Girl · #13,427 in 2026

Samsara

Saṃsāra is a Sanskrit word that means "wandering" as well as "world," wherein the term connotes "cyclic change" or, less formally, "running around in circles." In the context of Indian religions and philosophies, saṃsāra is the concept of all beings experiencing an ongoing cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Current Rank
#13,427
Peak Rank
#11,624 (2004)
Total Babies
52
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1991
First Year
2024
Last Year
2004
Peak Year
#11624
Peak Rank
52
Total Count
8
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Samsara

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

Saṃsāra is a Sanskrit word that means "wandering" as well as "world," wherein the term connotes "cyclic change" or, less formally, "running around in circles." In the context of Indian religions and philosophies, saṃsāra is the concept of all beings experiencing an ongoing cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

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

Origin & history
The concept of saṃsāra developed in the post- Vedic times, and is traceable in the Samhita layers such as in sections 1.164, 4.55, 6.70 and 10.14 of the Rigveda . While the idea is mentioned in the Samhita layers of the Vedas, there is lack of clear exposition there, and the idea fully develops in the early Upanishads . Damien Keown states that the notion of "cyclic birth and death" appears around 800 BC. The word saṃsāra appears, along with Moksha , in several Principal Upanishads such as in verse 1.3.7 of the Katha Upanishad , verse 6.16 of the Shvetashvatara Upanishad , verses 1.4 and 6.34

The Story of Samsara

Samsara first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1991, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2004, when 8 Samsaras were born — ranking #11,624 that year. As of 2026, Samsara ranks #13,427 for baby girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 52 Samsaras 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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MI
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OH
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NJ
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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Samsara

Phonetically similar names — useful when Samsara 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 Samsara

What does the name Samsara mean?
Saṃsāra is a Sanskrit word that means "wandering" as well as "world," wherein the term connotes "cyclic change" or, less formally, "running around in circles." In the context of Indian religions and philosophies, saṃsāra is the concept of all beings experiencing an ongoing cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
How popular is Samsara in 2026?
In 2026, Samsara ranks #13,427 among girls' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Samsara most popular?
Samsara reached its peak popularity in 2004, ranking #11,624 that year with 8 babies given the name.
Is Samsara a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Samsara is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Samsara?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Samsara include Liddy, Geraldyn, Angalee. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Liddy
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Geraldyn
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Angalee
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Ayeesha
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Nakasha
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Leialoha
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Nkechinyere
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Shrina
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About the name Samsara

Samsara is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1991 and has accumulated 52 births in the dataset. Samsara's peak popularity came in 2004 when it ranked #11,624. Use the chart and map above to compare Samsara'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.