Zara

The first name Zara is a Spanish and Swedish variant of the names Sara and Sarah, both of which have their origin in Sarai.

What does the name Zara mean?

The name Zara, in both Spanish and Swedish contexts, is a variation of Sara or Sarah, which are originally derived from Sarai. Translated, it means 'the princess,' 'the lady,' or 'the mistress.' This meaning comes from the ancient Hebrew word sara (שָׂרָה) or saráy (שָׂרָי), which means 'the princess,' 'the ruler,' or 'the lady.' Additionally, Zara represents an English form of the Arabic name Zahra, which carries the meaning 'the flower,' 'the bloom,' or 'the shining one.' The Arabic origin lies in zahra (زهراء), meaning 'flower' or 'bloom,' or in azhar (أزهر), which means 'to shine,' 'to bloom,' or 'to radiate.' Furthermore, Zara (Зара) is a Bulgarian diminutive of the biblical name Zaharina, a feminine variant of Zacharias. Zara is also the name of a district in the Turkish province of Sivas. Alternatives to this name include Zarah, Saarah, Sera, and Sady.

Where does the name Zara come from?

The name Zara has its roots in ancient Hebrew and Arabic and means 'the princess' or 'the shining one.' In ancient Hebrew, it is derived from Sara: sara (שָׂרָה) or saráy (שָׂרָי) stands for 'the princess,' 'the ruler,' or 'the lady.' In Arabic, it is derived from zahra (زهراء), which means 'flower' or 'bloom,' or from azhar (أزهر), which means 'to shine,' 'to bloom,' or 'to radiate.' This name is used in several languages, including Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, and Spanish.

How do you pronounce Zara?

The sound and pronunciation of Zara are distinct and melodic. In German, the name is typically pronounced as 'Za-ra' [ˈzaːʁa]. It begins with a voiced S sound, giving the name a certain presence. The long A in the first syllable opens the sound wide, while the second syllable gently fades away, creating a harmonious balance. These characteristics give Zara a confident, elegant, and modern appearance.

When is the name day of Zara?

The name day for Zara falls on March 5, July 13, and October 9.

Popularity

In Germany, the name Zara enjoys great popularity. Currently, it ranks 470th on the list of the most common female first names. Zara achieved its best ranking in 2020, reaching 249th place. Over the last ten years, the name has been given approximately 1,700 times as a first name, placing it 348th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 342nd.

Nicknames & pet names

Zahara / Zarchen / Zarella / Zari / Zaribell / Zarii / Zarilein / Zaro / Zary / Zarzur / Zaza / Zazii / Zaziki

Famous people

• Zara Aleksandrovna Levina (composer from Ukraine)
• Zara Cully (actress from the USA)
• Zara Dampney (British beach volleyball player)
• Zara Dawson (actress from Great Britain)
• Zara Dolukhanova (singer from Armenia)
• Zara Durrani (actress from Pakistan)
• Zara Larsson (singer/winner of Swedish Got Talent)
• Zara Nakhimovskaya (chess player from Latvia)
• Zara Nelsova (musician from Canada)
• Zara Nutley (New Zealand actress)
• Zara Phillips (internationally successful equestrian / 11th in the British line of succession (granddaughter of the Queen))
• Zara Taylor (English singer)
• Zara Turner (actress from Mexico)
• Zara Whites (actress from the Netherlands)
• Zara Wright (writer from America)
• Zarah Leander (Swedish actress and singer)