Sai

♀ Girl

Pronounced SY /ˈsaɪ/High

Meaning: Variously the Japanese sai, 'talent; intelligence; ability', and the Telugu/Sanskrit Sai, 'a saint; divine' (linked to Sai Baba); used for both sexes; here for girls; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Talented; a saint: Sai is variously Japanese 'talent' and Telugu 'a saint; divine'. Crisp, cultural, and warm. Used for both sexes (here for girls; said 'SY').

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Origin LowJapanese, Telugu

MeaningVariously the Japanese sai, 'talent; intelligence; ability', and the Telugu/Sanskrit Sai, 'a saint; divine' (linked to Sai Baba); used for both sexes; here for girls; routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#11745 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2020

Total births (all-time)≈ 463

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Sai comes variously from the Japanese sai, 'talent; intelligence; ability', and the Telugu/Sanskrit Sai, 'a saint; divine' (a devotional name linked to the holy figure Sai Baba; routes layered, and we note the devotional sense). A crisp, cultural, cross-cultural name, used for both sexes, here for girls (slug distinguished).

In the U.S. it appears in Japanese and South Asian families. Rare, talent-or-a-saint at the root, and cultural.

Did you know? Sai is variously the Japanese 'talent; intelligence' and the Telugu/Sanskrit Sai, 'a saint; divine' (linked to the holy figure Sai Baba) — a crisp, cultural name, used for both sexes (here for girls; the routes are layered, and we note the devotional sense; said 'SY').

Overall data confidence 45%

References — Sai — routes layered; devotional sense noted

Variations

SyeSai

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Sai…

Kai— a sound-neighbor one-syllable unisex girls' name

Mai— a fellow short cross-cultural girls' name

Rai— a companion short girls' name

Hana— another short Japanese girls' name

Explore names like Sai

By themeuncertain unisex japanese telugu

By meaningGod / Divine

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sai mean?

Sai is variously Japanese 'talent; intelligence' and Telugu 'a saint; divine'; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Sai?

It's said SY /ˈsaɪ/ — one syllable.

Is Sai a boy or girl name?

Sai is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Sai?

Sai is a rare name in the U.S.