Nandika
A feminine name of Indian origin meaning "the one who gives joy".
Name Census estimates that about 90 living Americans carry the first name Nandika. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nandika today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nandika births was 2008 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nandika. 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 Nandika. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
90
~ 1 in 3,808,382 Americans
Peak year
2008
12 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2018 SSA rank
#15,118
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Nandika: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nandika from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 47 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
Nandika 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 Nandika 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 Nandika
The name Nandika has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient language that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the word "nanda," which means joy, delight, or happiness. The suffix "-ika" is a diminutive form, indicating a sense of endearment or affection.
In ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, Nandika is mentioned as a name for various deities and mythological figures. One notable example is Nandika, the attendant and vehicle of the Hindu god Shiva. She is often depicted as a sacred cow or a bull, symbolizing fertility and maternal love.
The earliest known historical reference to the name Nandika dates back to the 5th century BCE. It was found inscribed on a clay seal from the ancient city of Taxila, located in present-day Pakistan, which was an important center of learning and culture during that time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nandika. One of the earliest recorded examples is Nandika, a famous Buddhist monk and scholar who lived in the 5th century CE. He was renowned for his contributions to the study and translation of Buddhist texts from Sanskrit to Chinese.
In the 7th century CE, Nandika was the name of a renowned Sanskrit grammarian and linguist. He authored several treatises on grammar and linguistics, which were widely studied and referenced by scholars of his time.
During the 12th century, Nandika was the name of a prominent Jain monk and philosopher. He was known for his teachings on nonviolence, compassion, and spiritual enlightenment, and his works influenced the Jain community for generations.
In the realm of literature, Nandika was the pen name of a celebrated 16th-century Indian poet from Bengal. Her poetic works, which explored themes of love, devotion, and spirituality, were widely acclaimed and continue to be studied today.
Another notable figure with the name Nandika was a 19th-century Indian freedom fighter and social reformer. He played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and advocated for the education and empowerment of women in society.
People
Nandika + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nandika as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nandika: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nandika?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 90 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nandika 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 3,808,382 US residents.
Is Nandika a common name?
We classify Nandika as "Very Rare". It ranks above 63% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 91 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nandika most popular?
The single biggest year for Nandika was 2008, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nandika is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nandika a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nandika 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.