Rithwik
A masculine name with Sanskrit origins, meaning "wealthy" or "prosperous".
Name Census estimates that about 113 living Americans carry the first name Rithwik. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Rithwik today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rithwik births was 2007 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rithwik. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Rithwik with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
113
~ 1 in 3,033,224 Americans
Peak year
2007
9 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2016 SSA rank
#13,779
Tracked since 2000
Popularity
Rithwik: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rithwik from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 71 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Rithwik remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rithwik 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 Rithwik 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 Rithwik
The name Rithwik finds its origins in the Sanskrit language of ancient India, dating back to the early centuries of the common era. It is a compound word derived from the Sanskrit roots "rith" meaning "prosperity" or "success," and "vika" meaning "courageous" or "brave." The name carries the connotation of a prosperous and courageous individual.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rithwik can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Puranas, where it is mentioned as the name of a revered sage or rishi. These sacred texts, composed between the 3rd and 10th centuries CE, serve as a testament to the antiquity of the name's usage in Indian culture.
In the historical annals of medieval India, there are references to notable figures bearing the name Rithwik. One such individual was Rithwik Chandra Deva, a prominent scholar and poet who flourished in the 12th century CE during the reign of the Pala Dynasty in Bengal. His literary works, primarily composed in Sanskrit, were highly acclaimed and contributed significantly to the intellectual landscape of the era.
Another notable bearer of the name was Rithwik Singh, a valiant warrior and military commander who served under the Rajput ruler Prithviraj Chauhan in the 12th century CE. Rithwik Singh played a pivotal role in defending the kingdom against foreign invasions and is celebrated in various folk tales and ballads for his bravery and loyalty.
In more recent times, the name Rithwik has been carried by several influential individuals. Rithwik Ghatak (1925-1976) was a renowned Indian filmmaker and writer, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Bengali cinema. His films, often considered masterpieces of parallel cinema, explored complex social and political themes and left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry.
Another notable figure was Rithwik Bhattacharya (1908-1981), a distinguished Indian philosopher and scholar. He made significant contributions to the fields of logic, epistemology, and the philosophy of language, and his works continue to be studied and discussed in academic circles.
Furthermore, Rithwik Dhanjani (born 1988) is a contemporary Indian actor and model who has gained recognition for his performances in various television shows and films. His portrayal of diverse characters has garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fan following.
The name Rithwik continues to be a popular choice among Indian parents, particularly in the Hindu community, as it carries a rich cultural heritage and symbolizes prosperity, courage, and success.
People
Rithwik + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rithwik as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rithwik: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rithwik?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 113 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rithwik 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 3,033,224 US residents.
Is Rithwik a common name?
We classify Rithwik as "Very Rare". It ranks above 66.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 114 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rithwik most popular?
The single biggest year for Rithwik was 2007, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rithwik is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Rithwik in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Rithwik a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rithwik in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Rithwik still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Rithwik in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Rithwik can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Rithwik?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.