Fun Facts About the Name Sarah
- Back among the favorites: Sarah returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 64 consecutive years, through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Sarah's rank fell 85 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 1 million babies named Sarah: U.S. records list 1,101,773 babies given the name Sarah from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,339 boys received the name Sarah - about 1 boy for every 329 girls.
What Does the Name Sarah Mean?
Sarah is a Hebrew name meaning "princess" or "noblewoman." It comes from the Hebrew sarah, the feminine form of sar, "prince," "ruler," or "chief." In the Hebrew Bible, Abraham's wife is first called Sarai (Saray), and God changes her name to Sarah in Genesis 17:15. The older form Sarai is often explained as "my princess," but the ending is not the usual Hebrew possessive suffix, and some scholars treat Sarai as an archaic or dialectal variant of Sarah. A less common explanation connects Sarai with a root meaning "strife" or "contention." The exact derivation of Sarai is uncertain, while the literal sense of Sarah remains a female title of rank. Later Jewish and Christian interpretation often treats the name as a sign of Sarah's role as matriarch, but that is a symbolic reading rather than a different etymology.
Sarah Name History & Origins
The name reached European languages through the Greek and Latin Bible. In the Hebrew Bible, the change from Sarai to Sarah in Genesis 17 is presented as part of God's promise that she will be a mother of nations. In the Septuagint, Hebrew Sarah appears as Sarra, and the New Testament keeps Sarra when it names her in passages such as Romans 9:9 and 1 Peter 3:6. Latin Christian tradition commonly wrote Sara. English Bibles of the 16th and 17th centuries used Sarah, and that spelling became the usual English form. In the Book of Tobit, Sarah is the name of a different woman, the daughter of Raguel, who marries Tobias; this shows the name in Second Temple Jewish literature. Islamic tradition names Abraham's wife Sarah in later commentary, although the Quran does not give her name. In England, Sarah appears in parish records by the 16th century; it was especially favored by Puritans in the 17th century, who often gave children biblical names. The name has equivalents in many languages, including Sara, Sarita, Sára, and Sarra.
How Popular is the Name Sarah?
Sarah ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1953, then returned in 1962 and remained through 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #90 | 2,710 | 0.1686% |
| 2024 | #95 | 2,697 | 0.1672% |
| 2023 | #91 | 2,767 | 0.1727% |
| 2022 | #95 | 2,805 | 0.1712% |
| 2021 | #91 | 2,862 | 0.1745% |
| 2020 | #86 | 3,069 | 0.1900% |
| 2019 | #81 | 3,322 | 0.1980% |
| 2018 | #66 | 3,778 | 0.2222% |
| 2017 | #62 | 4,033 | 0.2337% |
| 2016 | #57 | 4,426 | 0.2498% |
| 2015 | #57 | 4,534 | 0.2541% |
| 2014 | #50 | 4,714 | 0.2640% |
| 2013 | #48 | 4,715 | 0.2688% |
| 2012 | #42 | 5,205 | 0.2956% |
| 2011 | #39 | 5,569 | 0.3166% |
| 2010 | #26 | 6,341 | 0.3568% |
| 2009 | #21 | 7,791 | 0.4241% |
| 2008 | #20 | 9,053 | 0.4788% |
| 2007 | #18 | 10,010 | 0.5207% |
| 2006 | #15 | 11,159 | 0.5870% |
| 2005 | #15 | 11,552 | 0.6252% |
| 2004 | #12 | 12,754 | 0.6946% |
| 2003 | #11 | 13,785 | 0.7545% |
| 2002 | #8 | 14,778 | 0.8225% |
| 2001 | #6 | 15,927 | 0.8846% |
| 2000 | #5 | 17,715 | 0.9755% |
| 1999 | #4 | 19,117 | 1.0778% |
| 1998 | #4 | 19,896 | 1.1260% |
| 1997 | #4 | 20,716 | 1.1901% |
| 1996 | #4 | 21,044 | 1.2005% |
| 1995 | #5 | 21,394 | 1.2166% |
| 1994 | #5 | 22,298 | 1.2487% |
| 1993 | #3 | 24,256 | 1.3408% |
| 1992 | #5 | 24,636 | 1.3361% |
| 1991 | #6 | 25,231 | 1.3457% |
| 1990 | #6 | 25,825 | 1.3603% |
| 1989 | #5 | 27,796 | 1.5077% |
| 1988 | #4 | 28,374 | 1.5933% |
| 1987 | #5 | 27,895 | 1.6044% |
| 1986 | #5 | 28,164 | 1.6417% |
| 1985 | #5 | 24,878 | 1.4457% |
| 1984 | #5 | 25,889 | 1.5375% |
| 1983 | #5 | 27,230 | 1.6299% |
| 1982 | #4 | 28,488 | 1.6824% |
| 1981 | #4 | 28,174 | 1.6890% |
| 1980 | #5 | 25,759 | 1.5514% |
| 1979 | #6 | 21,017 | 1.3092% |
| 1978 | #8 | 19,976 | 1.3040% |
| 1977 | #11 | 18,096 | 1.1803% |
| 1976 | #15 | 13,996 | 0.9553% |
| 1975 | #17 | 11,170 | 0.7662% |
| 1974 | #20 | 9,790 | 0.6671% |
| 1973 | #35 | 7,214 | 0.4947% |
| 1972 | #49 | 6,114 | 0.4019% |
| 1971 | #58 | 5,844 | 0.3512% |
| 1970 | #65 | 5,614 | 0.3211% |
| 1969 | #72 | 5,079 | 0.3011% |
| 1968 | #78 | 4,489 | 0.2737% |
| 1967 | #83 | 4,139 | 0.2507% |
| 1966 | #85 | 4,035 | 0.2385% |
| 1965 | #92 | 4,061 | 0.2301% |
| 1964 | #92 | 4,584 | 0.2419% |
| 1963 | #94 | 4,571 | 0.2372% |
| 1962 | #98 | 4,547 | 0.2312% |
| 1961 | #113 | 4,205 | 0.2083% |
| 1960 | #116 | 4,206 | 0.2080% |
| 1959 | #119 | 3,869 | 0.1912% |
| 1958 | #117 | 3,913 | 0.1945% |
| 1957 | #116 | 3,986 | 0.1949% |
| 1956 | #115 | 3,875 | 0.1930% |
| 1955 | #108 | 3,979 | 0.2035% |
| 1954 | #103 | 4,040 | 0.2080% |
| 1953 | #93 | 4,085 | 0.2171% |
| 1952 | #93 | 4,048 | 0.2183% |
| 1951 | #91 | 4,028 | 0.2237% |
| 1950 | #88 | 4,144 | 0.2419% |
| 1949 | #84 | 4,295 | 0.2510% |
| 1948 | #85 | 4,159 | 0.2449% |
| 1947 | #93 | 4,223 | 0.2382% |
| 1946 | #92 | 3,909 | 0.2488% |
| 1945 | #76 | 3,593 | 0.2749% |
| 1944 | #67 | 3,856 | 0.2905% |
| 1943 | #71 | 3,990 | 0.2860% |
| 1942 | #67 | 4,100 | 0.3035% |
| 1941 | #60 | 3,983 | 0.3297% |
| 1940 | #60 | 3,869 | 0.3383% |
| 1939 | #68 | 3,671 | 0.3348% |
| 1938 | #67 | 3,748 | 0.3397% |
| 1937 | #65 | 3,589 | 0.3373% |
| 1936 | #63 | 3,515 | 0.3379% |
| 1935 | #61 | 3,615 | 0.3448% |
| 1934 | #67 | 3,601 | 0.3448% |
| 1933 | #58 | 3,621 | 0.3593% |
| 1932 | #67 | 3,597 | 0.3371% |
| 1931 | #71 | 3,636 | 0.3415% |
| 1930 | #70 | 3,920 | 0.3482% |
| 1929 | #68 | 3,815 | 0.3417% |
| 1928 | #64 | 4,244 | 0.3680% |
| 1927 | #61 | 4,556 | 0.3821% |
| 1926 | #63 | 4,423 | 0.3731% |
| 1925 | #58 | 4,685 | 0.3848% |
| 1924 | #54 | 5,045 | 0.4040% |
| 1923 | #54 | 4,963 | 0.4114% |
| 1922 | #51 | 4,982 | 0.4148% |
| 1921 | #54 | 5,024 | 0.4074% |
| 1920 | #50 | 5,031 | 0.4198% |
| 1919 | #46 | 5,022 | 0.4444% |
| 1918 | #52 | 4,969 | 0.4292% |
| 1917 | #52 | 4,766 | 0.4408% |
| 1916 | #52 | 4,798 | 0.4594% |
| 1915 | #51 | 4,415 | 0.4487% |
| 1914 | #47 | 3,679 | 0.4831% |
| 1913 | #43 | 3,178 | 0.5089% |
| 1912 | #41 | 2,919 | 0.5230% |
| 1911 | #42 | 2,201 | 0.5262% |
| 1910 | #40 | 2,173 | 0.5480% |
| 1909 | #49 | 1,845 | 0.5314% |
| 1908 | #48 | 1,814 | 0.5426% |
| 1907 | #48 | 1,799 | 0.5647% |
| 1906 | #44 | 1,697 | 0.5747% |
| 1905 | #41 | 1,762 | 0.6042% |
| 1904 | #43 | 1,594 | 0.5789% |
| 1903 | #41 | 1,553 | 0.5928% |
| 1902 | #39 | 1,710 | 0.6475% |
| 1901 | #40 | 1,514 | 0.6326% |
| 1900 | #37 | 2,054 | 0.6852% |
| 1899 | #38 | 1,587 | 0.6810% |
| 1898 | #37 | 1,800 | 0.6956% |
| 1897 | #34 | 1,713 | 0.7314% |
| 1896 | #35 | 1,691 | 0.7107% |
| 1895 | #33 | 1,777 | 0.7606% |
| 1894 | #34 | 1,701 | 0.7630% |
| 1893 | #33 | 1,632 | 0.7665% |
| 1892 | #28 | 1,798 | 0.8468% |
| 1891 | #24 | 1,669 | 0.8998% |
| 1890 | #21 | 1,786 | 0.9381% |
| 1889 | #20 | 1,730 | 0.9699% |
| 1888 | #20 | 1,755 | 0.9825% |
| 1887 | #20 | 1,436 | 0.9837% |
| 1886 | #16 | 1,569 | 1.0856% |
| 1885 | #18 | 1,424 | 1.0702% |
| 1884 | #14 | 1,518 | 1.1766% |
| 1883 | #12 | 1,359 | 1.2099% |
| 1882 | #12 | 1,410 | 1.3074% |
| 1881 | #12 | 1,226 | 1.3333% |
| 1880 | #10 | 1,288 | 1.4155% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | #9,405 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #11,970 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #8,687 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #7,937 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #13,712 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #12,016 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #13,984 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #13,905 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #7,156 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2008 | #5,448 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 2007 | #6,543 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #5,266 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #4,790 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #2,205 | 53 | 0.0027% |
| 2003 | #3,507 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2002 | #3,890 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2001 | #3,823 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2000 | #3,282 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #5,268 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #3,278 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1997 | #4,023 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1996 | #2,427 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1995 | #2,340 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 1994 | #1,923 | 44 | 0.0023% |
| 1993 | #1,846 | 46 | 0.0023% |
| 1992 | #1,655 | 53 | 0.0027% |
| 1991 | #2,046 | 37 | 0.0018% |
| 1990 | #1,514 | 57 | 0.0028% |
| 1989 | #823 | 146 | 0.0073% |
| 1988 | #1,063 | 88 | 0.0046% |
| 1987 | #895 | 110 | 0.0059% |
| 1986 | #839 | 117 | 0.0064% |
| 1985 | #904 | 101 | 0.0055% |
| 1984 | #791 | 122 | 0.0068% |
| 1983 | #808 | 118 | 0.0066% |
| 1982 | #792 | 125 | 0.0069% |
| 1981 | #844 | 109 | 0.0061% |
| 1980 | #986 | 84 | 0.0047% |
| 1979 | #973 | 84 | 0.0049% |
| 1978 | #960 | 82 | 0.0050% |
| 1977 | #1,091 | 64 | 0.0039% |
| 1976 | #1,314 | 46 | 0.0029% |
| 1975 | #1,275 | 46 | 0.0029% |
| 1974 | #1,612 | 31 | 0.0020% |
| 1973 | #1,502 | 33 | 0.0021% |
| 1972 | #2,065 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #2,452 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1970 | #2,387 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #2,292 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1968 | #2,293 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1967 | #2,125 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1966 | #2,203 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #1,979 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1964 | #2,028 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #2,283 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1962 | #2,178 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1961 | #2,220 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1960 | #2,407 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #2,184 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #2,355 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1957 | #2,360 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #2,479 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #2,035 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1954 | #2,422 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #2,515 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #3,064 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #2,823 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1950 | #2,421 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1949 | #2,435 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #2,592 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #1,907 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1946 | #2,017 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1945 | #2,375 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1944 | #2,832 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1943 | #1,823 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1942 | #1,624 | 20 | 0.0014% |
| 1941 | #1,630 | 19 | 0.0015% |
| 1940 | #1,394 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1939 | #1,625 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1938 | #1,470 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1937 | #1,368 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1936 | #1,536 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1935 | #1,644 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1934 | #1,289 | 28 | 0.0027% |
| 1933 | #1,225 | 30 | 0.0030% |
| 1932 | #1,459 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1931 | #1,531 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1930 | #1,393 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1929 | #1,666 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1928 | #1,250 | 34 | 0.0031% |
| 1927 | #1,265 | 34 | 0.0030% |
| 1926 | #2,414 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1925 | #1,573 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1924 | #1,451 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1923 | #1,863 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1922 | #1,873 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1921 | #1,889 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1920 | #2,321 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1919 | #2,637 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1918 | #2,244 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1917 | #2,538 | 11 | 0.0012% |
| 1916 | #1,687 | 19 | 0.0021% |
| 1915 | #1,951 | 15 | 0.0018% |
| 1914 | #1,850 | 13 | 0.0020% |
| 1913 | #1,923 | 10 | 0.0020% |
| 1912 | #1,216 | 16 | 0.0037% |
| 1911 | #1,275 | 9 | 0.0040% |
| 1910 | #1,558 | 6 | 0.0031% |
| 1909 | #948 | 11 | 0.0067% |
| 1905 | #1,397 | 5 | 0.0038% |
| 1904 | #1,046 | 7 | 0.0055% |
| 1903 | #1,282 | 5 | 0.0042% |
| 1902 | #1,290 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1901 | #1,192 | 5 | 0.0047% |
| 1900 | #1,476 | 5 | 0.0033% |
| 1899 | #653 | 11 | 0.0104% |
| 1898 | #1,271 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1897 | #779 | 9 | 0.0080% |
| 1896 | #1,244 | 5 | 0.0042% |
| 1895 | #860 | 8 | 0.0068% |
| 1894 | #721 | 10 | 0.0086% |
| 1893 | #1,015 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1892 | #1,052 | 6 | 0.0049% |
| 1890 | #1,136 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1889 | #1,093 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1886 | #951 | 6 | 0.0054% |
| 1885 | #824 | 7 | 0.0065% |
| 1884 | #954 | 6 | 0.0052% |
| 1883 | #790 | 7 | 0.0067% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
