"princess, noblewoman"
Sara
Pronunciation: [ s-EHR-uh ]
A timeless Hebrew name meaning 'princess'
Meaning & Origin
"lady, queen"
The Story of Sara
Sara (and Sarah) derives from the Hebrew 'Sarai' and 'Sarah,' meaning 'princess' or 'noblewoman.' In the Hebrew Bible, God changed Sarai's name to Sarah as part of her covenant — marking her as the mother of nations. Sarah was the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, making her one of the most revered women in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Sara/Sarah has been one of the most consistently popular names in the Western world for over a millennium. The single-'h' spelling Sara is more common in continental Europe, while Sarah is the traditional English spelling. Both peaked in the US in the 1980s and have gently declined as newer names rose.
Sarah/Sara is venerated in all three Abrahamic faiths — as the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (where she is called Sara). The name carries centuries of reverence and feminine strength.
Fun Facts
- Sara is spelled without the 'h' in most European languages while English prefers 'Sarah'
- Sarah was a top-5 girl name in the US for most of the 1980s and 1990s
- The story of Sarah and Abraham spans three of the world's major religions
Sara in Other Languages
Famous People Named Sara
Sara Bareilles
Musician
1979
American singer-songwriter known for 'Love Song' and Waitress on Broadway
Sara Blakely
Business
1971
American entrepreneur and founder of Spanx, the youngest female billionaire in 2012
Sarah (biblical matriarch)
Religious
Wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac in the Hebrew Bible, revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #187
- Total SSA Count
- 1,605
- Cultural Origins
- Hebrew English Spanish Italian Persian Scandinavian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Boy Name
Sara is also used as a boy name, ranked #26064.
View Sara as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sara
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About the Name Sara
Sara is a girl name with Hebrew, English, Spanish, Italian, Persian, and Scandinavian origins . The name means "princess, noblewoman" in Hebrew .
Is Sara a boy or girl name? Sara is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #187 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #26,064. Sara is more commonly used as a girl name.
Sara is currently ranked #187 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Sara has 2 syllables and is pronounced s-EHR-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Sara include Sadie and Sar. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Sara include Sarah, Sarai, Sariyah, Sarahi, Sariah . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.