Aarav
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "peaceful" or "serene".
Name Census estimates that about 7,771 living Americans carry the first name Aarav. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Aarav today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Aarav births was 2015 (541 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Aarav. 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
- • Aarav is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 10 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
7.8K
~ 1 in 44,107 Americans
Peak year
2015
541 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#675
Tracked since 2002
Popularity
Aarav: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Aarav from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 4,828 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Aarav remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aarav 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 Aarav during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Aaravs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 30 states and territories. California, New Jersey, Texas recorded the most babies named Aarav, while Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 237 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Aarav
The name Aarav is a Hindu name of Sanskrit origin, derived from the word "aravam," meaning "peaceful" or "calm." It is believed to have originated in ancient India, where it was used as a name for boys born into Hindu families.
The earliest recorded use of the name Aarav can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Vedas and Puranas. These texts often mentioned characters and individuals with names that were derived from Sanskrit words or had specific meanings related to virtues, qualities, or natural elements.
One of the earliest historical references to the name Aarav can be found in the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India. In this epic, there is a character named Aarav, who is described as a wise and peaceful individual.
Throughout history, the name Aarav has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest known figures with this name was Aarav Sharma, a renowned Sanskrit scholar who lived in the 8th century CE. He is known for his contributions to the study and preservation of ancient Hindu texts.
Another prominent figure with the name Aarav was Aarav Mishra, a 12th-century Hindu philosopher and logician. He was known for his works on epistemology and logic, and his teachings influenced many scholars of his time.
In more recent times, Aarav Gandhi (1917-1998) was an Indian political activist and writer, known for his involvement in the Indian independence movement and his work promoting non-violence and social justice.
Aarav Choudhary (1932-2010) was an acclaimed Indian writer and playwright, known for his contributions to Hindi literature and his thought-provoking plays that explored social and political issues.
Aarav Bhat (1950-2022) was a renowned Indian classical vocalist and music educator, who was recognized for his mastery of the Khayal style of Hindustani classical music and his efforts in preserving and promoting this art form.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Aarav, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and enduring popularity within the Hindu tradition.
People
Aarav + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Aarav as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Aarav: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Aarav?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7,771 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Aarav 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 44,107 US residents.
Is Aarav a common name?
We classify Aarav as "Rare". It ranks above 97.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 7,831 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Aarav most popular?
The single biggest year for Aarav was 2015, when 541 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Aarav is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Aarav a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Aarav 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.
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.