Palak
A feminine name of Indian origin meaning "spinach".
Name Census estimates that about 287 living Americans carry the first name Palak. It is a predominantly female name (98.3% of registrations). The average person named Palak today is around 26 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Palak births was 2006 (28 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Palak. 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
287
~ 1 in 1,194,266 Americans
Peak year
2006
28 babies that year
Average age
26
years old
1994 SSA rank
#9,859
Tracked since 1979
Gender
Gender distribution for Palak
Palak leans heavily female at 98.3% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Palak as a male name
- Ranked #9,859 in 1994
- 5 male births in 1994
- Peak: 1994 (5 births)
Palak as a female name
- Ranked #16,044 in 2014
- 6 female births in 2014
- Peak: 2006 (28 births)
Popularity
Palak: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Palak from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 126 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Palak 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 Palak during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Palaks live
Origin
Meaning and history of Palak
Palak is a given name of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "palash," which refers to the flame or bright red color of the Butea monosperma tree, commonly known as the Flame of the Forest. The name is predominantly found in the northern regions of India and is associated with the Hindu culture.
The earliest known references to the name Palak can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures. In the Puranas, a collection of ancient Hindu religious literature, the name is mentioned as one of the many names of the goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. This association with divinity and spiritual significance contributed to the popularity of the name among Hindu communities.
In the historical context, the name Palak gained prominence during the medieval period in India. One notable figure bearing this name was Palak Deva, a ruler of the Chauhan dynasty who reigned in the 12th century CE. His reign was marked by military conquests and the construction of several forts and temples in the region now known as Rajasthan.
Another prominent individual with the name Palak was Palak Senani, a renowned Indian poet and writer from the 16th century. Born in the city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, Palak Senani was renowned for his contributions to the Dingal literature, a genre of Rajasthani folk poetry. His works celebrated the valor of Rajput warriors and the beauty of the desert landscape.
In the realm of Indian classical music, the name Palak is associated with the renowned Hindustani classical vocalist and composer, Palak Bannerji (1912-1985). Born in Kolkata, West Bengal, she was a prominent figure in the Patiala and Jaipur gharanas (musical lineages) and is credited with popularizing the khyal style of singing.
Another noteworthy figure with the name Palak is Palak Sindhwani, an Indian chess player and Woman International Master. Born in 1992, she has represented India in numerous international chess tournaments and has won several prestigious titles, including the Asian Youth Chess Championship in 2007.
While the name Palak has its roots in the Hindu tradition, it has transcended cultural boundaries and is now found across various communities in India and among the Indian diaspora worldwide. The name continues to be popular among parents seeking a meaningful and culturally significant name for their daughters, reminiscent of the vibrant hues and rich heritage of the Indian subcontinent.
People
Palak + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Palak as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Palak: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Palak?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 287 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Palak 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 1,194,266 US residents.
Is Palak a common name?
We classify Palak as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 294 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Palak most popular?
The single biggest year for Palak was 2006, when 28 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Palak is about 26 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Palak a female name?
Yes, 98.3% of people registered as Palak 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.