Sarah

♀ Girl

Pronounced SAIR-uh /ˈsɛr.ə/High

Meaning: Princess; noblewoman; lady — from Hebrew Sarah, from sar (ruler, prince)High

In 30 seconds: A Hebrew classic meaning 'princess,' Sarah was the wife of Abraham and mother of nations in the Bible. It has been one of the most popular names in the English-speaking world for centuries.

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Origin HighHebrew

MeaningPrincess; noblewoman; lady — from Hebrew Sarah, from sar (ruler, prince)

U.S. rank (2025)#90 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births2,710 girls (0.17% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1982

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,098,434

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Sarah comes from the Hebrew שָׂרָה, from sar (ruler, prince), meaning 'princess' or 'noblewoman.' In the Bible she is the wife of Abraham and the first matriarch, originally called Sarai before God renamed her.

Sarah has been in continuous use in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities for millennia. In the United States it was a top-10 girls' name from the 1970s through the 1990s and remains in the top 100.

Did you know? In Genesis 17, God changes Sarai's name to Sarah, saying 'she shall be a mother of nations' — the name change marks one of the Bible's great covenant moments.

Variations

SaraSaraiZaraSorcha

Nicknames

SalSallySadie

Famous Bearers

★Sarah Bernhardt (1844–1923)
French stage actress, widely regarded as the greatest actress of the 19th century.

If you like Sarah…

Hannah— Old Testament matriarch with the same soft two-syllable Biblical warmth

Naomi— Old Testament name with the same gentle three-vowel Hebrew grace

Selah— a fellow Hebrew choice

Leah— shares the -ah ending

Laylah— shares Sarah's Hebrew roots

Explore names like Sarah

By meaningRoyal / Noble

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sarah mean?

Sarah comes from the Hebrew word for 'princess' or 'noblewoman,' from sar (prince, ruler). In the Bible she is the first matriarch, wife of Abraham.

How do you pronounce Sarah?

It is said SAIR-uh /ˈsɛr.ə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Sarah a boy or girl name?

Sarah is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Sarah?

Sarah was a top-10 U.S. girls' name from the 1970s through the 1990s and remains in the top 100.