Girls · #90 in 2025
Sarah: Meaning, Origin & Popularity
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- Princess, lady, or noblewoman
- Pronunciation
- SAIR-uh in common American English
- Nickname options
- Sadie, Sally
Origin and meaning
Sarah is a Hebrew name whose meanings include princess, lady, and noblewoman. In Genesis, Sarah is Abraham's wife and Isaac's mother. Its short English form carries a long biblical and cross-language history.
U.S. popularity
Sarah ranked #90 for girls in the United States in 2025, with 2,710 girls given this spelling. Its highest recorded U.S. rank was #3, reached in 1993. Historical coverage: 1880–2025. Peak refers to rank, not the largest number of births.
Source: Social Security Administration; historical peaks calculated from its national name files. Rankings count each spelling separately within the listed sex.
The Hello Baby Names take
Sarah feels steady and unforced. Its familiar sound can be a real advantage when parents want a name that leaves plenty of room for the person wearing it. Sadie and Sally offer warmer, more playful directions if a nickname appeals.
Things to consider
Sarah and Sara may share a pronunciation or differ by language. The final H is silent in the usual English pronunciation and the spellings rank separately.
If you love Sarah, consider…
- Hannah: Offers similar warmth and biblical familiarity.
- Leah: Makes the gentle sound more compact.
- Anna: Keeps the clear, traditional simplicity.
- Clara: Adds a crisper opening and vintage mood.
- Abigail: Brings more length and nickname flexibility.
- Naomi: Offers a more varied vowel pattern.
- Sadie: Makes Sarah's lively short form official.
- Nora: Gives a rounder, more understated alternative.