Alternatives to Sarah

Simple and yet distinctive, Ara is a mythological name of a famously handsome king. Although it originated as a boys' name, in the contemporary US, it's now much more commonly used for girls.

This pretty multicultural name makes a pleasant update to Sarah.

Short and slight, with great potential now that names like Ava, Ida and Orla are popular. Ora Beach is a tourist destination on Seram Island, Indonesia.

Zippy and multicultural, Sarika can be considered a pretty nature name, referring to a myna bird in Hindi and Sanskrit and to a blackbird in Khmer (or Cambodian). In these contexts, it would be pronounced as SAHR-ka (Sanskrit) and saw-ree-GAW (Khmer).

This pretty Finnish name is a diminutive of a diminutive, going from Sarah to Sari to Saija.

Sarita is a delicately pretty name all but unknown in the US, where it can make an original honor name for an ancestral Sara....or Rita. Rita is a midcentury favorite tiptoeing back into style among adventurous parents.

Iara rhymes with Yara, an Arabic name of which it can be a variation. More commonly it's associated with Iara of Brazilian myth — a water nymph, sometimes mermaid, of Tupi and Guaraní legend. In the legends, Iara seduces men to the river to accompany her in her immortal life.

Mexican-born actress Salma Hayek lends a large dollop of glamour to this name that would otherwise resemble the middle-aged Selma.

Gently appealing, a floral choice in Japanese.

The late actress Sada Thompson introduced this obscure but usable form.

A familiar sounding name with multiple origins, Diara had a sudden spike in popularity in 2024, when it was given to 64 girls compared to just 13 the year before. Was this rise due to the brand UGG releasing a boot style called Diara in 2022? Did it owe anything to the Tiktok star, Diara Rodrigues (also known as Diarastim)? Was there another pop cultural influence we're missing?

Whatever the reason, Diara was a hit in 2024, and its multicultural nature may be some of the appeal. On one hand, it is related to the French Diarrat, a variation of Jara, itself rom the Bambara language. Meaning "lion, it was the name of a West African clan, now used as a given name and surname in Mali. Alternatively, it is a form of Diyara, a Kurdhish name meaning "visible, clear", or a variant of Diaraye, a West African form of Zahra.

Name of a feminist air pirate with an evil bent, Sala is also the word name for 'room' in Spanish. Salah is a common Arabic name.

Sadra is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. In Persian contexts, it can be derived from 'Sadr' meaning 'chief' or 'foremost,' while in some Arabic usage it may relate to concepts of prominence or leadership. The name could also function as a shortened form of Sandra or Alexandra in Western contexts, giving it cross-cultural versatility. With its simple two-syllable structure and soft ending, Sadra has a gentle yet distinct sound that travels well across languages. While relatively uncommon globally, the name maintains moderate usage in parts of the Middle East and among Persian speakers. Sadra projects quiet strength and elegance, appealing to parents seeking a name that balances cultural significance with contemporary simplicity. Its rare status makes it distinctive without being difficult to pronounce or remember.

Salla is a variant of Salli — the Finnish form of Sally. Both Salla and Salli are common names in their native country, but Salla is the more modern form, having peaked in popularity in the 1980s and 90s (Salli peaked in the 20s and 30s). Today, Salla is given to almost twice as many baby girls in Finland than Salli.

According to local legend in the Canary Islands, Gara was a young princess who fell in love with a peasant's son, Jonay. Their relationship was condemned by a local priest and the day of their marriage a great earthquake shook the islands. The couple fled together and, according to legend, committed joint suicide at a peak on the island of La Gomera now known as Garajonay Peak.

This short form can stand on its own, perhaps because of the familiarity of Stacy, of which it may also be a variation. But Stacia feels somehow more modern and stylish than 60s-style Stacy. Stasia is another way to spell it.

A popular Arabic name borne by a famed Lebanese actress and singer, could provide an intriguing alternative to Sarah.

Saffa is a concise feminine name with multiple cultural connections. In Arabic, it relates to concepts of purity and clarity, while it may also be connected to the Hebrew name Sapphira, meaning 'sapphire' or 'beautiful.' Some may use it as a diminutive form of Saffron, the valuable golden spice. The name has a pleasing symmetry with its repeated 'f' sound and simple vowel pattern. Saffa remains relatively uncommon in Western countries but has seen some usage in Muslim communities and among parents seeking short, distinctive names with cross-cultural appeal. Its brevity makes it easy to pronounce across different languages, while its soft consonants give it a gentle, flowing quality. The name's simplicity belies its rich cultural connections and meaningful associations.