Sara

Sara, the streamlined form of Sarah, makes this ancient name feel more modern, but perhaps a bit lighter weight. Some Old Testament sources give Sara as a variation of Sarai, the Biblical personage's original name, and some give it as the authentic form of the new name of Isaac's 90-year-old mother. But most sources authenticate Sarah as the Biblical classic and Sara as the variation.

Nameberry visitors have debated whether Sara is pronounced differently from Sarah. In the US, the answer is, usually not, but in some countries, Sara is sah-rah while Sarah's first syllable rhymes with hair.