Vidur
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "skilled or expert".
Name Census estimates that about 80 living Americans carry the first name Vidur. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Vidur today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vidur births was 2017 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vidur. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Vidur. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
80
~ 1 in 4,284,429 Americans
Peak year
2017
9 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,808
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Vidur: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Vidur from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 52 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Vidur 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 Vidur 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 Vidur
The name Vidur has its origins in ancient Sanskrit, one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent. It derives from the Sanskrit root words "vid" meaning "to know" or "to understand" and "ur" meaning "great" or "vast." The combination of these root words suggests that the name Vidur carries the meaning of "one who is greatly knowledgeable" or "one with vast understanding."
Vidur is a prominent character in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahābhārata, which dates back to around the 8th or 9th century BCE. In the epic, Vidur is the son of a maid and the sage Vyasa, and he is depicted as a wise and righteous advisor to the Kuru clan. His wisdom and moral guidance play a crucial role in the events of the epic, and he is revered for his unwavering commitment to dharma (righteousness) and his ability to impart profound knowledge.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vidur can be found in the Mahābhārata itself, where the character is introduced and his deeds are chronicled. Throughout the centuries, the name has been adopted by various individuals, many of whom have left their mark in various fields.
One notable figure bearing the name Vidur was Vidur Vinod Prakash (1896-1989), an Indian freedom fighter, social reformer, and educator. He played an active role in the Indian independence movement and worked tirelessly for the advancement of education and social justice.
Another prominent individual with the name Vidur was Vidur Niti, a Sanskrit scholar and statesman who lived in the 16th century CE. He is renowned for his commentaries on ancient Sanskrit texts and his contributions to the field of Hindu philosophy and jurisprudence.
In the realm of literature, Vidur Suthankar (1921-1992) was a renowned Indian poet and playwright who wrote extensively in Marathi. His works explored themes of social justice, human relationships, and the human condition, earning him numerous accolades and awards.
The name Vidur has also been carried by several notable figures in the field of music. Vidur Malik (born 1983) is a contemporary Indian classical vocalist and composer, known for his innovative fusion of traditional and modern styles. Vidur Krishnamurti (born 1957) is a prominent South Indian classical musician and composer, celebrated for his contributions to the Carnatic music tradition.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Vidur throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and disciplines. The name's ancient roots and its association with wisdom and understanding have undoubtedly contributed to its enduring appeal and significance across generations.
People
Vidur + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vidur as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Vidur: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vidur?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 80 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vidur 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 4,284,429 US residents.
Is Vidur a common name?
We classify Vidur as "Very Rare". It ranks above 61.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 81 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vidur most popular?
The single biggest year for Vidur was 2017, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vidur is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Vidur a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vidur 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.
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.