Sarah is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "princess" or "noblewoman". It is derived from the Hebrew word "sara," which means "princess" or "countess." In the Bible, Sarah was the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. She was originally named Sarai but was later renamed Sarah by God. The name Sarah has been popular throughout history and continues to be a widely used given name for girls today. It is also a traditional Muslim name and is often chosen by parents who appreciate its regal connotation.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Sarah has experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century and a half in the United States.
In the late 19th to early 20th centuries, the number of newborn girls named Sarah ranged from approximately 1,300 to 3,600 per year. The name's popularity began to rise steadily in the 1960s and 1970s, reaching over 5,000 births per year by the late 1970s.
The peak of Sarah's popularity was reached in the mid-1980s to early 1990s, with around 30,000 newborn girls being named Sarah each year. This high level of popularity persisted until the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Since then, however, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of newborn girls named Sarah. As of recent years (2020-2023), fewer than 3,000 newborn girls are being named Sarah annually in the United States.
In conclusion, while Sarah was once one of the most popular names for newborn girls in the U.S., its popularity has since waned significantly. Despite this decline, Sarah remains a classic and timeless name with significant historical popularity.