Saki

Primarily a girl's name of Japanese origin with 308 recorded births. Also given to 11 boys.

Girl's nameAlso boy'sRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

Pseudonym of British author Hector Hugh Munro (1870–1916).

Saki is a girl's and boy's baby name of Japanese origin, composed of kanji that can mean 'blossom, bloom' (咲き) or 'earlier, before' (先), depending on the characters chosen. Saki is a classic Japanese feminine name associated with spring, flowers, and the beauty of new beginnings.

The name Saki is also associated with Hector Hugh Munro, the British short story writer who used 'Saki' as his pen name — though in his case the reference was to the Persian poem The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.' As a Japanese given name, Saki carries its own distinct floral, springtime beauty entirely separate from this literary association.

EtymologyShow more

Phonetically, Saki belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, approachable ending — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.

Within the Japanese naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Japanese names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Saki’s linguistic neighborhood.

At a Glance

308

Total births

Since 1986

1996

Peak

16 births

1986

First recorded

35 years of data

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Popularity Over Time

Saki has 32+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1986.

First appeared: 1986Peak: 1996 (16 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Saki
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	7	#13218	▼
2010s	81	#12265	—
2000s	86	#11299	▼
1990s	116	#8444	▲
1980s	18	#11313	—

The Story of Saki

A Millennial name
Peaking in 1996, Saki is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Saki are most likely born between 1986 and 2006.

How rare is Saki?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Saki is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1986, peaked in the 1990s with 116 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Saki by the numbers
Would fill 6 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(32 years, 1986–2020)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Saki
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2020	7	#13218	-4 (-36.4%)
2018	11	#9701	+3 (37.5%)
2017	8	#12535	+3 (60.0%)
2016	5	#18380	-3 (-37.5%)
2015	8	#12802	-4 (-33.3%)
2014	12	#9437	+4 (50.0%)
2013	8	#12945	-2 (-20.0%)
2012	10	#11109	+2 (25.0%)
2011	8	#13145	-3 (-27.3%)
2010	11	#10334	+1 (10.0%)
2009	10	#11322	+1 (11.1%)
2008	9	#12405	-1 (-10.0%)
2006	10	#11258	+3 (42.9%)
2005	7	#14213	0
2004	7	#13902	-3 (-30.0%)
2003	10	#10284	0
2002	10	#10087	-4 (-28.6%)
2001	14	#7653	+5 (55.6%)
2000	9	#10571	-5 (-35.7%)
1999	14	#7155	+6 (75.0%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Saki as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Saki has also been given to 11 boys in the U.S. since 2004.

Unranked

Current rank

Total births

2004

Peak year

Compare Saki as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Saki a boy's or girl's name?

Saki is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 11 recorded births.

When was Saki most popular?

Saki reached its peak popularity in 1996 with 16 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Saki?

Saki is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 308 babies in the U.S. since 1986. Its peak was in 1996.

Can Saki be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Saki is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it is not currently ranked. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Explore More

By Length4-letter names By OriginJapanese names By EndingNames in -i TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1986–2020