Sage

The herb sage, or a wise person.

Sage is an English name for girls and boys that can refer either to the herb or to a wise person. These offer two different ways to enjoy the name: a small, everyday connection to plants, or an association with thoughtfulness and good judgment. Its four letters and single syllable give it an understated, contemporary feel. The opening s is light, while the final /dʒ/ gives the sound a definite finish. In English, Sage is pronounced /seɪdʒ/, rhyming with “page”; the final e is silent. That compact shape may appeal if you want a name with a clear word meaning and little ornament. Saige is an alternative spelling.

Etymology: An English word used as a given name. The herb sense came through Old French sauge from Latin salvia; the wisdom sense came through Old French from Latin sapere, “to be wise”. The two meanings share a spelling but have different word histories.