Declining since 2009, #5,399 for boys today.
Popularity of Arav since 1999
Babies named Arav per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 334 |
| 2010s | 504 |
| 2020s | 115 |
Meaning & origin
Arav is a name of Sanskrit origin meaning 'peaceful' or 'calm', and it also carries solar associations as an epithet of the sun god Surya. While the name has ancient roots in India, its use in the United States is relatively recent. According to Social Security data, Arav first appeared in American records in 1999, a time when many families of Indian descent were settling in the U.S. and seeking names that honored their heritage while being accessible in English. The name reached its highest popularity in 2008, ranking number 5399, but has since declined; since 2009, its trajectory has been falling. In the most recent year tracked, 2025, approximately 1 in 100,475 baby boys were named Arav. The name is most common in California, which reflects the larger Indian American population there. Arav remains a distinctive choice, offering a connection to Hindu mythology and a serene meaning without being overly common.
Arav is a name of Sanskrit origin, derived from the word 'arava' meaning 'peaceful' or 'calm'. It is also linked to the sun (Arav is an epithet of the sun god Surya in Hindu mythology). The name has been used in India for centuries and has gained some popularity in the West in recent decades, often chosen by families of Indian heritage.
Where Arav is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ari
Variants: Aravind, Aravinda
Sibling names for Arav
Names that share Arav's style, for a brother or sister.
