older women. It's pronounced a bit differently in Swedish, and I prefer the way it sounds.
This name is very dated in America, but still quite popular in England. I went to school in the 1990s and never had any friends or classmates named Sally. The only Sallys I knew were a couple of actresses who were decades older than me.
This is an attractive name. It’s fun, feminine and could suit a girl of any personality. One of my best friends is named Sally and we have the coolest nicknames for her: Sal, Salster, Salsa, Salad, Salmonella, Salada Crisp, Salami, Salamander etc.
Sally is a wonderful name, I think it should used more. Although it might sound funky, it means princess, funny, cheerful, and standing up to people. If you feel down, call Sally to cheer you up! My secret: My real name is Sally, it's nice!
Sally is good enough as a legal name. I prefer Sary as a nickname for Sarah and Sarah as a nickname for Sarina sometimes. Sally’s such a sweet name, it’s not in the 1000 Top Girl Names at all :( they stopped popular usage in 2004 but got back to it for a while in 2006, so 2005 is unique ):
― Anonymous User 11/17/2018
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In 2018, 57 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Sally* who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 327th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens. *as a first name, not a nickname.
― Anonymous User 10/11/2018
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If I gave this name I would pronounce it Sa-LEE so it sounds kind of like 'Salene'. I like it as a nickname for something like Salome, Salina, Saline.
Sally sounds too country to me, and I prefer the spelling Sallie.
― Anonymous User 8/11/2018
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Like being country is a bad thing? I'm a proud southerner who is very country. I used to love this name a lot, it's very sweet.
― Anonymous User 6/18/2020
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Hmm... it's my name and I don't like it at all. Sounds like 'silly'. Feels kind of goofy, not elegant. And I lose count of the people who have sung the Gracie Fields song 'Sally' at me (cringe!) Sarah's pretty boring and overused but I'd prefer it. (But REALLY I want to be called Violet!)
Sally Fairfax (1735-1811), wife of prominent member of colonial Virginian gentry George William Fairfax and the object of a young George Washington’s infatuation before he married Martha Custis.
Sounds rather kiddish and nicknamey, like Larry. It's hard to picture a mature sophisticated lady or a stern powerful suited businesswoman named 'Sally'.
― Anonymous User 12/20/2017
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I think that this would be a great name to use for your daughter. It makes me think of a cheerful and bubbly person. This name would age very well, as I could see it on a little kid or on an old woman. I like it more as a given name, rather than a pet form of Sara(h); Just something about it.
― Anonymous User 9/21/2017
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Sally Hemings (1773-1835) was a slave belonging to American president Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson fathered six children by her.
I love this name and named my youngest daughter Sally. She's fun, lively, smart and pretty. I'm not bothered about the name making a comeback personally, as I named her because I like the name not because I'm trying to impress people with my child having the most up to date and trendy name!
― Anonymous User 5/9/2016
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At first I didn't like this name, but then I met a person by this name and she's really kind and nice, so now I actually like the name. It's weird how people change names to you...
― Anonymous User 4/22/2016
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Really adorable, I like Sally a lot. I don't think it would age any worse than Lily or Sophie.
― Anonymous User 6/14/2015
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Sally sounds pretty obnoxious, but it's better than Sarah.
Sally Bollywood: Super Detective is a French–Australian animated television show starring the fictional character Sally Bollywood, a 12-year-old Indian detective.
― Anonymous User 5/4/2014
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The name Sally was given to 205 baby girls born in the US in 2012. I think this name is absolutely adorable =)
How about Sally Sparrow, heroine of the Doctor Who episode "Blink," as a famous bearer? She was smart, brave, and because of her, this name has positive connotations for me.
As feminine as this name is, it makes me picture a strong bossy little girl. Like a feminIST, heheh. Not baaad, just strong and bossy. Considering its popularity it has a whole lot of character.
I never did like this name. Despite having a somewhat girly sound to it, the name sounds like the name of old and middle aged women, as I can't really imagine this old-fashioned name on women under the age of 40. It doesn't sound very mature, and Sally Kern has pretty much ruined the name completely with her words about homosexuals that can be compared to Hitler's ''solutions'' to the ''Jewish question'', so isn't that a good excuse to bury the name for good?
"Sally" the word means "any sudden start into activity", from Middle French "saillie" meaning "a rushing forth," from the Latin word "salire", meaning "to leap".
A Sally Lunn is a large sponge cake-like bread. The name supposedly came from the French "soleil et lune" or "sun and moon". "Soleil" [soh-lay] could be a good namesake for Sally.
In Charles Dicken's book Oliver Twist, Old Sally is an elderly pauper who serves as the nurse at Oliver’s birth. Old Sally steals Oliver’s mother's gold locket, the only clue to his true identity.
I think that this name is a lot like the name Jack. 1) They are both well known (who hasn't heard of a Sally or Jack?) 2) Both are historical 3) Both are nicknames, but not many know that they are
My aunt is named Sally and she is a very animated, social, and gossipy woman. I do mean that in the best possible way, I love her for it. I think it's a cute name and suits a girl who is inclined to be a social butterfly.
― Anonymous User 3/24/2007
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I am a Sally and I was named after Sally Ann Howes, better known as Truly Scrumptious from Chitty Chitty bang bang. I have always quite liked that!
I am not particularly fond of this name, but I don't hate it either. My friends have nicknamed me this. (They decided my middle name sounded like Salamander and shortened it) For bellaboo above. I have light reddish hair.
The name did originally begin as a pet form of Sarah. However, it has long since been used as a totally indepedent name rather than a pet name.
― Anonymous User 6/23/2007
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To a previous post, it definitely started out as a pet form of Sarah. It went out of style so it is very uncommon today and is now pretty much its own name but you will find a lot of older women who go by Sally are actually named Sarah.
Sally was on the top 1000 list from the 1880's until the 1990's. It appeared back on the top 1000 list in 2004 but did not appear on the top 1000 list in 2005. Its most popular year was the 1940's where it ranked 65.
― Anonymous User 9/25/2006
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"Down by the Sally Gardens" is a lovely old Irish lullaby.
I like this name because my name is Sarah and my friends are calling me Sally because supposedly Sally is short for Sarah. It is a very pretty name and I think represents a very fun-filled, bouncy, animated person.
― Anonymous User 1/26/2006
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Sally Thomsett is the name of the actress who played Jo in the British TV sitcom "Man About the House".
Famous bearer: The character Sally Bowles in the musical Cabaret, played by Liza Minelli.
― Anonymous User 12/14/2005
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"When Harry met Sally" was a movie hit in 1989, starring Meg Ryan as Sally.
― Anonymous User 12/14/2005
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A famous bearer of this name is Dame Sally Markham, the romantic novelist in Little Britain. It's Matt Lucas taking off Barbara Cartland. Sally is really funny and I love imitating her. She looks like my paternal gran, who we refer to as grandma.
Another famous bearer of this name is the astronaut Sally Ride. This name has also been incorporated into a popular song, 'Mustang Sally' which numerous artists have recorded and covered.
The main female character, Ragdoll-Sally, in Tim Burton's legendary animation A Nightmare Before Christmas bears this name.
― Anonymous User 11/3/2005
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A famous bearer is Sally Field (born Sally Margaret Field on November 6, 1946). She was the star of "Gidget", a 1960s TV show. She won an Emmy for the TV film "Sybil". In 1979, she won an Oscar for her performance in the movie "Norma Rae", and again in 1984 for "Places in the Heart". She starred in "Mrs. Doubtfire" as Miranda Hillard, Daniel's ex-wife and Lydia, Chris, and Natalie's mother. She also had a role in "Forrest Gump", "ER", "Legally Blonde 2", and "Homeward Bound".