The baby name Ravi blends warmth with a stylish sound.
Thanks to Soph for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME RAVI MEAN?
The baby name Ravi has Sanskrit origins. It translates to sun, and it’s the name of a sun god.
In Hindu mythology, he pulls a chariot across the sky, just like Greek sun god Apollo. Ravi is also known as Surya.
Just like Apollo is often shown with his sister, moon goddess Artemis, Ravi is often associated with the god Chandra, from the Sanskrit word for moon.
FAMOUS RAVIS
Perhaps the most famous figure to bear thename was Ravi Shankar.
Born Robindro or Ravindra Chowdhury in India in the year 1920, Shankar became a world-famous musician and composer. While he started life as a dancer, he became internationally known for playing the sitar, a traditional string instrument.
The sitar owes much of its popularity in Europe and America to Shankar’s tours, beginning in 1956 and continuing through the 60s. He was a powerful influence on Beatles guitarist George Harrison. Shankar won four Grammy Awards, and well as an Academy Award for Best Original Score for 1982’s Gandhi.
Shankar is the father of singer Norah Jones and sitar player Anoushka Shankar.
Other figures include:
- Ravi Shankar – yes, same name! – an Indian guru known for his work with Transcendental Meditation and founder of the Art of Living Foundation.
- Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane is the son of legendary musician John Coltrane. He was named for fellow musician Ravi Shankar.
- Emmy-nominated actor Ravi Cabot-Conyers appeared in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew on Disney+.
Fictional characters include:
- Ravi Patel from the book and movie Life of Pi.
- Disney Channel character Ravi Ross appeared in both Jessie and the spin-off Bunk’d.
- One of the main characters in A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is Ravi Signh.
- In Gladiator II, a character named Ravi is a former gladiator from India who serves as a doctor to wounded combatants.
The name is deeply rooted in Indian culture, and yet broadly familiar thanks to decades of high-profile figures and ficitonal characters alike.
SOUNDS LIKE …
Another factor? While Ravi is undeniably a culturally significant Hindi name with deep roots, it sounds like popular choices in the US now.
That’s a good thing and also a challenge. It’s easy to imagine expectant parents hearing Ravi as an alternative to:
- Ari, Avi
- Levi
- Raven, River
- Remi, Remy
- Rory
And more short, complete choices.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME RAVI?
How popular is the baby name Ravi in the United States?
The name debuted in the US popularity data in the year 1963, when seven boys received the name.
That’s doubtless a combination of families of Indian heritage and those influneced by the musician.
The name continued to climb in use, reaching an all-time high in 2024, when 166 boys received the name.
VITALITY meets MODERN STYLE
In many ways, Ravi could be the perfect baby name for a child born now. We love nature names, and those that channel the energy and optimism of the sun are having a moment. Ravi reads like an international choice, more sophisticated than sweet Sonny.
And yet, it’s clearly a name with important ties to Indian culture. It’s the perfect crossover for families wanting a fits-in/stands-out choice that honors their roots while wearing well in American English.
What do you think of the baby name Ravi?
