Fun Facts About the Name Saw
- 289 babies named Saw: U.S. records list 289 babies given the name Saw from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Saw Mean?
Saw is a title of respect placed before the names of Karen (Kayin) men in Myanmar, where it works much like "Mr."; the matching title for Karen women is Naw. The literal etymology of the word is not securely established, so its established "meaning" is this honorific function rather than a descriptive phrase.
A similar form exists in Tai/Shan, where sao means "lord" and lies behind the Burmese term Sawbwa (စော်ဘွား), the title of Shan hereditary chiefs. That resemblance alone does not show that the Karen title comes from the Tai word, and the connection remains uncertain.
Saw also appears as a surname among Chinese communities in Malaysia and Singapore, where it is a romanized Chinese family name unrelated to the Burmese honorific; the underlying Chinese character is uncertain.
Saw Name History & Origins
Karen communities live across southeastern Myanmar and along the Thai border. Karen men commonly carry Saw as the first element of their names, written စော in Burmese script, and the pattern appears in the names of modern Karen public figures such as Saw Ba U Gyi, the first president of the Karen National Union, and Saw Bo Mya, who led the same organization for many years. Karen women's names are marked instead with Naw. Other groups in Myanmar use their own markers, such as Sai for Shan men and Nai for Mon men, so Saw is associated specifically with Karen names.
After large-scale Karen resettlement abroad, especially in the United States, the element entered English-language records, where it is written as part of a personal name and may appear either as a first name or as a surname.
How Popular is the Name Saw?
Saw has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2015. Its best rank was #3,575 in 2015.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,590 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #8,191 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #6,451 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2022 | #5,597 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #5,079 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2020 | #6,558 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #5,752 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #5,499 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #4,567 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2016 | #4,077 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2015 | #3,575 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2014 | #8,026 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #4,767 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2012 | #5,681 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2011 | #5,633 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2010 | #7,491 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #6,747 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #10,828 | 7 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Saw
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with S
Short Boy Names That Start with S
How the Name Saw Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Saw's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Saw's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.