Save Gender Feminine Usage Japanese Scripts サヤ(Japanese Katakana) 沙耶, 小椰, 紗弥, etc.(Japanese Kanji) Pronounced Pron. SAH-YAH [key] Meaning & History From 沙 (sa) meaning "sand" or 小 (sa) meaning "small, little" and 耶 (ya) meaning "question mark" or 椰 (ya) meaning "palm tree". Other kanji combinations can be used.