Viraat
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "huge", "enormous", or "great".
Name Census estimates that about 160 living Americans carry the first name Viraat. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Viraat today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Viraat births was 2016 (20 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Viraat. 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
160
~ 1 in 2,142,215 Americans
Peak year
2016
20 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,783
Tracked since 2009
Popularity
Viraat: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Viraat from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 120 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
Viraat 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 Viraat during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Viraats live
Origin
Meaning and history of Viraat
The name Viraat is derived from the Sanskrit language, one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages that originated in ancient India. The word "Viraat" can be traced back to the Sanskrit root "vir," meaning brave, valiant, or heroic. It is often associated with qualities like strength, courage, and fearlessness.
The name Viraat has a strong connection with Hindu mythology and ancient Indian texts. In the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics, Lord Krishna is referred to as "Virat" or "Viraat Purusha," which means the supreme cosmic being or the universal form. This association with divinity lends a sense of reverence and auspiciousness to the name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Viraat can be found in the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu scripture that is part of the Mahabharata. In the text, Lord Krishna reveals his "Viraat Swarupa" or cosmic form to Arjuna, which is a turning point in the epic narrative.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Viraat. One of the earliest examples is Viraat Singh Shaktawat (1628-1666), a Rajput ruler of the Shaktawat clan who played a significant role in the conflicts between the Mughal Empire and the Rajput kingdoms.
Another prominent individual was Viraat Ali Khan Bahadur (1831-1879), a Nawab of Bengal who was known for his patronage of arts and culture. He commissioned the construction of several notable buildings, including the Viraat Ali Khan Palace in Calcutta (now Kolkata).
In the realm of literature, Viraat Sundra Vasu (1854-1912) was a Bengali author and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Hindu philosophy and religion. His works, such as "The Vedanta Sutras" and "The Upanishads," were widely acclaimed.
In more recent times, Viraat Kohli (born 1988) is a renowned Indian cricketer who has captained the Indian national team and is considered one of the best batsmen of his generation. His achievements on the cricket field have made the name Viraat more popular and recognizable worldwide.
Another notable figure is Viraat Patel (born 1992), an Indian-American entrepreneur and investor who co-founded the software company Stripe. His success in the technology industry has further highlighted the name's association with achievement and excellence.
People
Viraat + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Viraat 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
Viraat: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Viraat?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 160 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Viraat 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 2,142,215 US residents.
Is Viraat a common name?
We classify Viraat as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 161 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Viraat most popular?
The single biggest year for Viraat was 2016, when 20 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Viraat is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Viraat a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Viraat 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.