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The short answer
Sage is a unisex English word name taken directly from the word sage, which Behind the Name notes denotes either the aromatic herb or a wise person. It is pronounced SAYJ. Both meanings come from the same modern English word rather than from two separate historical origins. In the United States it ranked #456 among boys and #160 among girls in 2025 (Social Security Administration), making it one of the more evenly used unisex nature/virtue names of the current era.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Sage as coming "from the English word sage, which denotes either a type of spice or else a wise person". Both senses are part of ordinary modern English rather than reflecting two competing name origins, so the name is best understood as a single word name with two overlapping meanings.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English word | sage (noun) | the aromatic herb Salvia officinalis |
| English word | sage (adjective/noun) | wise, judicious; a wise person |
Popularity
Sage ranked #456 among boys' names and #160 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to db/list-batch.mjs's SSA 2025 figures. Behind the Name's cached snapshot for Sage carries no numeric US rank to compare against.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (boys) | 2025 | #456 | ssa-2025 |
| United States (girls) | 2025 | #160 | ssa-2025 |
United States, 2025: #160 (Social Security Administration)
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Saige
Related names: Basil, Rue, Wren
What the name feels like
Sage sits with other one-syllable word/virtue names (Rue, True, Wren) that read as calm, plant-inspired, and gender-neutral. Its double meaning — herb and wise person — gives it a slightly more layered feel than a pure nature word.
Style tags: word name, nature name, unisex, one syllable
Editorial interpretation: This style framing is editorial opinion, not documented etymological fact. Behind the Name records only the word origin, not any style classification.
If you like this name
Other short word or plant names used across genders, or names built on the same "wise" idea.
Similar by style
Similar by meaning
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sage mean?
Sage comes directly from the English word sage, which means either the aromatic herb or a wise, judicious person.
Is Sage a boy's name or a girl's name?
Both. Sage is used as a unisex name; in the United States it ranked #456 among boys and #160 among girls in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Is Saige the same name as Sage?
Yes, Saige is listed by Behind the Name as a variant spelling of Sage.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Sage — supports etymology, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
