boy's name
Aarav
AH-ruv
- Origin Sanskrit
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 12,743
the United States
#714
2025 births
Aarav is an Indian boy's name of Sanskrit origin, usually given as "peaceful" or "wisdom" in popular lists, though the Sanskrit word ārava literally means "sound" or "shout." It's widely used among Indian families around the world.
- Aarav is a name of Sanskrit origin.
- Peaked in 2015, when 541 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 8,794 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 2002.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Aarav Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 2000s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 936 |
| 2010s | 4,828 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 2,445 |
What Aarav Means
Aarav means sound or musical tone in its Sanskrit sense. Popular references prefer peaceful and calm, so the gentle sense most parents have in mind differs from the older dictionary one.
Where Aarav Comes From
Sanskrit ārava comes from the root ru, to make a sound, and in classical texts it means a cry, a sound or a roar. The Bump gives sound, and Nameberry also points to the root rav. FirstCry gives peaceful or calm, a modern reading that became standard as the name spread. Aarav is a relatively recent choice, and it rose quickly in India from the 2000s, partly through its use in film and by celebrity parents. Spelling with a double a marks the long first vowel. It's used among Hindu families and across the Indian diaspora.
Aarav in Use
Actor Akshay Kumar named his son Aarav, which brought it national attention in India. It appears in many countries where Indian families have settled, including Canada, Ireland, and England and Wales.
How Popular Is Aarav?
In 2025, Aarav was given to 377 babies in the United States, ranking #714 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Aarav Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Aarav
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Aarav Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Aarav over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Aarav
- Pronunciation AH-ruv
Sibling Names for Aarav
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Aarav — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Aarav
What does the name Aarav mean?
Sound in Sanskrit, though it's popularly given as peaceful.
Is Aarav a Hindu name?
Yes. It's a Sanskrit-rooted name used mainly by Hindu families.
How do you pronounce Aarav?
AH-rahv.
How popular is the name Aarav?
In 2025, Aarav was given to 377 babies in the United States, ranking #714 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Aarav a girl's or a boy's name?
Aarav is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Aarav?
Aarav has 2 syllables.
When was Aarav most popular?
Aarav peaked in 2015, when 541 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Aarav a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Aarav currently ranks #216 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.