Declining since 2012, #10,695 for boys today.
Popularity of Banyan since 1996
Babies named Banyan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 103 |
| 2010s | 200 |
| 2020s | 61 |
Meaning & origin
Banyan first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1996, making it a very recent coinage. Its peak in 2011 placed it near rank 6550, but since then its use has declined steadily; by 2025 it sat at rank 10,695 with only about 1 in every 284,679 boys receiving the name. The name has no strong association with any particular state, as it has never broken into the top 1000 nationally. Banyan suggests a connection to nature and calm, fitting a modern trend of tree and plant names. Its trajectory of falling usage since 2012 mirrors the broader ebb and flow of such rare botanical choices.
Banyan is a direct adoption of the English word for a species of fig tree (Ficus benghalensis). The word entered English via Portuguese 'banian,' from Arabic 'baniyān' (merchant), because European traders observed the tree under which merchants often conducted business. As a given name, it first appeared in the United States in 1996 and remains rare, likely chosen for its natural and tranquil connotations.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ban
Sibling names for Banyan
Names that share Banyan's style, for a brother or sister.
