NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Sigourney

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a French surname.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Sigourney is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sigourney popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5201, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 8 births.

This profile covers 46 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 1996 to 2007. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 46 living people in the UK are called Sigourney. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2008 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Sigourney ranked #5201 for girls in England and Wales in 2007, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 8 girls were registered as Sigourney.
  • About 46 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sigourney as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5201

2007

Births in 2007

3

Latest year

Peak year

1997

8 births

Estimated living

46

2026

Meaning

What does Sigourney mean?

The name Sigourney is derived from the French surname Sigournay, which is a place name referring to the commune of Sigournais in the Vendée department of western France. The name is thought to have originated from the Gaulish word "segora," meaning "strength" or "victory."

The name Sigourney first gained popularity in the English-speaking world in the late 18th century, likely due to the influence of French culture and literature. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Sigourney Thrall, an American author and educator born in 1791.

In the 19th century, the name Sigourney became associated with several notable American figures. Sigourney Butler, born in 1828, was a Union Army officer during the American Civil War. Sigourney Webster, born in 1835, was a prominent architect who designed several buildings in New York City.

The most famous bearer of the name Sigourney is arguably the American actress Sigourney Weaver, known for her roles in films such as Alien, Ghostbusters, and Avatar. She was born in 1949 and continues to be a influential figure in Hollywood.

Another notable Sigourney is Sigourney Cheek, an American artist and sculptor born in 1908. Her works are featured in several museums and public collections across the United States.

In the literary world, Sigourney Thayer was an American novelist and short story writer who lived from 1888 to 1978. Her works often explored themes of social injustice and women's rights.

While the name Sigourney has French origins, it has been adopted and embraced by people of various cultural backgrounds, particularly in the United States. Its unique sound and historical significance have contributed to its enduring appeal as a given name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Sigourney over time

The chart below shows babies named Sigourney registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2007. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Sigourney, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2007, compared with 8 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Sigourney
02468199620012007

Decades

Sigourney by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sigourney was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2000s #3819 20 5
1990s #2309 26 4

Related

Names similar to Sigourney

FAQ

Sigourney: questions and answers

How popular is the name Sigourney in the UK right now?

In 2007, Sigourney was ranked #5201 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Sigourney most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 8 babies registered as Sigourney in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Sigourney?

A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a French surname.

How many people are called Sigourney in the UK?

A total of 46 babies have been registered as Sigourney across the 9 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.