Unisex, Used for both boys and girls, often as the first part of a compound name such as Sai Kumar or Sai Pallavi. · Hindi, from Sanskrit svāmin (Telugu usage) · Hindu
Sai
साईSay it SAA-ee
Sai meaning
Sai (साई) is a Hindu unisex name of Hindi origin (from Sanskrit svāmin Telugu usage), used for both girls and boys. By its first sound, सा, it is a Kumbh rashi name (Shatabhisha nakshatra) in the North Indian table.
Master, lord; the Supreme Being, God; a religious mendicant
Sai (సాయి, साई) comes from the Hindi word sāīṃ, which Platts' dictionary traces through Prakrit to Sanskrit svāmin, "master". He gives its senses as master, lord, husband and God, and also as a religious mendicant. The word became a name through Sai Baba of Shirdi, the saint revered by Hindus and Muslims alike, and later through Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh. In Telugu, Kannada and Marathi families it is used on its own or, very often, as the first part of names such as Sai Kumar, Sai Krishna and Sai Pallavi, for boys and girls alike.
Source: Platts, A Dictionary of Urdu, Classical Hindi, and English (1884), p. 630 · entry sāṅʼī / sāṅʼīṅ (साईं) · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Platts, sāṅʼī / sāṅʼīṅ, p. 630 · Wikipedia, Sai Baba of Shirdi · Wikipedia, Sathya Sai Baba
Famous namesakes
- Sai Baba of Shirdi, saint revered by Hindus and Muslims
- Sai Pallavi, Indian film actress
Fits your syllable
First sound सा
Shatabhisha nakshatra, pada 2 · Kumbh rashi
North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.
Spellings
Sai · Saai · Sayee