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HelpSarah and Sara
I have recently fallen in love with this name again.
What do you think of the name? Is it too dated to use now? Did you know many? Do you pronounce them the same?
Sarah or Sara and why?
What do you think of the name? Is it too dated to use now? Did you know many? Do you pronounce them the same?
Sarah or Sara and why?
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I like Sarah. Don't really care for Sara on English speakers. It just looks like someone trying to be unique and not sure what they're doing.
There's something about Sarah that feels soft, comforting. Like someone you could confide in and trust the advice of, etc.
I pronounce Sarah as SAIR-ah.
I pronounce Sara both as SAIR-ah and SAHR-ah mostly depending on the culture it's from. If I don't know, I assume it's SAIR-ah.
And yeah, I've known a ton of them, but I would just pair it with something more unique if I loved it, but that put me off.
There's something about Sarah that feels soft, comforting. Like someone you could confide in and trust the advice of, etc.
I pronounce Sarah as SAIR-ah.
I pronounce Sara both as SAIR-ah and SAHR-ah mostly depending on the culture it's from. If I don't know, I assume it's SAIR-ah.
And yeah, I've known a ton of them, but I would just pair it with something more unique if I loved it, but that put me off.
This message was edited 12/18/2018, 1:28 PM
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I like both names. I think of Sarah as a bit more classic and able to fit someone of any age, although when I see Sara, I usually think of a girl around seven to thirteen years old or so, even though I pronounce them exactly the same. I don't know why, but Sara just seems more energetic to me. I actually don't think I know a single person named Sarah or Sara.
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I pronounce both of them "SAIR-uh", and I think I like the Sarah spelling better. It just looks softer and more complete.
I've known several girls named Sarah: a cousin on my dad's side, a few high school friends, and an arts and crafts instructor, to name a few. I think it's a classic, rather than dated, and it ages well, too.
I've known several girls named Sarah: a cousin on my dad's side, a few high school friends, and an arts and crafts instructor, to name a few. I think it's a classic, rather than dated, and it ages well, too.
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I've known too many strong-personalitied Sarah or Sara's to really be able to view the name itself as a name, or to judge between the spellings - do I like Sara the person or spelling better? I just don't know. Can't separate them. (unlike, say, Emily, where I've known too many Emilys for any to really color the name.)
I don't think it's too dated to use, even if it's past its peak, it still feels sort of classic. I pronounce them the same.
I don't think it's too dated to use, even if it's past its peak, it still feels sort of classic. I pronounce them the same.
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I don't know if it's too dated - I think it's rather classic - but was certainly overused several decades ago. I know a bunch, mostly Sarahs rather than Sara. If they are English-speaking, I would assume that both were pronounced the same, with the first A rhyming with bear. But if they were European or Latinx I would assume the first A would rhyme with car.
I think I slightly prefer Sara because of the character in A Little Princess but Sarah looks more complete.
I think I slightly prefer Sara because of the character in A Little Princess but Sarah looks more complete.
This message was edited 12/16/2018, 5:30 PM
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I like Sarah but not enough to use. The meaning is nice and the Biblical association gives it a sense of tradition, history, and heritage. Since it is a name with a long history, I think that it will continue to be used but not to the extent that it was used in the 80s and 90s.
I have known five Sarah/Sara's: three women named Sarah, one named Sara with the Sair-ah pronunciation, and one Sara pronounced SAR-ah. The Sara with the SAR-ah pronunciation was from Turkey.
I prefer Sarah because it seems more closely connected to the Jewish origins and history.
I have known five Sarah/Sara's: three women named Sarah, one named Sara with the Sair-ah pronunciation, and one Sara pronounced SAR-ah. The Sara with the SAR-ah pronunciation was from Turkey.
I prefer Sarah because it seems more closely connected to the Jewish origins and history.
This message was edited 12/16/2018, 6:39 PM
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Well it's my name and I currently only know one other Sarah, though I don't see her often. Knew a few growing up and at one stage thought it was quite boring, just because of the popularity. I see it as a classic now. I pronounce Sarah and Sara differently and don't like Sara at all. I love the Biblical connection of Sarah, that's one of the reasons my parents chose it.
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I tend to pronounce both the same, as they are the same name. There are plenty of Hebrew names that can have the H on the end or not, and the pronunciation doesn't change. Kezia and Debora are pronounced no differently (at least they shouldn't be), if spelt Keziah and Deborah, for example.
However for some reason, here in the UK (and I think also in Ireland) Sara has tended to be pronounced SAH-rah, as opposed to SAIR-ah, although I do also know women called Sara here who pronounce it SAIR-ah.
As I said, my instinct is also also go with the SAIR-ah pronunciation, unless corrected.
I love the name, I think it's classically beautiful, and I don't understand the hatred some have towards it. It's no more bland/dull than Emma, which is still hugely popular, so I don't understand why Sarah (this is my preferred spelling) has fallen out of favour, while Emma hasn't. I would pick Sarah over Emma, every single time, although I have nothing against the latter name!
However for some reason, here in the UK (and I think also in Ireland) Sara has tended to be pronounced SAH-rah, as opposed to SAIR-ah, although I do also know women called Sara here who pronounce it SAIR-ah.
As I said, my instinct is also also go with the SAIR-ah pronunciation, unless corrected.
I love the name, I think it's classically beautiful, and I don't understand the hatred some have towards it. It's no more bland/dull than Emma, which is still hugely popular, so I don't understand why Sarah (this is my preferred spelling) has fallen out of favour, while Emma hasn't. I would pick Sarah over Emma, every single time, although I have nothing against the latter name!
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Yes it is different here.
Emma, Sarah, and Claire (this specific spelling) were the names of the 70's and 80's here, at least they were in England & Wales. (I haven't seen historical data for Scotland and N. Ireland). Between them, they dominated the top three spots, with Sarah, and then Emma, spending the most time at #1.
Claire dropped out of favour at rapid speed, it was #90 in 1996 (the first year the Office of National Statistics provided in-depth data), but is now #915. Clare is even lower, ranked #2925.
Sarah has slowly dropped out of favour, falling just outside the Top 100 (for the first time ever in England and Wales) in 2017. It was #18 in 1996, and is now #103.
Emma isn't as popular as it once was, but after falling to #60 in 2015, it's now back up at #52. (It was #13 in 1996).
I guess I just find it fascinating, that three names which at one point, could barely be parted at the top, are now seen in such different lights. I suppose the gap between Emma and Sarah isn't huge, but I wonder why one has dropped out, and the other is still holding on.
And Claire's fate is another story entirely. I just don't understand why its popularity has plummeted so quickly. Poor Claire.
Emma, Sarah, and Claire (this specific spelling) were the names of the 70's and 80's here, at least they were in England & Wales. (I haven't seen historical data for Scotland and N. Ireland). Between them, they dominated the top three spots, with Sarah, and then Emma, spending the most time at #1.
Claire dropped out of favour at rapid speed, it was #90 in 1996 (the first year the Office of National Statistics provided in-depth data), but is now #915. Clare is even lower, ranked #2925.
Sarah has slowly dropped out of favour, falling just outside the Top 100 (for the first time ever in England and Wales) in 2017. It was #18 in 1996, and is now #103.
Emma isn't as popular as it once was, but after falling to #60 in 2015, it's now back up at #52. (It was #13 in 1996).
I guess I just find it fascinating, that three names which at one point, could barely be parted at the top, are now seen in such different lights. I suppose the gap between Emma and Sarah isn't huge, but I wonder why one has dropped out, and the other is still holding on.
And Claire's fate is another story entirely. I just don't understand why its popularity has plummeted so quickly. Poor Claire.
This message was edited 12/17/2018, 5:33 AM
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I've been searching my brain for a reason why it has fallen so far, so quickly, and even asking those older than me, who were around when the name was popular. No-one can think of a reason, there's no person with the name who could have tainted it, or anything like that.
I've been looking up a few other names that were 'up there' at the top, close to the 'big three' at the time, and one of them has fallen even further out of favour than Claire. Interesting it's only one letter different to Emma, and that name is Gemma. It was #50 in 1996, and in 2017 was #1568. I just wonder why Emma has remained steadfast, and Gemma has just gone out of fashion.
Yet I think I'm right in saying, Gemma has only recently started to find favour in the U.S?
I've been looking up a few other names that were 'up there' at the top, close to the 'big three' at the time, and one of them has fallen even further out of favour than Claire. Interesting it's only one letter different to Emma, and that name is Gemma. It was #50 in 1996, and in 2017 was #1568. I just wonder why Emma has remained steadfast, and Gemma has just gone out of fashion.
Yet I think I'm right in saying, Gemma has only recently started to find favour in the U.S?
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I would choose Sarah over Emma too
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Sara is SAH-ra and Sarah is SAIR-uh in the UK.
I like both but as middle names because they're beautiful but overdone. I know many with both pronounciations.
I like both but as middle names because they're beautiful but overdone. I know many with both pronounciations.
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Ditto Janan
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Do I know many? I've known no fewer than ten. I have never in my life known so many people of one name as Sarah / Sara. Actually, only one was a Sara, all the rest Sarah.
I understand why it was popular. It's pretty, classic, Biblical, uncomplicated, doesn't need a nickname, holds no potential for an unwanted nickname, and it has a nice meaning. On the other hand, enough is enough. I am so thoroughly sick of it. I look back at when I had a daughter and I'm simultaneously a little surprised that it never occurred to me to name her Sarah and very glad that it didn't.
I pronounce them the same. I prefer Sarah because it looks more complete, and Sara just looks like somebody thought, "Why have the H? I mean, you don't hear it or nothing. It ain't like English is full of silent letters, ya know?"
I understand why it was popular. It's pretty, classic, Biblical, uncomplicated, doesn't need a nickname, holds no potential for an unwanted nickname, and it has a nice meaning. On the other hand, enough is enough. I am so thoroughly sick of it. I look back at when I had a daughter and I'm simultaneously a little surprised that it never occurred to me to name her Sarah and very glad that it didn't.
I pronounce them the same. I prefer Sarah because it looks more complete, and Sara just looks like somebody thought, "Why have the H? I mean, you don't hear it or nothing. It ain't like English is full of silent letters, ya know?"
This message was edited 12/16/2018, 11:52 AM
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