Unisex Latin / Old French 1 syllable

Sage

SAYJ /seɪdʒ/

"The wise one" — a name of earthy wisdom, quiet clarity, and natural grace

Sage is a botanical and philosophical name with a remarkable double meaning: it refers both to the fragrant Mediterranean herb used in cooking and ritual purification, and to the word for a deeply wise person. This duality makes Sage an unusually meaningful name—simultaneously earthy and intellectual, grounded and elevated. The name has been growing steadily in use for both boys and girls, particularly among parents who value nature-inspired names with genuine semantic depth. Sage smudging for spiritual cleansing has also brought the herb—and the name—increased cultural attention.

Quick Facts

Letters4

SyllablesSage

GenderUnisex

OriginLatin / Old French

Root WordSalvia

MeaningWise, healing herb

PopularityPopular

Peak Year2021

Trend ↑ Rising

About the Name Sage

Sage has two parallel meanings. As a botanical name, it refers to the aromatic herb salvia, from the Latin salvia (healing, safe), used in cooking and ritual purification for millennia. As an English word, sage means a profoundly wise person, from Old French. The name thus carries a beautiful duality of earthly grounding and intellectual wisdom.

Sage is genuinely unisex and is used for both girls and boys. In the United States, female use has been slightly more common in recent years, but the name suits any gender perfectly. Its clean, single-syllable sound and nature-inspired meaning make it an equally appealing choice regardless of gender.

Sages are typically described as calm, thoughtful, and perceptive. The name suggests someone with an old soul—naturally intuitive, independent in thinking, and comfortable with silence and reflection. People named Sage tend to be philosophical, connected to nature, and possessed of a quiet, grounded wisdom.

Sage has been steadily rising in popularity in the United States since the 1990s, currently sitting in the top 250-300. It is particularly popular in the Pacific Northwest and among parents who gravitate toward nature-inspired and spiritually meaningful names. Its growth shows no sign of slowing.

Sage's single syllable calls for longer middle names that add depth and flow. Great combinations include Sage Elise, Sage Celeste, Sage Rosalind, Sage Josephine, and Sage Evangeline. For other nature-themed pairings, Sage Fern, Sage Wren, or Sage River work beautifully.

Sage as a botanical name comes from the Latin salvia, meaning safe or healing, the genus name of the sage herb. As a philosophical term, sage comes from the Old French sage (wise), derived from the Latin sapere (to taste, to be wise). Both paths lead to the same rich English word, and as a given name Sage draws on both strands—the earthy, healing herb and the wise elder—making it a name of unusual depth.

Personality of Sage

Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Sage

Creativity 82%

Elegance 78%

Independence 88%

Intelligence 90%

Strength 78%

Warmth 78%

Famous People Named Sage

Sage Steele

American television sportscaster

Sage Stallone

American actor and director, son of Sylvester Stallone

Sage (mythology)

The archetype of the wise sage appears in virtually every world mythology

Sage (various)

Used by many celebrity parents as a nature name with philosophical depth

Middle Names for Sage

Beautiful combinations that flow well with Sage

Sage Rose Sage Elise Sage Marie Sage Wren Sage Fern Sage Skye Sage Dawn Sage Claire Sage Rain Sage River Sage Ivy Sage Ember

Names Similar to Sage

Similar Sound

Paige Blake Gage

Similar Meaning

Hazel

Sibling Name Ideas

Juniper

History of Sage

400 BC

Sage (salvia) is documented by ancient Greeks for its healing properties

800 AD

Sage is grown in monastery gardens throughout medieval Europe as a sacred healing herb

1300s

The Old French sage (wise) enters English as a term for profound wisdom

1990s

Sage begins appearing as a given name in the United States

2015

Sage enters the US top 300, cementing its place in contemporary nature naming

Numerology & Symbolism of Sage

Destiny Number

Sum of all letters

Soul Urge

Sum of vowels

♍

Zodiac Affinity

Gemini

Lucky Number

Personal power digit

🎨

Lucky Color

Sage Green

💎

Lucky Stone

Aventurine

🌸

Lucky Flower

Sage Blossom

Sage Around the World

How Sage is written in different languages and scripts

سيج

Arabic

セージ

Japanese

Сейдж

Russian

세이지

Korean

塞奇

Chinese

Σέιτζ

Greek

सेज

Hindi

סייג'

Hebrew

Looking for Name Ideas?

Explore our name inspiration guides