Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is a person who has attained, or is striving towards, bodhi or Buddhahood. Often, the term specifically refers to a person who forgoes or delays personal nirvana or bodhi in order to compassionately help other individuals reach Buddhahood.
Meaning & Origin of Bodhisattva
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is a person who has attained, or is striving towards, bodhi or Buddhahood. Often, the term specifically refers to a person who forgoes or delays personal nirvana or bodhi in order to compassionately help other individuals reach Buddhahood.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Etymology
The Story of Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2017, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2017, when 5 Bodhisattvas were born — ranking #12,243 that year. As of 2026, Bodhisattva ranks #12,141 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 15 Bodhisattvas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Bodhisattva
Phonetically similar names — useful when Bodhisattva is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Boddhisatva
- Bodhisattvas
- Boadicea
- Batiste
- Podesta
- Bautista
- Bedsit
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bodhisattva
What does the name Bodhisattva mean?
How popular is Bodhisattva in 2026?
When was Bodhisattva most popular?
Is Bodhisattva a unisex name?
What names go well with Bodhisattva?
About the name Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2017 and has accumulated 15 births in the dataset. Bodhisattva's peak popularity came in 2017 when it ranked #12,243. Use the chart and map above to compare Bodhisattva's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2017 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "B" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.