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Saffron

Girl name · 146 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Saffron: 146 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 23 births in 2000.

Saffron is a vibrant name drawn directly from the prized spice, which itself comes from the Arabic *za'faran*, meaning "yellow." As a given name, it emerged in the late 20th century, part of a trend for botanical and colour names. The most famous bearer is the English actress Saffron Burrows, known for her roles in films like *Deep Blue Sea* and the television series *Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.*. The name also carries a strong literary association with the character Saffron Monsoon from the cult television series *Absolutely Fabulous*, whose full name was Saffron. While no major places are named directly after the name, the spice's etymology links it to the ancient city of Zafran in Iran. A notable variant is the Italian form, Zafferano, though it remains rare as a given name.