The nameSarah
Sarah is a girl's name of Hebrew origin meaning "princess". The name of the wife of Abraham, it is a classic in many languages.
- Girl's name
- Hebrew
Meaning
Sarah comes from the Hebrew Sarah, "princess, noblewoman".
Origin
Hebrew. In Genesis, Sarai becomes Sarah when God promises her a son, Isaac, in her old age.
History
Sarah was in the American top 10 in the 1880s and again in the 1970s and 1980s, when it reached third place. It is popular in Britain, France and Germany too.
Sarah in other languages
Sarah is spelled the same in English, French and German. It is Sara in Italian, Spanish, the Nordic countries and Arabic, and Sára in Hungarian and Czech. Sally and Sadie began as English pet forms of Sarah.
Nicknames for Sarah
The most common nicknames for Sarah: Sadie and Sally.
Did you know?
- In the Bible, Abraham's wife was first called Sarai, and God changed her name to Sarah, "princess".
- Sarah was the most popular girls' name in Ireland every year from 1983 to 1997.
- Sarah Bernhardt kept acting after her leg was amputated in 1915.
Famous people named Sarah
- Sarah, wife of Abraham
- Sarah Bernhardt, actress
- Sarah Jessica Parker, actress
- Sarah Vaughan, singer
Popularity of the name Sarah
Sarah in the United States
Sarah was most popular in the United States in the 1980s, with 273,767 births over the decade, 25% of all recorded babies named Sarah. Its rise began around 1912, and it peaked in 1982. Half of all babies named Sarah in the United States were born before 1984, although it is popular again today. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 2,842 births a year on average, against 4,024 in the five years before.
Sarah in the United Kingdom
Sarah was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 14,679 births over the decade, 44% of all recorded babies named Sarah. Half of all babies named Sarah in the United Kingdom were born before 2005, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 443 births a year on average, against 604 in the five years before.
Sarah in Ireland
Sarah in France
Sarah in Belgium
Sarah in Switzerland
Sarah in Austria
Sarah in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Sarah
Names from the same generation as Sarah, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Sarah? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Sarah with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Sarah side by side with the name of your choice.
Sarah in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sarah mean?
Sarah comes from the Hebrew Sarah, "princess, noblewoman".
What is the origin of the name Sarah?
Hebrew. In Genesis, Sarai becomes Sarah when God promises her a son, Isaac, in her old age.
Is Sarah a girl's or a boy's name?
Sarah is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Sarah?
In 2024, Sarah was the 95th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 2,697 births.
What are the variants of the name Sarah?
Variants and related names of Sarah include Sadie and Sahra.
What are good sibling names for Sarah?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Hannah, Rebecca, Michelle and Rachel for a sister, Zachary, Nicholas, Joshua and Jordan for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Sarah?
The most common nicknames for Sarah are Sadie and Sally.
Who are famous people named Sarah?
Sarah, wife of Abraham; Sarah Bernhardt, actress; Sarah Jessica Parker, actress; Sarah Vaughan, singer.