The name Sabrina is thought to have originated from the Sabine region of ancient Italy, derived from the Latin word "Sabinus" meaning "from the Sabine people." The Sabines were an ancient Italic tribe that inhabited the central Apennine region of the Italian peninsula. The name is believed to have first appeared in written records during the Roman era, around the 1st century AD.

One of the earliest known references to the name Sabrina can be found in the writings of the Roman poet Ovid, who mentioned a mythological figure named Sabrina in his work "Metamorphoses." According to the story, Sabrina was a river nymph or goddess who was drowned in a river by her jealous stepmother. The river was subsequently named after her.

In the medieval period, the name Sabrina gained popularity in Britain, particularly in Wales, where it was associated with the legend of the Welsh princess Sabrina, who was said to have lived in the 5th century AD. According to the legend, Sabrina was the daughter of Locrine, the eldest son of the legendary British king Brutus. The city of Bath, England, is believed to have been named after her, as it was originally called "Caer Badarn" or "Sabrina's City."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Sabrina was Sabrina Calderini (1591-1672), an Italian writer and poet from the Renaissance period. Another notable Sabrina from history was Sabrina Sidney (1617-1654), an English writer and the daughter of the renowned poet and courtier Sir Philip Sidney.

In the 19th century, the name gained popularity in literature, most notably in the work of John Milton, who wrote about the legend of Sabrina in his masque "Comus." The name was also used by the English novelist Samuel Richardson for the character Sabrina Louisa Morland in his novel "The History of Sir Charles Grandison" (1753).

Other notable individuals named Sabrina throughout history include Sabrina Spellman, a fictional character from the Archie Comics series; Sabrina Le Beauf (born 1958), an American actress known for her role in "The Cosby Show"; Sabrina Salerno (born 1968), an Italian singer and actress; and Sabrina Ionescu (born 1997), an American professional basketball player.