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Sayuri

♀ Girl

Sayuri Pronunciation

Sayuri is pronounced sah-YOO-ree /sɑˈju.ri/High

Meaning: From Japanese sa, 'small', plus yuri, 'lily' — 'small lily'High

In 30 seconds: A small lily in three soft syllables: Sayuri is Japanese for the delicate flower — made famous in the West as the heroine of 'Memoirs of a Geisha'. Graceful, gentle, and quietly poetic.
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Origin HighJapanese
MeaningFrom Japanese sa, 'small', plus yuri, 'lily' — 'small lily'
U.S. rank (2024)#3734 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births41 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,348

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200719792024

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

History & Origin

Sayuri comes from Japanese sa, 'small', plus yuri, 'lily' — 'small lily', the flower of purity and grace. A beloved Japanese girls' name (actress Sayuri Yoshinaga is a national treasure), it gained Western recognition through Memoirs of a Geisha.

In the U.S. it appears in Japanese-heritage families and among admirers of Japanese names. Rare, lily at the root, and gracefully poetic.

Did you know? Sayuri is the narrator-heroine of Arthur Golden's 'Memoirs of a Geisha' — the novel and film that introduced this 'small lily' name to millions of Western readers.
Overall data confidence 85%
Behind the Name — Sayuri — etymology

Variations

YuriSayuriko

Nicknames

YuriSayu

Famous Bearers

  • Sayuri Yoshinaga (1945–present)
    Acclaimed Japanese film actress with a career spanning decades.

If you like Sayuri…

Yuri— the 'lily' within it
Sakura— a fellow Japanese flower-name
Yumi— the companion gentle Japanese name
Hana— the Japanese 'flower' itself

→ See all names like Sayuri

Browse the whole category: All Japanese names →  ·  All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Sayuri?

Sayuri is pronounced sah-YOO-ree (/sɑˈju.ri/). Press play above to hear Sayuri said aloud.

How do you say Sayuri?

Sayuri is said sah-YOO-ree (/sɑˈju.ri/). Press play above to hear Sayuri said aloud.

What does the name Sayuri mean?

Sayuri is Japanese for 'small lily', from sa, 'small', and yuri, 'lily'.

Is Sayuri a boy or girl name?

Sayuri is a girl's name.

How popular is Sayuri?

Sayuri is a rare name in the U.S. and well-loved in Japan.

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