A female name. Hebrew ‘princess’. The wife of Abraham, whose name was originally Sarai ‘contentious’, was later called Sarah. Sara is the hellenized form of the name. It is found in use in England as a christian name from the 12th C, usually in the form Sarra, but was not really common until after the Reformation, when Sarah becomes the usual spelling. In the 17th C the form Sarey is found (cf. the vulgar 19th-C pronunciation, e.g ‘Sairey Gamp'). In the 18th and 19th C the compound Saranna (Sara + Anna) had a certain vogue. The usual pet-form of the name in England is Sally (cf. Mally for Mary, Hal for Harry); in USA Sadie (cf. Maidie for Mary). In Ireland Sarah has been used to render the native Sorcha and Saraid.

Sarra Curia Regis Rolls 1189-1215, Hundred Rolls 1273, Feudal Aids 1303, 1316.Sara Yorks Poll Tax of West Riding of Yorkshire 1379 1379.

The Scripture name, in Hebrew שָׂרָה, Sarah, which Fuerstius renders ‘herrscherin,’ i. e. female ruler, governor; others say, ‘princess, noble lady;’ from saráh, to be leader, commander; to fight.’ The name appears to have been originally Sarái, signifying ‘my princess;’ and the Rev. A. Jones says the change in her name probably took place because of the honour God had purposed to confer upon her when, in Gen. xvii. 16, he said ‘She shall become nations,’ i. e. the mother of them. The nicknames are Sal and Sally.

Hebrew (feminine) - Princess.

Meaning: (1) a princess: (2), the prince breathed (Num. 26: 46).

A Hebrew name, meaning: Princess.