Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
CLASSIC NOT BORING GIRL NAMES
Courtney writes:
We are expecting our first child in the new year. I was one of those kids who named my teddy bear Bear and kept whatever name my doll came with, so I don’t have a list of favorites.
What I do know is that I don’t want a name that screams “born in 2026.” I’ve made peace with my name, but it’s so 90s.
My husband is pretty laid back about names, so when I suggested Sarah he was on board. I’m not sure it’s my absolute favorite.
Here’s what I like about it:
- It’s traditional. There are 19th century Sarahs and Sarahs right now. For every Sarah Palin, there’s a Sarah McLachlan. We’re not especially religious, but I like that it’s a Biblical name because it proves it’s always been a name.
- It works in other languages. I know pronunciation changes slightly and all that, but i think it’s easier than a name like Courtney. Beginning with study abroad in college, I’ve traveled a lot, including for work, and my name is definitely not well known outside of English-speaking countries.
- Despite the H/no H debate, I think it’s pretty easy to spell. At least compared to all the names like Aiden and Kaylee.
We’ve agreed that our children will have my husband’s last name, which sounds like Al-plus-ford, with my last name as their middle, which is German and sounds like Shoo-der.
I feel like I’m drawn to this name because it sounds serious for an adult but I can still picture it for a little girl.
When I’ve talked about it with others, though, it feels like it’s the equivalent of white paint. Just very ordinary. My sister-in-law just named their baby Eloise, and our close friends have daughters named Eden, Margot, Coraline, Aria, Hattie, Juniper, Willa, and Alice.
My sister asked me if Sarah wasn’t kind of a “mom name.” Though she also said she likes it. She’s an Ashley, so she’s with me on avoiding anything too dated, but she doesn’t thinks that names like Eloise and Margot are more classic and I could choose something like that, though obviously not those names exactly.
Is Sarah too dated? Will my daughter feel like she has a mom name? And are there other names we should consider?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
SARAH, OR A NAME LIKE SARAH
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new daughter!
Here’s the thing: classic names trend.
This means that two things can be true:
- A name can be a time-tested traditional favorite that isn’t strongly tied to a specific generation.
- At the same time, that exact same name might suggest a generation to many.
It’s kind of a numbers game.
Sarah has already ranked in the US Top 1000. It’s popular across other times, cultures, and languages, too.
But Sarah entered the US Top Ten in 1978 and stayed there through 2002, reaching peak popularity in the 1980s. Sara, too, peaked on the same timeline.
So are there lots of 30-something and 40-ish women named Sarah right about now? Yes, absolutely.
But here’s the thing: Sarah still charts in the girls’ Top 100. In fact, it’s still ranked #95 and the least popular ranking ever? #119 in 1959.
It’s a rock solid traditional that will strike some as a mom name … but zoom out just a little further, and I’d say you’re absolutely right. Sarah belongs with classic not boring girl names … and I think it’s a great choice for your daughter.
But let’s see if we can add to your list with choices that might feel the tiniest bit updated, while still striking a more traditional note.
MORE CLASSIC NOT BORING GIRL NAMES
CLARA
At least as internationally portable as Sarah, though Clara seems slightly more current in recent years.
GRACE
A strong and substantial choice, Grace might be a little more flexible because of built-in nickname Gracie.
KATHERINE or KATE
Maybe the solution is to go with a completely classic choice? Elizabeth is one, but I love the idea of Katherine called Kate.
LILY
This name sounds vintage, but it’s actually near peak popularity today. Around the turn of the 20th century, Lillie was more common – and still not quite as chart-topping as this pretty floral choice is now.
MARIE
Mary is another option, but I like Marie for the oh-wait-that’s-a-GREAT-first-name quality. (Because lots of those 30-somethings are actually Sarah Marie.)
NORA
As with Clara, Nora is a very current name with the same sort of energy as Sarah.
ROSE
Another option, midway between Lily and Grace. Once again, there’s a great nickname here: Rosie.
SYLVIE
Or Sylvia. It’s a sweet name with a little sharpness thanks to that middle V.
Overall, I don’t think any of these necessarily best Sarah. But I suspect a name like Nora or Clara would garner a more favorable response. And I do think Marie could be the ideal widely-known, seldom-heard, easily-translated choice that feels timeless and just slightly surprising.
My vote is to stick with Sarah, but if you’re not settled? I’d add Marie to the top of your short list.
I wonder if you’ve read Abby’s article in praise of ‘boring’ names: https://appellationmountain.net/in-praise-of-boring-baby-names/
It’s a great read and reassuring if your style is actually ‘white paint’. Sometimes white paint is exactly right!
While it can be tempting to feel there is pressure to change your style from something like Sarah to something like Eloise, if your style is actually Sarah it’ll make it all the harder to find something if there is a next time.
For what it’s worth, Sarah is a beautiful name. Her character will add the colour.
Sarah is perfect. Pretty, classic, international. No need to change it.
Sarah is timeless and ageless. I suggest that you consider a more modern or daring middle name, like Lark or Juniper, for those tween years when she finds her name old-fashioned.
I actually think Sarah wears super well. I know teens, adults, and kids named Sarah, although I’ll admit that my first instinct is “mom name.”
My first thought was Kate, but I had the idea of Hannah. Like Sarah, it’s classic and biblical, and seems especially timeless to me. It’s also pretty easily spelled (Hanna and Hana are rarely defaults) and pronounced in many languages.
I also want to second Alice. I’m biased as I just love the name, but Alice could be a baby, old lady, teenager, or adult. I’ve known people of every age named Alice. There’s Alice in Wonderland, Alice Roosevelt, Alice Walker, and a million more Alices. It’s also pretty popular globally. It’s never gone below 450 in the US rankings.
Another personal fave is Lucy. Lucy has never gone below 600 in the US rankings and really only has one spelling. It’s also pretty easily pronounced in multiple languages.
Caroline is another idea. Carolyn is sometimes seen but rarer, and Caroline feels modern but timeless. Julia, too, feels pretty eternal, and dates back to ancient Rome.
Sophia and Sofia are pretty classic, although very popular right now. Maybe Sophie is a little less time-stamped?
Overall, I really love Hannah and Alice, but if you love Sarah, go for it!
Full disclosure: I’m a Sarah. I’ve always liked my name. I’m chiming in mostly about the mom name possibility. I am part of the big generational bump of Sarahs, but one of the things I enjoy about having this name is that people generally don’t assume my age from it.
There are fewer Baby Boomers than Gen X and Millennial Sarahs, but there are still plenty of them, as well as many Silent Generation Sarahs. The name has had a long tail as it’s dropped off, and was still in the top 20 when today’s high school and college students were born. It will probably continue to be used to at least some degree in future generations.
I suspect the actual question here is what kind of baby namer are you, and how you can get comfortable with that once you’ve decided. I’m guessing you’re probably not the kind of namer who uses Eden or Hattie.
Something along the lines of Alice might not be a bad fit for your family on paper. It’s also a fairly simple, classic name, but it’s one of the ones that is coming back into popular use after a hiatus. Is that you? Or are you more the kind of person who does use Sarah in 2026? Once you settle on that, I think the rest will work itself out. Once people meet a baby, the name will usually start to seem right and the nitpicking will stop.
Sarah is a very nice choice. No, it’s not the newest most exciting name, but it is classic and will serve your daughter well from baby to old age. I doubt she will ever have another Sarah in class with her but I suspect the opposite for all the little Margots and Eloise’s out there.
From Abby’s suggestions, I really like Rose.
Some other ideas:
Sadie- often a nickname for Sarah but stands perfectly fine on its own
Zara- it feels like a slightly updated, more international version of Sarah. It shares the same meaning as well
Emily, Anna, Lucy, Kate, Claire, Jane, Molly- these are all perfect, classic names that feel like a sister to Sarah
Natalie- another lovely classic choice. If you are due around Xmas/early January then I think this name is even more perfect considering it means “Christmas”