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

Popularity of Sarai by gender

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

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 748 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Sarai.

The history of the first name Sarai

Sarai is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from the biblical name Sarah. The name can be traced back to the ancient Semitic root "śrr," meaning "princess" or "noblewoman." It is believed to be one of the oldest recorded names in history, originating in the Middle East region.

In the Hebrew Bible, Sarai is the original name of Sarah, the wife of the patriarch Abraham. The Book of Genesis recounts how God changed her name from Sarai to Sarah, which means "princess," to reflect her role as the mother of nations. The name Sarai appears numerous times in the Torah and is deeply rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sarai can be found in the ancient city of Ur, located in modern-day Iraq, where Abraham and his family are believed to have lived before their migration to Canaan. Archaeological evidence suggests that the name was used in the region during the third millennium BCE.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Sarai. In the 11th century, Sarai of Kyiv was a Kievan Rus' princess who married the Grand Prince of Kiev, Yaroslav the Wise. Another notable bearer of the name was Sarai Shavit (1935-2003), an Israeli author and playwright known for her works exploring the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In the 15th century, Sarai Khanum (1475-1521) was a prominent figure in the Mughal Empire, serving as the chief consort of Emperor Babur and exerting significant influence over the court. Sarai Michelsen Riggs (1911-1991) was an American artist and illustrator who gained recognition for her works depicting scenes from everyday life in the rural American South.

Sarai Makdisi (1939-2021) was a prominent Lebanese academic and author, known for her contributions to the study of English literature and her advocacy for Palestinian rights. She was a respected figure in the literary and academic circles of the Middle East.

It is important to note that while the name Sarai has deep historical and cultural significance, particularly in the Judeo-Christian tradition, its popularity and usage have ebbed and flowed over time in different regions and cultures.

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 Sarai was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!