Find out how popular the first name Hari has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Hari by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Hari is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Hari being male.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 37 male babies and 8 female babies born with the name Hari.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 8 baby girls were named Hari in 2024, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Hari

The name Hari has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which has been used in ancient India for over 3,500 years. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Haridra," meaning "yellow" or "golden," referring to the color of turmeric. The name is closely associated with Hindu culture and religion.

In Hinduism, Hari is one of the names used to address Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector of the universe. The name appears in various Hindu scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita and the Puranas. It is believed that the name Hari has been in use since the Vedic period, which dates back to around 1500-500 BCE.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hari can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. The epic mentions Hari as one of the names of Lord Krishna, who is considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The Mahabharata is believed to have been composed between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Hari. One of the most famous is Hari Govind Sarma (1603-1644), the sixth Guru of the Sikhs. He played a crucial role in shaping the Sikh religion and its martial tradition. Another well-known figure is Hari Singh Nalwa (1791-1837), a prominent military leader and commander of the Sikh Empire during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

In the field of literature, Hari Narayan Apte (1864-1919) was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and lexicographer from Maharashtra, India. He is known for his monumental work, the "Apte Sanskrit-English Dictionary," which is widely used by students and scholars of Sanskrit.

Hari Mohan Nath (1924-2003) was a distinguished Indian civil servant and diplomat who served as the Governor of Assam and the Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry. He was also the Chairman of the Minorities Commission of India.

In the realm of arts, Hari Kondabolu (born 1982) is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and podcast host of Indian descent. He is known for his socially conscious comedy that tackles issues of race, identity, and cultural stereotypes.

The name Hari has a rich cultural and historical significance, deeply rooted in the ancient Sanskrit language and Hindu tradition. Its association with Lord Vishnu and its presence in various Hindu scriptures have contributed to its enduring popularity across generations.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Hari was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hari, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!