Boy name · French
Sinclair
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from Saint-ClairSinclair is a boy's name that is of French origin: from Saint-Clair. It is used in English and Scottish.
- Meaning
- From Saint-Clair
- Origin
- French
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #6400 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Sinclair
As a boy's name, Sinclair is of French origin: from Saint-Clair. It is used in English and Scottish.
Sinclair is also a surname: the 1,261st most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 27,347 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Sinclair on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Sinclair on 4 lists.
“Scottish, from Saint-Clair in Normandy”
From Gothic surnames, aristocratic gothic surnames
“From Saint-Clair in Normandy”
From Pretty last names, pretty last names
“From Saint-Clair in Normandy; an Orkney and Caithness clan.”
From Scottish boy names, scottish clan and surname names for boys
“From Saint-Clair in Normandy; Earls of Caithness”
From Scottish last names, norse and Norman Scottish surnames
How popular is Sinclair?
- US rank in 2025
- #6,400
- 14 babies, 8 per million boys
- Best rank
- #1,040 in 1900
- Most babies: 29 in 1924
- Babies since 1900
- At least 1,435
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 10 per million |
| 1910s | 19 per million |
| 1920s | 18 per million |
| 1930s | 15 per million |
| 1940s | 8 per million |
| 1950s | 8 per million |
| 1960s | 5 per million |
| 1970s | 7 per million |
| 1980s | 9 per million |
| 1990s | 5 per million |
| 2000s | 2 per million |
| 2010s | 4 per million |
| 2020s | 5 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,081 | #8,056 | #10,583 | #10,638 | #8,624 | #9,571 | #10,686 | #13,890 | #6,776 | #6,400 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names with a similar meaning
- SantiagoSaint James (Spanish, boy)
- MalcolmDevotee of Saint Columba (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- MaloneDevotee of Saint John (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- TelmoFrom a Spanish name for Saint Elmo (Spanish, boy)
- ThiagoSaint James (Portuguese, boy)
- ÉlodieFrench form of Alodia, a saint's name of uncertain origin (Latin, girl)
- ErenSaint, holy person (Turkish, boy)
- KidistHoly, saint (Amharic, girl)
- MalachyDisciple of Saint Seachnall (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- MalinaDevotee of Saint Columba (Scottish Gaelic, girl)
Middle names for Sinclair
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from French
Sinclair: common questions
What does the name Sinclair mean?
Sinclair is of French origin: from Saint-Clair.
Is Sinclair a boy or girl name?
Sinclair is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 29 girls and 14 boys in the US were named Sinclair, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Sinclair come from?
Sinclair is of French origin: from Saint-Clair. Today it is used in English and Scottish.
How popular is the name Sinclair?
Sinclair ranked #6,400 in the US in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What middle names go with Sinclair?
Middle names that flow well with Sinclair include Ansel, Ethan, Grant, James and John. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.