Ankur
A Hindi name meaning 'sprout' or 'bud'.
Name Census estimates that about 643 living Americans carry the first name Ankur. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ankur today is around 37 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ankur births was 1981 (40 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ankur. 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
643
~ 1 in 533,055 Americans
Peak year
1981
40 babies that year
Average age
37
years old
2016 SSA rank
#12,312
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Ankur: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ankur from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 289 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ankur 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 Ankur during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ankurs live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, Illinois, New Jersey recorded the most babies named Ankur, while New York, New Jersey, Illinois recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 38 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ankur
The name Ankur originates from the Sanskrit language and has its roots in ancient Indian culture. The word "Ankur" literally translates to "sprout" or "bud," symbolizing new beginnings, growth, and potential.
Ankur is a name that carries deep symbolic significance in Hinduism. It is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "ank," which means "to mark or imprint." This connection suggests that the name represents a person's unique imprint on the world, much like a sprout leaving its mark as it emerges from the earth.
The name Ankur can be found in various ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, including the Vedas and the Puranas. In these sacred texts, the word "Ankur" is often used to describe the first signs of life, representing the divine creation and the cycle of birth and rebirth.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Ankur dates back to the 5th century BCE. In the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, there is a character named Ankur, who was a prince and the son of King Virata. This reference highlights the antiquity and cultural significance of the name within the Indian subcontinent.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ankur. One prominent figure was Ankur Vikal (1983-2006), an Indian poet and writer known for his poignant works that explored themes of love, loss, and existentialism. His untimely death at the age of 23 left a lasting impact on the Indian literary scene.
Another notable Ankur was Ankur Arora (born 1982), an Indian entrepreneur and co-founder of the popular online travel company, MakeMyTrip. His entrepreneurial spirit and vision have contributed significantly to the growth of the Indian travel industry.
In the realm of sports, Ankur Mittal (born 1992) is an Indian shooter and Olympian who has represented India in various international competitions, including the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2018 Asian Games.
Ankur Rathee (born 1991) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his critically acclaimed films that explore social issues and human relationships. His debut feature film, "Thappad," garnered widespread praise for its powerful portrayal of domestic violence.
Lastly, Ankur Tewari (born 1983) is an Indian musician and singer-songwriter who has gained popularity for his unique blend of rock, folk, and Indian classical music. His poetic lyrics and soulful melodies have earned him a dedicated following across India and abroad.
People
Ankur + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ankur 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
Ankur: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ankur?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 643 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ankur 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 533,055 US residents.
Is Ankur a common name?
We classify Ankur as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 668 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ankur most popular?
The single biggest year for Ankur was 1981, when 40 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ankur is about 37 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ankur a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ankur 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.