How did Sai Baba come to be known by that specific name?

The name "Sai Baba" was bestowed upon Maharaj when he first arrived in Shirdi. As described in Chapter 0, upon entering the Khandoba temple, a resident goldsmith and devotee named Mhalasapati saw him and instinctively welcomed him with the words "Aavo Sai Baba," which means "Come, Sai Baba." This name stuck with Maharaj for the rest of his life. The text further mentions that when his testimony was taken in a commission, he was asked his name and he simply replied, "They call me Sai Baba," formally acknowledging the name given to him by his devotee.