The first known Sarah was a major character in the Old Testament book of Genesis (and plays a smaller role the Quran). She was the wife of Abraham, the father of Judaism, and is herself considered the matriarch of the Jewish faith. She is perhaps most famous for bearing a son, Isaac, when she was 90 years old. Her descendants through Isaac became the Hebrew people.

For a classic name with enduring popularity, you can’t go wrong with Sarah. This biblical moniker has enjoyed a high ranking for girls in the United States since baby name records have been kept. As far back as 1900, it ranked No. 37 in popularity, and in the intervening years has never dipped below No. 120. The name had a particular heyday in the 1980s and 1990s, when it consistently ranked 3, 4, and 5 on the Social Security Administration’s list of most popular names. Today, Sarah continues to sit relatively high on baby name charts. In 2020, the Social Security Administration listed it as number 87 for girls. Although generally used as a name for girls, there is a record of baby boys named Sarah. At its highest rank in 1989, the name was ranked 823 among boys.

Name Variations 

The name Sarah has been around for thousands of years. That’s a long time for it to find its way across the globe to multiple languages and cultures! Some of its variations include:

Hara (Maori) Kala (Hawaiian) Saara (Finnish) Sara (English) Sára (Eastern European) Sarai (Biblical Hebrew) Sarrha (Biblical Greek) Sassa (Swedish) Sorcha (Irish) Suri (Yiddish) Zara (Arabic, Hebrew)

Similar Names

Other girls’ names of biblical origin include:

AbigailElizabethEstherEveHannahMarthaMaryNaomiRachelRebekahRuthTamar

Other girls’ names beginning with S:

SabrinaSandraScarlettShannonShaunaShilohSimoneSoniaSophiaStephanieSusannaSydney

Common Nicknames 

Common nicknames for Sarah include:

Sadie: Sadie appeared as a nickname for Sarah in the 1800’s and now stands as a name in its own right. It has a cheerful vibe with a touch of vintage feel. With the folk popularity of Sadie Hawkins Day dances—in which girls ask boys to dance—you might associate this one with a forthright personality.  Sally: Sally is another common name that originated as a nickname for Sarah. This pet name has a bubbly, upbeat feel that gives a sense of fun. It may call to mind American actress Sally Field’s good-humored image or that of Charlie Brown’s trusting little sister in the “Peanuts” cartoons.Sari: Sari, like many nicknames, takes the name Sarah and shortens it with an “ee” sound. Its diminutive sound makes it suitable for younger children or family use.

Suggested Sibling Names

Amy Andrew Anna Audrey Charlie Jonathan Leah Michael Noah Peter Samuel Sasha Scott Walter

Famous People Named Sarah/Sara

As a classically popular name, there’s no shortage of famous Sarahs (and Saras), both in history and the present. Here are a few notable people with these names:

Famous Sarahs:

Sarah Brightman, English sopranoSarah Jessica Parker, American actressSarah Palin, American politicianSarah McLachlan, Canadian musicianSarah Orne Jewett, American novelistSarah Silverman, American comedian and actress

Famous Saras:

Sara Bareilles, American musicianSara Gilbert, American actressSara Teasdale, American poet

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