Sacai
A feminine Japanese name meaning "prosperous" or "thriving".
Name Census estimates that about 13 living Americans carry the first name Sacai. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Sacai today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sacai births was 2023 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sacai. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Sacai. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
13
~ 1 in 26,365,718 Americans
Peak year
2023
7 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2023 SSA rank
#10,587
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Sacai: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Sacai by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Sacai during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Sacai
The name Sacai originates from the ancient Mayan civilization, which flourished in present-day Mexico and Central America between the 3rd and 9th centuries AD. It is derived from the Mayan word "sacaib," meaning "white dawn" or "white light."
In Mayan mythology, Sacai was the name of a minor deity associated with the rising sun and the first rays of light that pierced the darkness of night. This deity was revered for its symbolic representation of new beginnings, rebirth, and the cycle of life.
The earliest known record of the name Sacai dates back to the 6th century AD, where it appears inscribed on a stela (carved stone slab) found in the ancient Mayan city of Calakmul. This stela depicts a figure believed to be a high-ranking priest or noble bearing the name Sacai.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Sacai. One of the most famous was Sacai Ahau, a Mayan ruler who reigned over the city-state of Chichen Itza in the 10th century AD. He is credited with overseeing the construction of the iconic El Castillo pyramid, one of the most remarkable architectural achievements of the Mayan civilization.
Another prominent figure was Sacai K'in, a renowned Mayan astronomer and mathematician who lived in the 8th century AD. He is known for his contributions to the development of the intricate Mayan calendar system and his detailed observations of celestial bodies.
In the 16th century, during the Spanish conquest of the Maya, a Mayan leader named Sacai Caan led a fierce resistance against the invading forces. His bravery and unwavering spirit in defending his people's land and culture have made him a legendary figure in Mayan history.
More recently, in the 20th century, Sacai Tzul was a renowned Mayan artist and activist who dedicated his life to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of his people. His vibrant paintings and murals, depicting traditional Mayan themes and symbolism, have become iconic representations of the Mayan culture.
While the name Sacai is not as common today as it once was, it remains a powerful reminder of the rich cultural legacy and ancient traditions of the Mayan civilization, carrying with it the symbolism of new beginnings, enlightenment, and the eternal cycle of life.
People
Sacai + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sacai as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Sacai: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sacai?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sacai going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 26,365,718 US residents.
Is Sacai a common name?
We classify Sacai as "Very Rare". It ranks above 33.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sacai most popular?
The single biggest year for Sacai was 2023, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sacai is about 3 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Sacai in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Sacai a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sacai in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Sacai still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Sacai in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Sacai can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Sacai?
If you just want to know how many people have the name Sacai, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.