Banyon
Name derived from the Indian banyan tree, signifying strength and resilience.
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Banyon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Banyon today is around 25 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Banyon births was 1974 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Banyon. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Banyon. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
1974
5 babies that year
Average age
25
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,520
Tracked since 1974
Popularity
Banyon: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Banyon from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 5 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Banyon 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 Banyon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Banyon
The given name Banyon is believed to have its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language of India, dating back to around the 5th century BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "vanya," which means "forest" or "grove." This suggests that the name may have been associated with nature or a connection to the wilderness.
In Hindu mythology, there are references to a mythical forest called "Vanyavana," which was said to be the abode of sages and ascetics. This could indicate that the name Banyon may have held spiritual or philosophical connotations in its early usage.
The earliest recorded use of the name Banyon can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the Gupta Empire in ancient India. There are mentions of a sage named Banyon in various Sanskrit texts from this period, who was renowned for his wisdom and teachings.
One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name Banyon was a renowned scholar and philosopher who lived in the 12th century CE. Banyon Bhattacharya was a pioneer in the field of logic and epistemology, and his works had a significant influence on the intellectual discourse of his time.
In the 14th century, there was a Sufi mystic and poet named Banyon Rumi, who was born in present-day Afghanistan. His poetry, which often explored themes of love and spirituality, is still widely celebrated and studied today.
During the 16th century, a famous Indian painter named Banyon Sharma gained recognition for his intricate and vibrant depictions of Hindu mythology and court life. His works are now part of various museum collections around the world.
Another notable figure with the name Banyon was a 17th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer, Banyon Mishra. He made significant contributions to the field of trigonometry and celestial calculations, which were widely used in navigation and timekeeping.
Over the centuries, the name Banyon has retained its connection to nature, spirituality, and intellectual pursuits. While it may not be as common as other names, it carries a rich historical and cultural significance, particularly within the Indian subcontinent.
People
Banyon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Banyon as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Banyon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Banyon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Banyon 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Banyon a common name?
We classify Banyon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Banyon most popular?
The single biggest year for Banyon was 1974, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Banyon is about 25 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Banyon in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Banyon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Banyon 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.
Is Banyon still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Banyon in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Banyon can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Banyon as a first name?
If you just want to know how many Americans are named Banyon, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.