Find out how popular the first name Sara has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Sara by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Sara is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Sara being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,587 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Sara.

The history of the first name Sara

The name Sara has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture, derived from the biblical name Sarah, which means "princess" or "noblewoman." It first appeared in the Old Testament book of Genesis, as the name of Abraham's wife and the matriarch of the Jewish people.

The name gained popularity during the early days of Christianity, as it was adopted by followers of the new religion. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Sara can be found in the New Testament, referring to one of the daughters of Raguel, who married Tobias in the Book of Tobit.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Sara. In the 4th century, Sara of Byzantium was a Christian martyr who was executed for her faith during the reign of Emperor Licinius. Sara Theodora, born in 508 CE, was the wife of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and played a significant role in his reign.

During the Middle Ages, Sara was a popular name among Jewish communities across Europe. One of the earliest recorded Jewish women with the name was Sara Bat Tovim, a 12th-century Jewish scholar and poet from Catalonia.

In the Renaissance era, Sara Copia Sullam, born in 1592 in Venice, was a renowned Jewish scholar and poet who was admired for her literary works and her command of multiple languages.

Moving into the modern era, Sara Josepha Hale, born in 1788, was an American writer and activist who played a crucial role in advocating for the establishment of Thanksgiving as a national holiday in the United States.

Another notable figure was Sara Teasdale, an American lyric poet born in 1884, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1918 for her collection "Love Songs."

These are just a few examples of the many remarkable individuals who have carried the name Sara throughout history, reflecting its enduring popularity and cultural significance across various societies and time periods.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Sara was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sara, please contact us.

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