Girl · #10,447 in 2026

Bhavana

Bhāvanā literally means "development" or "cultivating" or "producing" in the sense of "calling into existence". It is an important concept in Buddhist practice (Patipatti). The word bhavana normally appears in conjunction with another word forming a compound phrase such as citta-bhavana or metta-bhavana. When used on its own, bhavana signifies contemplation and 'spiritual cultivation' generally.

Current Rank
#10,447
Peak Rank
#8,757 (2001)
Total Babies
109
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1995
First Year
2010
Last Year
2001
Peak Year
#8757
Peak Rank
109
Total Count
13
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Bhavana

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Bhāvanā literally means "development" or "cultivating" or "producing" in the sense of "calling into existence". It is an important concept in Buddhist practice (Patipatti). The word bhavana normally appears in conjunction with another word forming a compound phrase such as citta-bhavana or metta-bhavana. When used on its own, bhavana signifies contemplation and 'spiritual cultivation' generally.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
Bhavana derives from the word Bhava meaning becoming or the subjective process of arousing mental states. To explain the cultural context of the historical Buddha's employment of the term, Glenn Wallis emphasizes bhavana ' s sense of cultivation. He writes that a farmer performs bhavana when he or she prepares soil and plants a seed. Wallis infers the Buddha's intention with this term by emphasizing the terrain and focus on farming in northern India at the time in the following passage: Glenn Wallis, Bhavana: A Guide to Classical Buddhist Meditation, 2009, draft copy, p. 7 {{cite web |url=http

The Story of Bhavana

Bhavana first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1995, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2001, when 11 Bhavanas were born — ranking #8,757 that year. As of 2026, Bhavana ranks #10,447 for baby girls with 10 births, with steady use. In total, more than 109 Bhavanas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Names that sound like Bhavana

Phonetically similar names — useful when Bhavana is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bhavana

What does the name Bhavana mean?
Bhāvanā literally means "development" or "cultivating" or "producing" in the sense of "calling into existence". It is an important concept in Buddhist practice (Patipatti). The word bhavana normally appears in conjunction with another word forming a compound phrase such as citta-bhavana or metta-bhavana. When used on its own, bhavana signifies contemplation and 'spiritual cultivation' generally.
How popular is Bhavana in 2026?
In 2026, Bhavana ranks #10,447 among girls' names in the U.S., with 10 babies given the name that year.
When was Bhavana most popular?
Bhavana reached its peak popularity in 2001, ranking #8,757 that year with 11 babies given the name.
Is Bhavana a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Bhavana is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Bhavana?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Bhavana include Daphny, Surena, Julea. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Daphny
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Surena
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👧
Julea
Peak #8757
👧
Aracelly
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👧
Akima
Peak #8757
👧
Liala
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Nafisah
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Chinenye
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About the name Bhavana

Bhavana is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1995 and has accumulated 109 births in the dataset. Bhavana's peak popularity came in 2001 when it ranked #8,757. Use the chart and map above to compare Bhavana's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.