Sneha
A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin meaning "love, affection".
Name Census estimates that about 1,401 living Americans carry the first name Sneha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Sneha today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sneha births was 2002 (94 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sneha. 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
1.4K
~ 1 in 244,650 Americans
Peak year
2002
94 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,974
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Sneha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sneha from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 679 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
Sneha 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 Sneha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Snehas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 15 states and territories. California, New Jersey, Texas recorded the most babies named Sneha, while Washington, North Carolina, Massachusetts recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 33 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Sneha
The name Sneha has its roots in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that originated in the Indian subcontinent around the 2nd millennium BCE. Derived from the word "sneha," which means love, affection, or fondness, this name carries a warm and endearing connotation.
In Hinduism, Sneha is revered as one of the names of the goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. This association with the divine further enhances the name's significance and auspiciousness.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Sneha can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts such as the Vedas and Upanishads, where it was used to symbolize the virtues of compassion, kindness, and loving-kindness.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Sneha. One of the earliest was Sneha, a renowned Indian philosopher and scholar who lived during the 5th century CE. Her treatise on the nature of consciousness and self-awareness remains an influential work in Indian philosophy.
In the realm of literature, Sneha Devi was a celebrated 16th-century Bengali poet whose lyrical compositions explored themes of devotion, spirituality, and the human condition. Her works are revered as literary gems and continue to inspire readers across generations.
The name Sneha also graced the stage of Indian classical dance. Sneha Sathe, born in 1892, was a pioneering figure in the revival of the Bharatanatyam dance form. Her graceful performances and unwavering dedication to preserving this ancient art form earned her widespread acclaim.
In more recent times, Sneha Shanker, born in 1937, made her mark as a trailblazing Indian jurist. As one of the first women to be appointed to the Supreme Court of India, her landmark rulings and unwavering commitment to justice have left an indelible mark on the country's legal landscape.
Another notable figure is Sneha Wagh, born in 1986, a renowned Indian actress who has captivated audiences with her powerful performances in both film and television. Her ability to portray complex characters with depth and nuance has garnered her critical acclaim and numerous accolades.
These are just a few examples of the many remarkable individuals who have carried the name Sneha throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human achievement.
People
Sneha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sneha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Sneha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sneha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,401 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sneha 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 244,650 US residents.
Is Sneha a common name?
We classify Sneha as "Rare". It ranks above 92.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,434 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sneha most popular?
The single biggest year for Sneha was 2002, when 94 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sneha is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sneha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sneha 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.