Salvia officinalis is the scientific name for common garden sage. Salvia is taken from the Greek word that means "salvation." The term officinalis comes from officina, which was the name for the chamber where medicinal herbs were kept at the monastery. Sage has undergone botanical name changes several times, however, although each modification also referenced its life-saving virtues. At one time, the plant was referred to as S. salvatrix, or "sage the savior."
The use of sage probably began in ancient Egypt, from which the herb was likely introduced to Rome and later to Europe. Pliny the Elder recommended sage.