Spelling comparison
Sarah vs Sara
2025 US records for these exact spellings: Sarah 2,710 and Sara 1,568. Sarah’s share of that pair is 63.3%. The multiple is about 1.7 times the published count of Sara.
US national data through 2025 · Source retrieved
Data updated
A reviewed spelling override keeps this pair together. Sarah profile · Sara profile
Sarah and Sara name the same child-name in two spellings. The tables below never merge those rows into a single total. Sarah is the longer of the two spellings, and Sara is the shorter. Sarah writes “h” after “Sara”, and Sara leaves that spot out.
From 1880 through 2025, every year in which both spellings were published had the same leader on the combined count. There is no crossover in that overlap.
Sarah is first published in these national files in 1880, and Sara in 1880. Sarah’s larger 2025 category is female. Sara’s larger 2025 category is female. Sarah led 15 decades among decades in which both spellings have a published total.
Inside 2016–2025, the widest combined gap was 2,397 records in 2016, and the closest year was 2024 (a gap of 1,102). Of the combined 2025 records for this pair (4,278), Sarah is 63.3% and Sara is 36.7%.
2016–2025, count and rank
Sarah was the higher published spelling in 2016, with 4,429 female records (rank #57) and 9 male records (rank #8,689) against 2,041 female records (rank #152) for Sara. The 2017 national file shows Sarah led 2017 by 2,155 published records (4,042 to 1,887). Read as exact spellings: Sarah had 4,036 female records (rank #62) and 6 male records (rank #11,973); Sara had 1,887 female records (rank #158). 2018: Sarah led 2018 by 2,063 published records (3,781 to 1,718). Sarah and Sara stay separate rows; 3,781 and 1,718 are not a combined baby-name total. In 2019, Sarah had 3,325 female records (rank #81); Sara had 1,746 female records (rank #163). Sarah led 2019 by 1,579 published records (3,325 to 1,746). 2020 belongs to Sarah. Sarah had 3,070 female records (rank #86) and 9 male records (rank #8,612); Sara had 1,577 female records (rank #183). The gap that year was 1,502 records. For 2021, compare the categories separately: Sarah had 2,865 female records (rank #91); Sara had 1,519 female records (rank #197) and 6 male records (rank #11,891). Sarah led 2021 by 1,340 published records (2,865 to 1,525), and the smaller spelling is Sara. Sarah was the higher published spelling in 2022, with 2,809 female records (rank #95) against 1,680 female records (rank #178) for Sara. The 2023 national file shows Sarah led 2023 by 1,169 published records (2,771 to 1,602). Read as exact spellings: Sarah had 2,771 female records (rank #91); Sara had 1,602 female records (rank #188). 2024: Sarah led 2024 by 1,102 published records (2,719 to 1,617). Sarah and Sara stay separate rows; 2,719 and 1,617 are not a combined baby-name total. In 2025, Sarah had 2,710 female records (rank #90); Sara had 1,568 female records (rank #198). Sarah led 2025 by 1,142 published records (2,710 to 1,568).
| Year | Sarah female count | Sarah female rank | Sarah male count | Sarah male rank | Sara female count | Sara female rank | Sara male count | Sara male rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4,429 | 57 | 9 | 8,689 | 2,041 | 152 | — | — |
| 2017 | 4,036 | 62 | 6 | 11,973 | 1,887 | 158 | — | — |
| 2018 | 3,781 | 66 | — | — | 1,718 | 170 | — | — |
| 2019 | 3,325 | 81 | — | — | 1,746 | 163 | — | — |
| 2020 | 3,070 | 86 | 9 | 8,612 | 1,577 | 183 | — | — |
| 2021 | 2,865 | 91 | — | — | 1,519 | 197 | 6 | 11,891 |
| 2022 | 2,809 | 95 | — | — | 1,680 | 178 | — | — |
| 2023 | 2,771 | 91 | — | — | 1,602 | 188 | — | — |
| 2024 | 2,719 | 93 | — | — | 1,612 | 187 | 5 | 13,890 |
| 2025 | 2,710 | 90 | — | — | 1,568 | 198 | — | — |
Combined counts, 1880–2025
Each line adds the published female and male counts for that spelling. A gap is a year with no published observation, not a zero. Sarah is the warm line and Sara is the cool line.
Which spelling led each decade
Sarah was the 1880s leader, 14,746 published records against 2,127 for Sara. The 1890s files give 17,219 published records to Sarah and 3,119 to Sara, so Sarah led the decade. Sarah was the 1900s leader, 17,385 published records against 4,215 for Sara. The 1910s files give 38,244 published records to Sarah and 15,432 to Sara, so Sarah led the decade. Sarah was the 1920s leader, 46,994 published records against 21,165 for Sara. The 1930s files give 36,749 published records to Sarah and 18,366 to Sara, so Sarah led the decade. Sarah was the 1940s leader, 40,127 published records against 20,335 for Sara. The 1950s files give 40,086 published records to Sarah and 20,526 to Sara, so Sarah led the decade. Sarah was the 1960s leader, 44,062 published records against 23,105 for Sara. The 1970s files give 119,261 published records to Sarah and 57,160 to Sara, so Sarah led the decade. Sarah was the 1980s leader, 273,757 published records against 105,120 for Sara. The 1990s files give 224,781 published records to Sarah and 72,320 to Sara, so Sarah led the decade. Sarah was the 2000s leader, 124,771 published records against 44,138 for Sara. The 2010s files give 46,703 published records to Sarah and 20,744 to Sara, so Sarah led the decade. Sarah was the 2020s leader, 16,953 published records against 9,569 for Sara.
Top states in 2025
Sarah’s highest 2025 state counts, combining published female and male rows where both exist, are New York (390), Texas (277), California (244), Florida (235), New Jersey (173). Sara’s highest 2025 state counts, combining published female and male rows where both exist, are New York (232), New Jersey (190), Texas (169), California (167), Florida (101). New York, Texas, California are in the top states for both spellings. A state can rank differently for each spelling because the counts are not merged.