Why is Sally short for Sarah?

The nickname "Sally" for Sarah originated as a way to create a more affectionate or familiar form of the name. In England and France, "Sally" was derived by replacing the 'R' in Sarah with an 'L', a common practice for some English nicknames. This method of altering names to create nicknames is similar to how "Molly" became a common nickname for Mary. Over time, "Sally" has been used both as a nickname for Sarah and as an independent given name. However, the popularity of "Sally" has declined in recent years, with many preferring the original Hebrew name "Sarah".