"And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Sarah Meaning in the Bible
Sarah
girl
Sarah means “princess” in Hebrew. God changed her name from Sarai when He promised she would become the mother of nations and bear Isaac.
Is Sarah in the Bible?
Yes — Sarah (spelled Sara in the King James Bible) appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 17:15-16.
Pronunciation:/SAIR-uh/
What does Sarah mean?
Sarah is a girl name of Hebrew origin meaning "Princess". Sarah means "princess" in Hebrew and was the name given by God to Abram's wife Sarai when He renewed His covenant promise.
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Editor’s reflection
'Princess' — but only after God changed one letter of it.
Sarah (שָׂרָה) means 'princess' or 'noblewoman,' from sar, 'ruler, chief.' She did not start with it. For most of Genesis she is Sarai, and in Genesis 17:15 God renames her: 'thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.' Her husband is renamed in the same chapter, Abram to Abraham. The two renamings are announced together with the covenant of circumcision.
Her most human moment comes at the tent door in Genesis 18. Overhearing the promise of a son at ninety, she laughs — and then denies it, 'for she was afraid.' The Lord's reply is simply 'Nay; but thou didst laugh.' When the boy arrives, he is named Isaac, Yitzhak, 'he laughs' (Genesis 21:6), and Sarah says, 'God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.' The joke is redeemed rather than erased.
The New Testament treats her with unusual respect. Hebrews 11:11 lists her among the faithful; 1 Peter 3:6 holds her up as a pattern for Christian women; and Paul builds an entire allegory of two covenants on Sarah and Hagar in Galatians 4. She is the mother of the promised line, not merely of a child.
Sarah has never really left English naming — top ten through the 1980s and 90s, comfortably common now, and international in a way few biblical names manage: Sara, Sarai, Zara and Sadie all trace back to it.
“And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.”
Why parents choose Sarah today
- •Mother of Isaac and matriarch of the covenant line
- •The name was given directly by God as part of the covenant
- •Meaning 'princess' without the modern connotations of the word
- •Enormous international spread: Sara, Sarai, Zara, Sadie
What does Sarah mean in the Bible?
Sarah means "Princess" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Sarah means "princess" in Hebrew and was the name given by God to Abram's wife Sarai when He renewed His covenant promise. Originally named Sarai ("my princess"), God changed her name to Sarah ("princess of many") as a sign that she would become the mother of nations.
Sarah's story is one of patience and miraculous fulfillment. Despite waiting decades for the promised child, she gave birth to Isaac at the age of ninety. Her laughter at the news — and her later joy at Isaac's birth — gave her son his name, which means "he laughs."
Sarah is honored in the New Testament as a model of faith. The apostle Peter commends her as an example of a godly woman, and Hebrews 11 lists her among the heroes of faith who trusted God's promises against all odds.
Where does Sarah appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Sarah is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with Genesis 17:15-16. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Sarah?
Sarah has 3 recorded variants, short forms, and translations across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Sarai
Sally
Common nicknames
Sara
Who was Sarah in the Bible?
Sarah is most closely associated with the Bible character of the same name. Their story is the reason the name carries the weight it does.
Read About Sarah in the BibleWhich books of the Bible mention Sarah?
Sarah is mentioned across 4 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Sarah?
Sarah's name reminds us that God keeps His promises, even when fulfillment seems impossible. As a princess in God's eyes, her story encourages us to trust in divine timing and sovereign plans.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Sarah:
God Promises to Be Faithful
Bible promises about God's unwavering faithfulness in every situation.
God Promises Contentment Through Him
Bible promises about finding true satisfaction and contentment in God.
God Promises to Answer Prayer
Bible promises that God hears and answers the prayers of His people.
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Devotional
Hebrews 13:8 — Meaning & Devotional
God's Faithfulness
Commentary
Hebrews 13:8 Commentary
In-depth study • The Unchanging Christ
Commentary
Hebrews 13:5 Commentary
In-depth study • Contentment & God's Presence
Word Meaning
Faithfulness (אֱמוּנָה (emunah))
Steadfast reliability and trustworthiness — firm, unwavering loyalty.
Character
Shadrach in the Bible
Faithful in the Fiery Furnace
Personality Quiz
Which Hebrews 11 Hero of Faith Are You?
Free KJV quiz on the Hebrews 11 hall of faith — Abraham, Noah, Sarah or Rahab? D
What names are related to Sarah?
Names like Sarah
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Princess" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Sarah
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Sarah
Download a printable name card with the KJV verse and meaning — perfect for Pinterest, Instagram, or a baptism keepsake.
Sarah name meaning: frequently asked questions
In Genesis 17:15–16, at the same moment Abram becomes Abraham, God renames Sarai as Sarah and promises that 'kings of people shall be of her.' Both forms relate to 'princess,' so the change is less about meaning than about covenant: the new name marks her as the mother of nations rather than of one household, and it is God, not her husband, who confers it.
Yes — Sarah (spelled Sara in the King James Bible) appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 17:15-16.
Sarah means "Princess." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Genesis 17:15-16, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Sarah
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Sarah?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Sarah?
You can read every verse where Sarah appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.