Declining since 2006, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Gayatri since 1977
Babies named Gayatri per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 47 |
| 2000s | 120 |
| 2010s | 90 |
| 2020s | 44 |
Meaning & origin
Gayatri entered U.S. naming records in 1977, reflecting the growing Indian diaspora. Its peak year came in 2006, when the name reached its highest rank of 2,730. Since then it has fallen in usage: by 2025 it ranked 10,917, with roughly 1 in every 200,908 baby girls receiving the name. While the name has clear Sanskrit and Hindu roots as a sacred Vedic meter and goddess, its use remains concentrated in families with Indian heritage. The trajectory of steady decline after 2006 mirrors broader shifts away from traditional names among second-generation immigrants, though Gayatri retains strong cultural and religious resonance.
Gayatri comes from Sanskrit गायत्री (gāyatrī), the name of a sacred meter of 24 syllables used in Vedic hymns. The most famous Gayatri Mantra, a prayer to the sun god Savitr, is central to Hindu ritual. The name has been used as a personal name in India for centuries, particularly among Hindu families, and gained wider usage in the 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gaya
Variants: Gaayatri, Gayathri
Sibling names for Gayatri
Names that share Gayatri's style, for a brother or sister.
