Sara
Sarah is a common feminine given name of Hebrew origin. It derives its popularity from the biblical matriarch Sarah, the wife of Abraham and a major figure in the Abrahamic religions.
Meaning & Origin of Sara
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Sarah is a common feminine given name of Hebrew origin. It derives its popularity from the biblical matriarch Sarah, the wife of Abraham and a major figure in the Abrahamic religions.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Sara
Sara first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1880, with 165 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1981, when 11,358 Saras were born — ranking #26 that year. As of 2026, Sara ranks #191 for baby girls with 1,633 births, holding steady (-4%). In total, more than 438K Saras have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Sara
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Sarah, Crown Princess of Brunei
- Sarah Abo , Australian television presenter, journalist and reporter
- Sarah Adegoke (born 1997), Nigerian tennis player
- Sarah Alexander (born 1971), English actress
- Sarah A. Anderson (1901–1992), American politician
- Sarah Armstrong-Smith , British Chief information security officer
- Sarah Aroeste (born 1976), Sephardic Jewish musician
- Sarah Ashton-Cirillo (born 1977), American journalist and activist
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Sara
Phonetically similar names — useful when Sara is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sara
What does the name Sara mean?
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When was Sara most popular?
In which U.S. states is Sara most popular?
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About the name Sara
Sara is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 438K births in the dataset. Sara's peak popularity came in 1981 when it ranked #26. Use the chart and map above to compare Sara's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1981 →
- Names of the 1980s →
- Names starting with "S" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.