Most Common Names in India and Worldwide Revealed
A name is more than a mere word, it is an identity, a legacy, and at times they capture history and culture. In India, where customs run deep, bestowing a child's name within a family is a grand event accompanied by numerous rituals. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself which name is the most popular in the whole country?
As per Forebears's report in 2023, the single most common name in India is Ram. Shocking isn’t it? Roughly 5.6 million Indians have this name. The name Ram is mostly known for harking back to Hindu religious beliefs. It encapsulates virtue, strength, and devotion. No wonder parents choose this drowned in time name for their sons.
Another name that is commonly possessed is Muhammad, with approximately 4.25 million people in India bearing this name. Muhammad means ‘the praised one’ and originates from Islam. Deep devotion and respect for Prophet Muhammad reflect at that name, and is one of the most frequently chosen names across different generations.
Sanjay is a name most often used in the northern region of India where 3,188,335 people carry it. Its usage is, however, not as common in the southern region. Regardless of its regional usage, Sanjay is a known name and is used frequently. Another name that is known and used around India is Sunil. It is estimated that 1 in 1399 people in India has the name Sunil.
Rajesh has also been a common name in India since the 1990s. It is popular up to this date, with roughly 1 in 1417 Indians bearing the name Rajesh.
Most Common Name of Women
The names mentioned above are largely used by men but one of the most well-known names among Indian women is Sunita. About 4 million women in India use this name, which means “well-mannered” or “polite” in Sanskrit. This name became very popular in the 20th century and remains a favorite choice for daughters.
Apart from Ram, Muhammad, and Sunita, many other names are in vogue in India. Among them, Anita is one of the best known girl names. It ranks fifth among the most commonly used names in the country. Statistically, 1 in 1347 people is known by the name Anita.
Another name which is common in schools, colleges, and offices is Santosh. What makes Santosh unique is that it is given to both men and women. A typical santosh is found in every 1,356 people on average. For women, another most commonly accepted name is Gita Geeta. Based on the census in 2001, it has a total of 2,867,531 women named Gita, thus making it a well-loved and preserved name. Unlike santosh, this name is exclusively used for girls. Some names are popular for single lads and lasses. One such is Sri Shree. Of those bearing the name Sri, 88 percent of them are men and 12 percent are women. There is a total of 36,91,429 people named Sri in the country. What is the world’s name with the largest popularity index? Whereas, what is the most common name on earth? As researched in 2023, Muhammad stands out as the world’s most popular first name, having around 133,349,300 people against that name. Second place goes to Maria with 61,134,526 people which is widely used across Spanish and Portuguese cultures, and many others. After Maria comes Nushi with around 56 million people in China.