Fun Facts About the Name Sara
- An established favorite: Sara held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 36 consecutive years, from 1973 through 2008.
- More than 437 thousand babies named Sara: U.S. records list 437,414 babies given the name Sara from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,248 boys received the name Sara - about 1 boy for every 349 girls.
What Does the Name Sara Mean?
Sara is a form of the Hebrew name Sarah, meaning "princess" or "noblewoman." The Hebrew name is שָׂרָה (Sarah), built from a root connected with שַׂר (sar), "prince" or "ruler," plus a feminine ending.
In the Hebrew Bible, the first matriarch is called Sarai (שָׂרַי) and later Sarah (שָׂרָה). Some explanations treat Sarai as "my princess" and Sarah as "princess"; others consider the two forms older and newer versions of the same name. The biblical text does not give a clear etymology, so the exact relationship between the two forms remains uncertain.
Sara is the usual spelling in several languages, including Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and Scandinavian languages, and it is an alternative English spelling of Sarah. Later religious reflection sometimes connects Sarah to the promise that she would be "a mother of nations," but that is a role in the biblical narrative rather than the etymology of the name.
Sara Name History & Origins
The name Sara comes into European languages through the biblical Sarah. In the Greek Septuagint, the Hebrew name appears as Σάρρα (Sarra), and in Latin it is written Sara or Sarra. From these forms the name spread with Christianity and took root in vernacular languages. Sara became the standard spelling in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and the Scandinavian languages, while English speakers generally used Sarah, with Sara as an established alternative.
In medieval England, Sarah was known from the Bible and used as a given name. After the Reformation, Old Testament names became more common among Protestants, and Sarah appeared often in English-speaking communities. English translations of the Bible normally use Sarah, while Sara is an alternative spelling found in English usage. The New Testament mentions Sarah in Hebrews 11:11 and 1 Peter 3:6, where she is presented as an example of faith.
A famous later literary use is Sara Crewe, the heroine of Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess (1905). That is a literary association, not the origin of the name.
How Popular is the Name Sara?
Sara remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1973 to 2008. Its highest annual birth count was in 1981, and people born that year turn 45 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #198 | 1,568 | 0.0976% |
| 2024 | #188 | 1,605 | 0.0995% |
| 2023 | #188 | 1,599 | 0.0998% |
| 2022 | #178 | 1,679 | 0.1025% |
| 2021 | #197 | 1,517 | 0.0925% |
| 2020 | #183 | 1,576 | 0.0976% |
| 2019 | #162 | 1,746 | 0.1041% |
| 2018 | #169 | 1,717 | 0.1010% |
| 2017 | #158 | 1,886 | 0.1093% |
| 2016 | #151 | 2,040 | 0.1152% |
| 2015 | #161 | 1,981 | 0.1110% |
| 2014 | #167 | 1,971 | 0.1104% |
| 2013 | #153 | 2,092 | 0.1192% |
| 2012 | #142 | 2,260 | 0.1284% |
| 2011 | #130 | 2,394 | 0.1361% |
| 2010 | #119 | 2,636 | 0.1483% |
| 2009 | #106 | 3,043 | 0.1657% |
| 2008 | #92 | 3,595 | 0.1901% |
| 2007 | #80 | 4,024 | 0.2093% |
| 2006 | #72 | 4,409 | 0.2319% |
| 2005 | #75 | 4,283 | 0.2318% |
| 2004 | #68 | 4,507 | 0.2455% |
| 2003 | #65 | 4,764 | 0.2607% |
| 2002 | #59 | 4,944 | 0.2752% |
| 2001 | #58 | 5,156 | 0.2864% |
| 2000 | #57 | 5,325 | 0.2932% |
| 1999 | #50 | 5,626 | 0.3172% |
| 1998 | #48 | 6,010 | 0.3401% |
| 1997 | #50 | 6,159 | 0.3538% |
| 1996 | #50 | 6,288 | 0.3587% |
| 1995 | #48 | 6,697 | 0.3808% |
| 1994 | #43 | 7,219 | 0.4043% |
| 1993 | #40 | 7,902 | 0.4368% |
| 1992 | #37 | 8,444 | 0.4579% |
| 1991 | #37 | 8,846 | 0.4718% |
| 1990 | #34 | 8,979 | 0.4729% |
| 1989 | #29 | 9,706 | 0.5265% |
| 1988 | #30 | 10,018 | 0.5625% |
| 1987 | #29 | 10,090 | 0.5803% |
| 1986 | #27 | 11,052 | 0.6442% |
| 1985 | #30 | 10,562 | 0.6138% |
| 1984 | #32 | 9,315 | 0.5532% |
| 1983 | #31 | 10,086 | 0.6037% |
| 1982 | #28 | 11,345 | 0.6700% |
| 1981 | #26 | 11,358 | 0.6809% |
| 1980 | #27 | 11,149 | 0.6715% |
| 1979 | #30 | 8,654 | 0.5391% |
| 1978 | #28 | 8,869 | 0.5790% |
| 1977 | #27 | 8,709 | 0.5680% |
| 1976 | #27 | 8,020 | 0.5474% |
| 1975 | #54 | 5,131 | 0.3519% |
| 1974 | #61 | 4,651 | 0.3169% |
| 1973 | #89 | 3,479 | 0.2386% |
| 1972 | #101 | 3,181 | 0.2091% |
| 1971 | #114 | 3,206 | 0.1927% |
| 1970 | #126 | 3,060 | 0.1750% |
| 1969 | #124 | 2,792 | 0.1655% |
| 1968 | #130 | 2,456 | 0.1497% |
| 1967 | #155 | 2,216 | 0.1342% |
| 1966 | #167 | 2,059 | 0.1217% |
| 1965 | #178 | 1,973 | 0.1118% |
| 1964 | #166 | 2,356 | 0.1243% |
| 1963 | #162 | 2,486 | 0.1290% |
| 1962 | #163 | 2,471 | 0.1256% |
| 1961 | #177 | 2,198 | 0.1089% |
| 1960 | #186 | 2,038 | 0.1008% |
| 1959 | #180 | 2,032 | 0.1004% |
| 1958 | #184 | 1,991 | 0.0990% |
| 1957 | #178 | 2,110 | 0.1032% |
| 1956 | #178 | 2,004 | 0.0998% |
| 1955 | #177 | 1,973 | 0.1009% |
| 1954 | #164 | 2,121 | 0.1092% |
| 1953 | #158 | 2,078 | 0.1105% |
| 1952 | #161 | 2,044 | 0.1102% |
| 1951 | #152 | 2,079 | 0.1154% |
| 1950 | #147 | 2,059 | 0.1202% |
| 1949 | #148 | 1,971 | 0.1152% |
| 1948 | #142 | 2,020 | 0.1190% |
| 1947 | #138 | 2,174 | 0.1226% |
| 1946 | #135 | 2,035 | 0.1295% |
| 1945 | #135 | 1,803 | 0.1379% |
| 1944 | #136 | 1,903 | 0.1434% |
| 1943 | #137 | 2,020 | 0.1448% |
| 1942 | #128 | 2,191 | 0.1622% |
| 1941 | #124 | 2,071 | 0.1714% |
| 1940 | #122 | 2,087 | 0.1825% |
| 1939 | #127 | 1,873 | 0.1708% |
| 1938 | #124 | 1,949 | 0.1766% |
| 1937 | #130 | 1,901 | 0.1787% |
| 1936 | #129 | 1,823 | 0.1752% |
| 1935 | #128 | 1,773 | 0.1691% |
| 1934 | #125 | 1,844 | 0.1766% |
| 1933 | #123 | 1,862 | 0.1847% |
| 1932 | #130 | 1,759 | 0.1648% |
| 1931 | #135 | 1,707 | 0.1603% |
| 1930 | #134 | 1,770 | 0.1572% |
| 1929 | #133 | 1,748 | 0.1566% |
| 1928 | #129 | 1,873 | 0.1624% |
| 1927 | #129 | 1,994 | 0.1672% |
| 1926 | #131 | 2,022 | 0.1706% |
| 1925 | #133 | 2,032 | 0.1669% |
| 1924 | #116 | 2,313 | 0.1852% |
| 1923 | #123 | 2,185 | 0.1811% |
| 1922 | #118 | 2,220 | 0.1848% |
| 1921 | #115 | 2,350 | 0.1906% |
| 1920 | #111 | 2,364 | 0.1973% |
| 1919 | #112 | 2,171 | 0.1921% |
| 1918 | #109 | 2,295 | 0.1982% |
| 1917 | #107 | 2,147 | 0.1986% |
| 1916 | #109 | 1,992 | 0.1907% |
| 1915 | #106 | 1,913 | 0.1944% |
| 1914 | #108 | 1,488 | 0.1954% |
| 1913 | #114 | 1,121 | 0.1795% |
| 1912 | #121 | 962 | 0.1724% |
| 1911 | #123 | 687 | 0.1642% |
| 1910 | #128 | 633 | 0.1596% |
| 1909 | #127 | 559 | 0.1610% |
| 1908 | #127 | 546 | 0.1633% |
| 1907 | #134 | 494 | 0.1551% |
| 1906 | #135 | 457 | 0.1548% |
| 1905 | #137 | 437 | 0.1499% |
| 1904 | #149 | 359 | 0.1304% |
| 1903 | #155 | 333 | 0.1271% |
| 1902 | #154 | 335 | 0.1269% |
| 1901 | #156 | 315 | 0.1316% |
| 1900 | #157 | 375 | 0.1251% |
| 1899 | #146 | 323 | 0.1386% |
| 1898 | #139 | 362 | 0.1399% |
| 1897 | #137 | 353 | 0.1507% |
| 1896 | #143 | 326 | 0.1370% |
| 1895 | #127 | 363 | 0.1554% |
| 1894 | #141 | 304 | 0.1364% |
| 1893 | #143 | 290 | 0.1362% |
| 1892 | #148 | 276 | 0.1300% |
| 1891 | #138 | 260 | 0.1402% |
| 1890 | #137 | 262 | 0.1376% |
| 1889 | #130 | 286 | 0.1603% |
| 1888 | #125 | 293 | 0.1640% |
| 1887 | #129 | 214 | 0.1466% |
| 1886 | #117 | 247 | 0.1709% |
| 1885 | #121 | 215 | 0.1616% |
| 1884 | #127 | 197 | 0.1527% |
| 1883 | #118 | 183 | 0.1629% |
| 1882 | #115 | 180 | 0.1669% |
| 1881 | #117 | 147 | 0.1599% |
| 1880 | #110 | 165 | 0.1813% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #13,839 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2021 | #11,882 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #10,528 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #13,904 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #10,825 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #14,032 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2006 | #9,415 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #7,550 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #3,837 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 2003 | #12,431 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #12,172 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #9,057 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #6,233 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #4,984 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #5,116 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1997 | #7,159 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1996 | #5,896 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #6,869 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #3,723 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1993 | #3,982 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #4,531 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #2,971 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1990 | #2,478 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1989 | #1,611 | 50 | 0.0025% |
| 1988 | #1,665 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 1987 | #1,479 | 49 | 0.0026% |
| 1986 | #1,641 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 1985 | #1,478 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 1984 | #1,441 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 1983 | #1,490 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 1982 | #1,393 | 47 | 0.0026% |
| 1981 | #1,803 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1980 | #1,445 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 1979 | #1,828 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1978 | #1,750 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 1977 | #1,737 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 1976 | #1,742 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 1975 | #3,205 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #2,258 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1973 | #2,586 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1972 | #3,562 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1971 | #2,946 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #2,860 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #3,879 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #2,292 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #2,954 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #3,205 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #3,014 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #3,983 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #3,267 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1959 | #3,555 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #4,416 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1957 | #4,469 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1956 | #3,873 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #3,743 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #3,631 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #4,107 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #2,649 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #3,945 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1944 | #2,831 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1943 | #2,537 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1942 | #3,513 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #3,098 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1940 | #2,649 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1939 | #2,421 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1938 | #2,460 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1937 | #2,648 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #2,158 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #2,687 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1934 | #1,845 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1933 | #2,516 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1932 | #2,613 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1931 | #3,059 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #2,579 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1929 | #2,572 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1928 | #3,316 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1927 | #3,406 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1926 | #3,655 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1925 | #4,774 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1922 | #2,973 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1921 | #4,256 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #3,171 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1919 | #3,085 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1918 | #4,706 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1915 | #2,793 | 9 | 0.0011% |
| 1908 | #1,560 | 5 | 0.0032% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Sara
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Sara Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Sara's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Sara's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.