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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

How do you feel about the name Sara?

56 replies

sayagi1 · 01/08/2026 21:06

I know it's a classic and fairly common name, but I always found it soft, airy and pretty in an understated way. Worried it might be too plain though. Honest opinions welcome!

On the spelling: it's traditionally spelled this way in my family and pronounced "saah-ruh" (like Zara with an S), though I wouldn't particularly mind if people said "sair-uh" either..

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CreativeAccounting · Yesterday 09:17

It’s a lovely name - simple and classy. An interesting fact about the name “Sara” is that it was used as a Nazi signifier. In 1938 a law was passed in Germany which required all Jewish women, whose actual names were not that Jewish sounding, to adopt the middle name “Sara”. This would allow their Jewishness to be instantly obvious on official documents.

thornbury · 04/08/2026 11:17

I went to school with one (Sar-ruh) and also have an American friend (Sair-uh). Because of my school friend, I naturally say it the first way unless corrected.

TheyGrewUp · 04/08/2026 10:57

Love it.

Aiming4Optimistic · 04/08/2026 10:53

I'm a Sarah and to me, Sara is a different name with a different pronunciation. Yet I'm constantly asked, whenever someone has to write my name for the first time, whether it's Sarah with an H. So many many people think Sarah and Sara are interchangeable. For this reason, I'd be inclined to choose Zara, over Sara (unless you were dead set on the soft S), because there's less scope for people to get it wrong.

It's not a huge thing to say 'actually it's Sara not Sarah' if you really did love Sara, but keep in mind that it is something your daughter will have to do repeatedly in her life.

IwanttoWFH · 03/08/2026 20:27

I’d pronounce “Sara” as rhyming with Zara. Sarah (in the traditional sense) has a “h” on the end. So, I’d consider the spelling depending on what sound you like!

PeachyPeachTrees · 03/08/2026 19:15

I much prefer Sarah and less issues with spelling and pronunciation.

RowsOfFlowers · 02/08/2026 15:16

Prefer Sara to Sarah…

Firebird83 · 02/08/2026 15:08

I like both Sarah and Sara.

Cotswoldmama · 02/08/2026 15:06

I love the name Sara and I would pronounce it like you say to rhyme with Tara or Zara but there are a surprising amount of people who pronounce it Sarah! I think Sarah is a great name too but they're completely different.

Specialneedsnightmare · 02/08/2026 15:04

Growlybear83 · 02/08/2026 15:04

I think it’s lovely. It’s so nice to see someone considering a more traditional name on here, rather than some of the ridiculous names thst some people consider calling their children.

Very strong agree.

Growlybear83 · 02/08/2026 15:04

I think it’s lovely. It’s so nice to see someone considering a more traditional name on here, rather than some of the ridiculous names thst some people consider calling their children.

ButtercupYellow26 · 02/08/2026 14:59

I much prefer Sarah.

Morethanadecade · 02/08/2026 14:28

Sara is a lovely name. It’s well known, and I can’t imagine people would pronounce it like Sarah usually.

Peanutlicious · 02/08/2026 14:25

I really like it, nice spelling

Culpeper · 02/08/2026 09:52

I went to school with many Sarahs. It a nice inoffensive name, and not as common for children as it was.

IMO, Sarah nicer than Sara, in terms of the look and the pronunciation.

DaysIllRememberAllMyLife · 02/08/2026 09:49

It's OK. I prefer Zara though and I'm not a fan of Sarah. There's billions of them.

AgentPidge · 02/08/2026 09:44

Rufusisturnedon · 02/08/2026 07:19

How can you choose a name for your child and they’re not particularly Mind someone says it completely wrong?

Your child will! I assume you’re naming your first baby, and I’ve got no context of how important identity being correct is!?!?

An awful lot of names have more than one pronunciation. When you meet someone you just tell them the name, and then they know how to say it. My name has different pronunciations - if a Spanish person says it the Spanish way, for example, I find it charming.
Other than that, saying it the wrong way is never a problem because you tell them. Apart from my ex-boss who used to call me the wrong name entirely, but that was a power thing for her (think Joanne/Josephine).

ACynicalDad · 02/08/2026 08:31

Dated and dull

AgentPidge · 02/08/2026 08:30

yetnothername · 02/08/2026 07:13

Sar-a is also the Welsh pronunciation (British).

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Interesting. But in the Middle East, the r in the middle is rolled, so I don't suppose the Welsh pronunciation sounds exactly the same. It's subtle!

BarrelofBeer · 02/08/2026 08:30

Sounds as though it's trying to be a little bit more whimsical than Sarah.

Rufusisturnedon · 02/08/2026 07:19

How can you choose a name for your child and they’re not particularly Mind someone says it completely wrong?

Your child will! I assume you’re naming your first baby, and I’ve got no context of how important identity being correct is!?!?

yetnothername · 02/08/2026 07:13

AgentPidge · 01/08/2026 21:26

The Arabic pronunciation is the one you've mentioned. I really like Sara with that pronunciation. For British accents I prefer Sarah, though.

Sar-a is also the Welsh pronunciation (British).

Amiacoolorwarmcolour · 02/08/2026 07:10

I always thought it was pronounced to rhyme with Zara but I’ve met Saras who pronounce it the same as Sarah. If you don’t mind correcting people then I think it’s a great name.

Thewalrusandthecarpenter · 02/08/2026 06:54

I know a Sara in her sixties who introduces herself as Sarah after decades of people mispronouncing her name and deciding to join them.

PersephoneParlormaid · 02/08/2026 06:47

I prefer Sarah

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