How to honor "Sarah"?

Girl Names
1

Hello, berries!

My DH and I are finally pregnant with our first baby! Due [name_u]December[/name_u] this year! We’ve started talking baby names and have already landed on a boy’s name that we love - [name_m]Bennett[/name_m] [name_m]Paul[/name_m]. The middle name [name_m]Paul[/name_m] would honor my dad.

If we have a girl, we’d like to give her a middle name to honor my mother-in-law [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]. The problem is that [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] doesn’t sound great with the first name we both like, [name_f]Fiona[/name_f].

So, sort of a two-part question. Does [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] sound like an awkard combo? Or is it just me? Our last name is one syllable and rhymes with go. And is there some other way you can think of to honor the name “[name_f]Sarah[/name_f]” as a middle name in a roundabout way?

[name_f]TIA[/name_f]!!

2

My first thought was [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f].

3

I like the name [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] though I don’t like the flow [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f].

Other names you can use instead of [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]…

[name_f]Sarai[/name_f] - [name_f]Sarai[/name_f] was the name of [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] in the bible before God changed her name to [name_f]Sarah[/name_f].

[name_f]Sadie[/name_f] - [name_f]Sadie[/name_f] is a nickname for [name_f]Sarah[/name_f].

[name_f]Sally[/name_f] - [name_f]Sally[/name_f] is another nickname for [name_f]Sarah[/name_f].

4

[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] isn’t awful, but [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] has a couple of forms which makes it easy to change but preserve the honour:

[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarai[/name_f] (Sah-rye)
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sadie[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sally[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Princess[/name_f] (a bit much maybe :stuck_out_tongue: )

5

[name_f]Sadie[/name_f]
[name_f]Sallie[/name_f]
[name_f]Suri[/name_f] / [name_u]Zuri[/name_u]
Sare

names mean lady, princess, noble etc

[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Arwen[/name_f]
Despoina
[name_m]Iara[/name_m]
Khatuna / Khatun / Hatun - Turkic name that mean queen
[name_f]Nerys[/name_f]
Sayyide / Seyyide - Arabic name that means lady
[name_f]Talulla[/name_f]

7

[name_f]Sarina[/name_f] ( [name_m]Just[/name_m] thought to come with this alternative to [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] because no one has mentioned it )

I think [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] is ok

8

I think [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] sounds just fine

If you want to honor [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] I’d use the name [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]

I’m personally not a fan of finding a different name that is often a stretch and perhaps only has one letter in common and little else to honor an altogether different name

9

There are also some z names which are supposedly (different websites say different things!) other forms of [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], and/or also mean princess:
[name_f]Zara[/name_f]
[name_f]Zadie[/name_f]
[name_f]Zaira[/name_f]
[name_f]Zaria[/name_f]
[name_f]Zarita[/name_f]

I don’t think [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] has great flow, but I also don’t think it’s that bad. And honestly, how often is anyone going to be saying her full name anyway?

10

My first thought was to find a name that has the same meaning as [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], as other posters have suggested. One possible option would be to find a name that means loved, or beloved, or cherished, as that’s how you obviously feel about your [name_f]MIL[/name_f]. Other threads about honor names have suggested finding something about the person—their favorite flower/song/color, their birthstone/birthmonth, etc.—& using that to honor them.

One option I haven’t seen mentioned is Sarea (which is the name of one of the student workers at my library…this Sarea is extremely smart & hard-working, & an accomplished equestrian as well). It doesn’t appear to be very common, but is the name of an angel.

Congrats on your pregnancy & good luck! :slight_smile:

11

[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] is perfect just the way it is.

12

Saraly or Saramae?

13

I agree with the previous posters, [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] is totally fine! But if the flow bothers you, you could maybe add another middle name ([name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Annaliese[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_u]Everly[/name_u] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] [name_f]Iris[/name_f])?

Other suggestions I haven’t seen in the comments are [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarafina[/name_f], [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarine[/name_f], [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] Saro or [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarit[/name_f].

14

[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] is okay.

Other forms of [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]:

[name_f]Sarai[/name_f]–suh-rye
[name_f]Sadie[/name_f]
[name_f]Sarit[/name_f]–suh-reet
[name_f]Sari[/name_f]
[name_f]Suri[/name_f]
[name_f]Sarita[/name_f]
[name_f]Kala[/name_f]
[name_f]Saija[/name_f]–sy-yuh

Names meaning “princess, lady”:

[name_f]Orla[/name_f]
[name_f]Talulla[/name_f]
[name_u]Bevin[/name_u]
[name_f]Donna[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_m]Iara[/name_m]
[name_f]Martha[/name_f]
Sayyida

Names similar to [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]:

[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f]
[name_f]Seraphine[/name_f]
[name_f]Serafima[/name_f]
Saranna

15

I like [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], but I agree that [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f]/a is a nice combo as well.

16

Same or similar meaning – [name_f]Atara[/name_f], [name_f]Amira[/name_f], Armelle, [name_f]Maelie[/name_f], [name_f]Almira[/name_f]/[name_f]Elmira[/name_f], [name_f]Erlinda[/name_f], [name_f]Vasilia[/name_f], [name_u]Reagan[/name_u], [name_f]Regina[/name_f], [name_f]Raina[/name_f]/[name_f]Rayna[/name_f], [name_f]Sarine[/name_f], [name_f]Shiri[/name_f], Surelle, [name_f]Zadie[/name_f], [name_f]Sharee[/name_f], Sharelle

A double-barrel version would be nice and prevent the issue of having the same ending sound as [name_f]Fiona[/name_f]. For example: [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]-[name_u]Lee[/name_u], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]-[name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]-[name_f]Beth[/name_f], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]-[name_f]May[/name_f]. You could also go this direction with [name_f]Sally[/name_f]-[name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Sally[/name_f]-[name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Sally[/name_f]-[name_f]Ann[/name_f], etc.

Since [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] means “princess,” you could also use a princess’s name from history (maybe one from your family’s country of origin OR the country of origin for your mother-in-law’s ancestors). Here’s a nice list of historical princess names sorted by country: Baby Names Inspired by Real Princesses – SheKnows. These are some of my favorites as a MN for [name_f]Fiona[/name_f]: [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f], [name_f]Anne[/name_f], [name_f]Salome[/name_f], [name_f]Kate[/name_f]/[name_f]Katherine[/name_f]/[name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], [name_f]Meghan[/name_f], [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Adelheid[/name_f], [name_f]Charlene[/name_f], [name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Victoria[/name_f], [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f], [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f], [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], [name_f]Audrey[/name_f], [name_f]Cassandra[/name_f], [name_f]Cleo[/name_f], [name_f]Cressida[/name_f], [name_f]Eluned[/name_f], [name_f]Yasmin[/name_f], [name_f]Winifred[/name_f], [name_f]Antionette[/name_f], [name_f]Blanche[/name_f], [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f], [name_f]Cecily[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Constance[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], [name_f]Eugenie[/name_f], [name_f]Lucienne[/name_f], [name_f]Renee[/name_f], [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f], [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f], [name_f]Melanie[/name_f], [name_f]Gabriella[/name_f], [name_f]Helen[/name_f], [name_f]Mabel[/name_f].

From famous fairytales, literature, film, old legends… [name_f]Isolde[/name_f], [name_f]Leia[/name_f], [name_f]Stephanie[/name_f], [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], [name_u]Ariel[/name_u], [name_f]Elsa[/name_f], [name_f]Snow[/name_f], [name_f]Giselle[/name_f], [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f], [name_f]Belle[/name_f], [name_f]Grainne[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Merida[/name_f] – actually, [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] is the princess name from Shrek! There’s a long list of fictional princesses from literature, theatre, film, etc. here - List of fictional princesses - Wikipedia. Perhaps one of those stories or characters resonates with you.

17

Wow, I am so encouraged by everyone’s responses!! After hearing other opinions, it’s making me feel more confident about the flow of [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f]. I’m going to keep thinking on it and talk with DH, but if we decide to go with an alternative form of [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], I’m so thankful we have these suggestions!!

18

I actually like Fiona Sarah. I don’t always like matching endings but I think it works for this one. It reminds me a little of the Buona Sera song from Barber of Seville :stuck_out_tongue: she could have her own song. Claude Corbeil - Le barbier de Seville - Buona sera - 1983 - YouTube

19

I like [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] just fine!
An alternative could be to give two middles to “round it out” a bit?
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] [name_f]Beth[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] [name_u]Wren[/name_u]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] [name_f]Marie[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] [name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] [name_f]Corrine[/name_f]