Boy · #312 in 2026

Bodhi

The English term enlightenment is the Western translation of various Buddhist terms, most notably bodhi and vimutti. The abstract noun bodhi means the knowledge or wisdom, or awakened intellect, of a Buddha. The verbal root budh- means "to awaken", and its literal meaning is closer to awakening.

  • English
Current Rank
#312
Peak Rank
#284 (2021)
Total Babies
15K
5-Yr Trend
-4%
2005
First Year
2026
Last Year
2019
Peak Year
#2561
Peak Rank
611
Total Count
20
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Bodhi

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

The English term enlightenment is the Western translation of various Buddhist terms, most notably bodhi and vimutti. The abstract noun bodhi means the knowledge or wisdom, or awakened intellect, of a Buddha. The verbal root budh- means "to awaken", and its literal meaning is closer to awakening.

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

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • English
Etymology
Bodhi , Sanskrit बोधि , "awakening", "perfect knowledge", "perfect knowledge or wisdom (by which a man becomes a बुद्ध [Buddha] or जिन [ jina , arahant ; "victorious", "victor"], the illuminated or enlightened intellect (of a Buddha or जिन)". The word Bodhi is an abstract noun , formed from the verbal root *budh- , Sanskrit बुध , "to awaken, to know", "to wake, wake up, be awake", "to recover consciousness (after a swoon)", "to observe, heed, attend to". It corresponds to the verbs bujjhati (Pāli) and bodhati , बोदति, "become or be aware of, perceive, learn, know, understand, awake" or budhyat

The Story of Bodhi

American parents first put Bodhi on the record books as a baby boy name in 1976, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 1,220 Bodhis were born — ranking #284 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 52% of all recorded Bodhis. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #312 among baby boy names with 1,094 births, holding steady (-4%). In total, more than 15K Bodhis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Variants & Related Forms of Bodhi

Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Bodhi. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Names that sound like Bodhi

Phonetically similar names — useful when Bodhi 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 Bodhi

What does the name Bodhi mean?
The English term enlightenment is the Western translation of various Buddhist terms, most notably bodhi and vimutti. The abstract noun bodhi means the knowledge or wisdom, or awakened intellect, of a Buddha. The verbal root budh- means "to awaken", and its literal meaning is closer to awakening.
What is the origin of the name Bodhi?
Bodhi has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: English.
How popular is Bodhi in 2026?
In 2026, Bodhi ranks #312 among boys' names in the U.S., with 1,094 babies given the name that year.
When was Bodhi most popular?
Bodhi reached its peak popularity in 2021, ranking #284 that year with 1,220 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Bodhi most popular?
Bodhi has historically been most popular in Montana, Hawaii, Wyoming. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Bodhi.
Is Bodhi a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Bodhi is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Bodhi?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Bodhi include Pablo, Elvin, Emmet. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Bodhi?
Common variants and related forms of Bodhi include Bodie. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

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About the name Bodhi

Bodhi is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1976 and has accumulated 15K births in the dataset. Bodhi's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #284. Use the chart and map above to compare Bodhi'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.