can I use Zara if there's a Sarah in our close family?

[TiredFeet]

Zara is currently high on my shortlist, only reason I am wavering is that Sil is called Sarah and I wondered if its too similar?

Other names currently on my list: Jessica, Daisy, Laura... Feel free to inspire me! Problem is so many other names we like have already been 'used'. Not overly bothered by the popularity of a name as we have a fairly exotic/unusual surname and ds's name was top 5 but we have only come across one or two others so far

I would never have thought those names are similar. Are you pronouncing it Say-rah (the way I pronounce it) or Sah-rah?

I'd use it regardless. I love the name Zara. I'm very fond of 4-letter names that end in 'a'.

Yes, I don't think they are that similar either

Sarah definitely pronounced "say-rah", so yes they sound different. Not sure if I am over analysing it or if all our family are going to point out the similarity!

Two different names I'd say. Zara is lovely!

I love Anna too but a close friend named her baby that recently

Liking the responses so far! I am fed up of ruling out names I like because a family member /friend has that name! But equally don't want endless comments about the similarity

Of course you can! My dd1 is Zara and I have a cousin called Sarah. My grandad sometimes got confused but noone else did.

Anna is also lovely.

How is 'Sarah' pronounced 'say-rah'? It's usually pronounced Sare -(rhyme with 'air') - a.

I'm Scottish, Nadia.

Say-rah and Sair-ah are pronounced the same way to me.

At first I thought it would be fine as they're pronounced differently, however thinking more about it, my SIL is Sarah and I wouldn't use Zara as they're too similar. Oh I don't know, can't make my mind up!

I have a cousin called Zara and she was one of the prettiest baby's in our very big family, lovely name!

I've never heard Sarah pronounced Say-rah. That would ruin a perfectly lovely name. It's always Ser-rah.

As you have 3 other lovely names that you like, then I'd avoid it, as I think they are quite similar.

Serah? Do you pronounce air like er? I say air like ay-r.

I've always said Sayrah. But i suppose that doesn't work in an English or Welsh accent?

I'm not sure how to pronounce it now.

I was using ewe 's options to distinguish pronunciation from Zara, but I guess 'sair-ah' is a better way of describing how its said!

keep going round in circles on this one!

imagining it in a Scottish accent I can see how it might sound like Say-rah. Sorry - didn't think of that!

But whether Sarah is pronounced in a Scottish or English way, both ways are sufficiently different from the pronunciation of 'Zara' to make it a completely different name, OP, so you are safe I think!

I think they are different sounding enough go for it

Yes. Only a bit odd if siblings I think. There's a Tara and a Cara in our close family and no one seems to think that's weird.

I mean yes as in it's fine. Sorry :)

it's definitely fine!

Yes. Two different names IMHO

My dd is called Zara. Love the name and completely different to Sarah!

My gorgeous DD2 is called Zara and its so different to Sarah. Go for it. Beautiful name!