Rikesh first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rikesh has been for the last 1 years (from 1993 to 1993) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rikesh

A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "radiant" or "shining".

Popularity of Rikesh by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Rikesh is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 1993, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Rikesh.

Year Male Count Female Count
1993 6 0

The history of the first name Rikesh

The name Rikesh has its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language of India, with roots dating back to the Vedic period around 1500-500 BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit words "rik" meaning "praise" or "verse," and "isha" meaning "lord" or "master." The name can be interpreted to mean "Lord of Verses" or "Master of Praises."

In Hindu mythology, Rikesh is one of the names associated with the god Vishnu, the preserver and protector of the universe. It is believed that the name was used to refer to Vishnu's ability to inspire devotional poetry and hymns in his honor. The name may have been used by ancient Sanskrit poets and scholars to pay homage to Vishnu and seek his blessings for their creative endeavors.

One of the earliest known references to the name Rikesh can be found in the Rigveda, one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism, composed around 1500-1000 BCE. The name appears in several hymns dedicated to various deities, including Vishnu and Indra.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Rikesh. One of the most famous was Rikesh Sharma (1932-2010), an Indian classical vocalist and Padma Shri awardee, renowned for his contributions to Hindustani music. Another notable Rikesh was Rikesh Chandra Dutt (1848-1909), a Bengali writer, historian, and civil servant who authored several works on ancient Indian literature and culture.

Other historical figures with the name Rikesh include Rikesh Ganguli (1856-1920), a Bengali author and playwright known for his satirical works, Rikesh Mukherjee (1910-1988), an Indian freedom fighter and politician who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly, and Rikesh Lal Meena (1918-1998), an Indian folk singer and musician from Rajasthan.

The name Rikesh continues to be used in India, particularly among Hindu communities, as a way to honor the cultural and religious traditions associated with its origins and meaning.

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

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

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"Rikesh first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 22, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/rikesh-meaning-and-history/.

"Rikesh first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/rikesh-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 22 October, 2025

Rikesh first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/rikesh-meaning-and-history/.

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