Skylar Unisex

Popularity: #161 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SKY-lar //ˈskaɪ.lər//

Origin: English; Dutch

Meaning: English: scholar; Dutch: shelter

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Skylar has its roots in the Dutch surname Schuyler, which means "scholar" or "scholarly". The surname was derived from the Middle Dutch word "schuyl", meaning "to shelter" or "to protect", and was used to denote a person who was a scholar or had a scholarly disposition.

The name made its way into English through the Dutch settlers in America during the 17th century, particularly in New York, which was originally a Dutch colony known as New Amsterdam. Over time, the surname evolved into the given name Skylar, particularly gaining traction as a feminine name in the 20th century.

Historically, the name Schuyler was borne by notable figures, such as Philip Schuyler, a general in the American Revolutionary War and a prominent politician in New York during the 18th century. The Schuyler family was influential in early American history, and their legacy contributed to the name's recognition.

Additionally, the name's association with education and intellect through its etymological roots has made it appealing in various cultural contexts. Culturally, the name Skylar evokes imagery of the sky, which can symbolize freedom, aspiration, and vastness.

This connection to the natural world may enhance its resonance as a name associated with positive attributes. The name has also seen variations and diminutives, such as Sky, which further enrich its usage in different contexts.

Overall, Skylar's journey from a Dutch surname to a contemporary given name reflects a blend of linguistic evolution and cultural significance.

Famous people named Skylar

In this section, you will find notable people named Skylar. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Skylar who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Skylar who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Skylar Astin is an actor and singer best known for Pitch Perfect, Pitch Perfect 2, and Spring Awakening.

Skylar Grey is a singer-songwriter best known for her work on Love the Way You Lie, Coming Home, and I Will Return.

Skylar Laine is a singer best known for her participation in American Idol Season 11.

Fictional characters named Skylar

The following list of fictional characters named Skylar is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Skylar is a fictional character from the TV series Breaking Bad. They are a key character who navigates the moral complexities of her husband's criminal activities.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Skylar, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

SierraSavannahSophieSamanthaSienna

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Skylar. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

SkyeScarlettSloaneSkylaSabrinaSierraSelenaSophieSamantha

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Skylar was first seen in the United States in 1959.

Skylar has ranked as high as #108 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Florida, New York, and Georgia.

In the past 5 years the name Skylar has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Skylar is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Skylar was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Skylar.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,931 113 1,818
2024 2,308 113 2,195
2023 2,688 150 2,538
2022 3,053 159 2,894
2021 3,500 154 3,346
2020 3,807 162 3,645
2019 4,267 213 4,054
2018 4,644 233 4,411
2017 5,018 282 4,736
2016 5,458 321 5,137
2015 5,653 358 5,295
2014 5,193 414 4,779
2013 4,280 490 3,790
2012 3,806 457 3,349
2011 2,643 481 2,162
2010 2,216 493 1,723
2009 2,323 547 1,776
2008 2,282 532 1,750
2007 2,624 564 2,060
2006 2,984 632 2,352
2005 2,804 563 2,241
2004 2,713 537 2,176
2003 2,937 632 2,305
2002 3,071 680 2,391
2001 3,078 734 2,344
2000 3,251 748 2,503
1999 3,208 695 2,513
1998 2,461 730 1,731
1997 1,610 657 953
1996 1,491 636 855
1995 1,246 561 685
1994 1,206 585 621
1993 1,121 574 547
1992 882 469 413
1991 779 415 364
1990 867 448 419
1989 424 296 128
1988 346 229 117
1987 351 245 106
1986 232 171 61
1985 205 175 30
1984 166 146 20
1983 110 96 14
1982 117 103 14
1981 104 89 15
1980 37 26 11
1979 48 35 13
1978 23 16 7
1977 31 20 11
1976 20 10 10
1975 18 10 8
1974 14 8 6
1973 9 9 0
1970 8 8 0
1968 5 5 0
1967 7 7 0
1966 5 5 0
1963 5 5 0
1962 8 8 0
1961 10 10 0
1959 10 10 0

Top States for Skylar (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 217
10%
CA 169
8%
FL 160
7%
NY 139
6%
GA 121
5%
NC 114
5%
PA 87
4%
IL 86
4%
VA 70
3%
MI 68
3%
OH 66
3%
NJ 58
3%
TN 57
3%
MD 56
3%
MA 52
2%
AL 51
2%
SC 42
2%
MS 39
2%
KY 39
2%
IN 39
2%
MO 39
2%
WA 37
2%
LA 36
2%
WI 36
2%
AZ 34
2%
CO 32
1%
CT 29
1%
NV 21
1%
MN 21
1%
UT 21
1%
IA 20
1%
OK 19
1%
WV 18
1%
KS 14
1%
AR 14
1%
DE 11
0%
NE 11
0%
ME 9
0%
NH 9
0%
ID 8
0%
SD 8
0%
MT 7
0%
DC 7
0%
RI 7
0%
OR 6
0%
NM 5
0%