Poonam
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "moon" or "flower".
Name Census estimates that about 247 living Americans carry the first name Poonam. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Poonam today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Poonam births was 1986 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Poonam. 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
247
~ 1 in 1,387,669 Americans
Peak year
1986
21 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
2008 SSA rank
#19,751
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Poonam: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Poonam from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 145 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
Poonam 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 Poonam during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Poonams live
Origin
Meaning and history of Poonam
The name Poonam is of Sanskrit origin, rooted in the ancient Hindu culture of the Indian subcontinent. Its origins can be traced back to the Sanskrit word "purnima," which means "full moon." The name carries connotations of beauty, grace, and radiance, symbolizing the luminescence of a full moon.
In Hindu mythology and ancient texts, the full moon holds significant spiritual and cultural significance. It is celebrated as a time of renewal, purification, and divine blessings. The name Poonam is often associated with these auspicious qualities, making it a popular choice among Hindu families.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Poonam can be found in the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Poonam is mentioned as the name of a celestial nymph or apsara, renowned for her ethereal beauty and divine grace.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Poonam. One of the most famous is Poonam Dhillon (born 1962), an Indian actress and former model who gained prominence in Bollywood cinema during the 1980s and 1990s. She is celebrated for her roles in films such as "Noorie," "Sohni Mahiwal," and "Karma."
Another notable figure is Poonam Bajaj (born 1965), an Indian entrepreneur and business leader. She co-founded the HCL Technologies company and served as its CEO from 1994 to 2008, leading the company to significant growth and success.
In the field of sports, Poonam Rani (born 1990) is a renowned Indian field hockey player who has represented India at multiple Olympic Games and has won numerous accolades, including the Arjuna Award in 2018.
Poonam Pandey (born 1991) is an Indian model, actress, and controversial figure known for her bold and provocative persona. She gained widespread attention for her daring stunts and social media presence.
Poonam Khetrapal Singh (born 1953) is an Indian diplomat and the current Regional Director for South-East Asia at the World Health Organization (WHO). She has played a crucial role in addressing public health challenges in the region.
The name Poonam continues to be a popular choice among Hindu families, particularly in India and the Indian diaspora around the world. Its rich cultural heritage, symbolic meaning, and association with beauty and divinity have contributed to its enduring popularity.
People
Poonam + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Poonam 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
Poonam: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Poonam?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 247 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Poonam 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 1,387,669 US residents.
Is Poonam a common name?
We classify Poonam as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 260 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Poonam most popular?
The single biggest year for Poonam was 1986, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Poonam is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Poonam a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Poonam 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.