Sayde
Of Arabic origin, a feminine name meaning "fortunate" or "lucky".
Name Census estimates that about 700 living Americans carry the first name Sayde. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Sayde today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sayde births was 2009 (47 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sayde. 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.
People living today
700
~ 1 in 489,649 Americans
Peak year
2009
47 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,942
Tracked since 1896
Popularity
Sayde: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sayde from the 1890s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 280 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sayde 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 Sayde during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Saydes live
Origin
Meaning and history of Sayde
The name Sayde has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating in the Middle East during the medieval period. It is derived from the Arabic word "sa'id," which means "fortunate" or "blessed." The spelling "Sayde" is an anglicized version of the original Arabic pronunciation.
One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in ancient Arabic poetry and literature, where it was often used to describe individuals who were blessed with good fortune or favored by fate. In Islamic tradition, the name Sayde holds a significant meaning as it reflects the belief that all blessings and good fortune come from Allah.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Sayde. One of the earliest recorded examples is Sayde ibn Malik (680-744 CE), a prominent scholar and linguist who made significant contributions to the study of Arabic grammar and literature during the Umayyad Caliphate.
Another historical figure bearing this name is Sayde al-Tahir (1184-1253 CE), a renowned Sufi mystic and poet from Persia. His works, which often explored themes of divine love and spiritual enlightenment, had a profound influence on the development of Persian literature and Sufism.
In the 13th century, Sayde al-Din Atabeg Lori (1206-1285 CE) was a influential Kurdish ruler and military leader who played a significant role in the conflict between the Mongols and the Abbasid Caliphate. His military campaigns and strategic alliances helped shape the political landscape of the region during that turbulent period.
During the Ottoman Empire, Sayde Efendi (1534-1599 CE) was a highly respected Ottoman scholar and jurist who served as the Chief Mufti of Constantinople (present-day Istanbul). He is remembered for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and his efforts to promote education and scholarship.
In more recent times, Sayde Arafat (1929-2004 CE) was the wife of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. She played a prominent role in Palestinian politics and was known for her advocacy of women's rights and social causes.
These historical figures from diverse backgrounds and eras exemplify the rich and varied legacy associated with the name Sayde, which has transcended cultures and generations, carrying with it a sense of blessedness and good fortune.
People
Sayde + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sayde 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
Sayde: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sayde?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 700 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sayde 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 489,649 US residents.
Is Sayde a common name?
We classify Sayde as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 718 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sayde most popular?
The single biggest year for Sayde was 2009, when 47 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sayde is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sayde a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sayde in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.