Declining since 2006, #7,133 for girls today.
Popularity of Sahra since 1974
Babies named Sahra per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 33 |
| 1980s | 134 |
| 1990s | 171 |
| 2000s | 263 |
| 2010s | 180 |
| 2020s | 93 |
Meaning & origin
Sahra is a Spelling variant of the classic biblical Sarah, also linked to the Arabic root for 'desert'. It first appeared on U.S. records in 1974 and reached its peak rank of 7,133 in 2007. Since 2006 its usage has been declining, yet it remains a distinctive choice within Muslim-American communities. With a one-in-107,151-girls incidence, Sahra is rare but recognizable, offering a cross-cultural bridge between Hebrew and Arabic naming traditions.
Sahra is a variant spelling of Saarah, which is the Hebrew name meaning 'princess' or 'my princess'. It also coincides with the Arabic word for 'desert', a meaning that has influenced its separate use in Arabic-speaking regions. The name entered English usage primarily through Muslim families, appearing on birth records in the United States from the 1970s.
“Sahra” around the world
Where Sahra lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sahra, Sari
Sibling names for Sahra
Names that share Sahra's style, for a brother or sister.
