Sarah Name Meaning, Origin, and Biblical Background

Meaning

The meaning of Sarah

Sarah is commonly explained as princess or noblewoman. In Genesis, the name replaces Sarai and belongs to the matriarch whose life is tied to the promise of Isaac.

Sound

How to pronounce Sarah

Phonetic: SAIR-uh
IPA: /ˈsɛɹə/

2 syllables · stress: SAIR-uh · ends in a vowel

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

Sara
Sarai
Sera
Sarra
Zara

Short forms and nicknames

Sadie
Sally
Sallie

Languages

Sarah in other languages

Hebrew: שָׂרָהSarah
Greek: ΣάραSara
Latin: Sara
Spanish: Sara
French: Sarah
German: Sara
Italian: Sara
Russian: СарраSarra
Polish: Sara
Arabic: سَارَةSara

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Sarah appears in Genesis and is later remembered in the New Testament as part of the story of faith. Christian readers often connect her name with promise, patience, and the surprising generosity of God.

Scripture

The biblical figure

Sarah is Abraham's wife and Isaac's mother. Her story includes leaving home, long waiting, laughter at an impossible promise, and the birth of a child central to the covenant line.

Bearers

Notable people named Sarah

biblical
Sarah, matriarchWife of Abraham and mother of Isaac in Genesis
historical
Sarah SiddonsWelsh tragic actress regarded as the leading English-language tragedienne of her era, 1755 to 1831
historical
Sarah BernhardtFrench stage actress widely considered one of the finest of the nineteenth century, 1844 to 1923
historical
Sarah Orne JewettAmerican novelist and short-story writer of the regional realist tradition, 1849 to 1909
modern
Sarah VaughanAmerican jazz singer, 1924 to 1990
modern
Sarah ConnorCentral character in the Terminator film series, played by Linda Hamilton from 1984 onward

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Sarah has been one of the most enduring biblical girl names in English. It feels classic without feeling ornate, and Sara gives the name a slightly simpler spelling.

Recent US use

Sarah in recent US use

Rank in 2025: #90
Peak rank: #3 in 1993
Recent trend: declining over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records: 146 (since 1880)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

Brothers

Sisters

Pairings

Names paired with Sarah

Abrahamhusband
Sarah and Abraham are the first patriarchal couple in Genesis; she bears Isaac in her old age.

For families

For families looking at Sarah

For a Christian family, Sarah offers a gentle sound, a clear biblical story, and a meaning with dignity. It is familiar across many traditions and easy to pair with both classic and modern middle names.

Common questions

What does Sarah mean?

Sarah is commonly understood to mean princess.

Is Sarah a biblical name?

Yes. Sarah is Abraham's wife and Isaac's mother in Genesis.

Is Sarah a Christian name?

Yes. Sarah has a long history of use among Christians because of her role in the biblical story.

Sources

Sources for Sarah

A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, Brown, Driver, and BriggsSupports: Hebrew etymology; meaning 'princess'.
Genesis, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: scripture context (Genesis 17:15, Sarai renamed Sarah); biblical figure, Abraham's wife and Isaac's mother.

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.