Find out how popular the first name Nandini has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Nandini by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Nandini is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 18 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Nandini.

The history of the first name Nandini

The name Nandini has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "nandana," which means delight, joy, or bliss. The name is believed to have been in use in the Indian subcontinent since ancient times.

One of the earliest references to the name Nandini can be found in Hindu mythology. In the Puranas, Nandini is the name of the sacred cow that emerged from the churning of the cosmic ocean and was gifted to the sage Vashistha by Indra, the king of the devas (gods). Nandini's milk was said to possess miraculous healing properties, and she is revered as a symbol of abundance and fertility.

The name Nandini gained popularity across India during the medieval period, and several historical figures bore this name. One notable example is Nandini, a 10th-century scholar and poet from the Chola Empire in South India. She was renowned for her mastery of Sanskrit and her contributions to Tamil literature.

Another prominent figure with the name Nandini was Nandini Devi, a 17th-century Assamese poet and writer. She is considered one of the earliest and most influential female writers in the Assamese language and is best known for her literary work, "Radhara Ananta Lila."

In more recent times, Nandini Harinath (1918-2012) was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She played a significant role in popularizing and preserving the Bharatanatyam dance form and was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, in 1999.

Nandini Satpathy (1931-2006) was an eminent Indian politician and social worker from Odisha. She served as a member of the Indian Parliament and was actively involved in various social and educational initiatives, particularly in the field of women's empowerment.

Nandini Krishnan (born 1974) is an Indian actress known for her work in Tamil and Malayalam films. She has won several awards for her performances, including the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the 2001 film "Bhoothakkannadi."

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 Nandini was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nandini, 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!