Deepa
An Indian feminine name meaning "light" or "lamp".
Name Census estimates that about 453 living Americans carry the first name Deepa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Deepa today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Deepa births was 1981 (27 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Deepa. 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
453
~ 1 in 756,632 Americans
Peak year
1981
27 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
2014 SSA rank
#15,054
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Deepa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Deepa from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 186 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
Deepa 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 Deepa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Deepas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Deepa, while New York, Texas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 6 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Deepa
The name Deepa has its roots in the Sanskrit language, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It derives from the Sanskrit word "deepa," which means "lamp" or "light." This name has been used in various forms across several Indian languages, including Hindi, Bengali, and Tamil.
In Hinduism, the term "deepa" holds significant symbolism, representing the dispelling of darkness and ignorance through the illumination of knowledge and wisdom. Lamps and lights play a crucial role in various Hindu rituals and festivals, making the name Deepa a profound and auspicious choice.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deepa can be found in ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, such as the Vedas and the Puranas, where it is often used as a metaphor for enlightenment and spiritual guidance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Deepa. One of the earliest was Deepa Devi (1053 - 1092), a Rajput queen and warrior from the Chahamana dynasty, renowned for her valor and bravery in battles against invading forces.
Another prominent figure was Deepa Mehta (born 1950), an acclaimed Indian-Canadian film director and screenwriter known for her thought-provoking and often controversial works that explore social and cultural themes.
In the realm of literature, Deepa Narayan (born 1957) is a renowned Indian-American author and scholar whose works focus on poverty, empowerment, and global development.
The name Deepa has also graced the world of sports, with Deepa Malik (born 1970), an Indian athlete and paralympian, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympic Games in 2016.
Deepa Bhatnagar (1934 - 2013), an Indian classical dancer and choreographer, was another notable figure who contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian dance forms.
The name Deepa has transcended geographical boundaries and cultures, carrying with it a rich heritage and profound symbolism. Its association with light, enlightenment, and spiritual guidance has made it a revered choice across generations.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Deepa
People
Deepa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Deepa as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Deepa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Deepa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 453 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Deepa 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 756,632 US residents.
Is Deepa a common name?
We classify Deepa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 480 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Deepa most popular?
The single biggest year for Deepa was 1981, when 27 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Deepa is about 39 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Deepa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Deepa in the SSA data are female. 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.