Sayuri
Girl name · Japanese · Mexican
Meaninglittle lily · Japanese
Sayuri is a Japanese and Mexican girl name meaning “little lily”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Word funSayuri doesn't repeat a single letter: 6 letters, all different.
- GenerationSayuri peaked in 2007, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Sayuri you'd meet today is about 18 years old.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Sayuri would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 21,142 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistorySayuri first shows up in US birth records in 1979, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 46 years since.
US births per million girls, 1979–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Sayuri
Sayuri is a girl name of Japanese and Mexican origin meaning “little lily”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It hit its peak in the 2000s and is climbing again now. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese namesMexican names
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Sayuri
What does the name Sayuri mean?
Sayuri means “little lily” and comes from Japanese. Names built around “lily” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Lily (“lily flower”), Lillian (“lily”), Liliana (“lily”) and Lilly (“lily flower”).
What is the origin of the name Sayuri?
Sayuri is Japanese and Mexican in origin. Names often travel between languages and cultures, which is why Sayuri turns up in more than one tradition. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Sayuri a boy or girl name?
Sayuri is a girl name. In 2025, 76 US girls were named Sayuri.
How popular is the name Sayuri?
Sayuri ranked #2,368 for US girls in 2025, given to 76 babies. Its best year was 2007, when it reached #1,940. Over the last five years it has climbed 1,801 places.
What names are similar to Sayuri?
If you like Sayuri, you might also like Lily, Lillian, Liliana and Lilly.
What should I know before naming my baby Sayuri?
Sayuri is a Japanese and Mexican girl name meaning “little lily”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.