Boy · #12,285 in 2026

Shantanu

Name: Popularity of the name Shantanu in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Shantanu, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Shantanu is a character in the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata. He was the King of Kuru kingdom with his capital at Hastinapura. He was a descendant of the Bharata race, a forebear of the lineage of the Chandravamsha, the father of Bhishma and the great-grandfather of the Pandavas and the Kauravas.

Current Rank

#12,285

Peak Rank

#7,054 (2002)

Total Babies

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1990

First Year

2011

Last Year

2002

Peak Year

#7054

Peak Rank

Total Count

Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Shantanu

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

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

Etymology

The meaning of the name can be explained by nirukti available in Adi Parva , through which Sri Nityananda Mishra elaborates its meaning as "the one who amplifies sukha (happiness) for others". [ unreliable source? ] [ better source needed ] Monier-Williams translates śaṁ-tanu as "wholesome for the body". The Sambhava Parva of Mahabharata says that the old men of his kingdom who were touched by this monarch not only felt an indescribable sensation of pleasure but also became restored to youth. Therefore, this monarch was called Santanu.

The Story of Shantanu

Shantanu first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1990, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2002, when 9 Shantanus were born — ranking #7,054 that year. As of 2026, Shantanu ranks #12,285 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 69 Shantanus have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Shantanu

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

Chandana
Santana
Lantana
Chandon
Shenton
Shandon
Santini
Santanna
Centeno
Centanni
Shannon
Shanty

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shantanu

What does the name Shantanu mean?

How popular is Shantanu in 2026?

In 2026, Shantanu ranks #12,285 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Shantanu most popular?

Shantanu reached its peak popularity in 2002, ranking #7,054 that year with 9 babies given the name.

Is Shantanu a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Shantanu is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Shantanu?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Shantanu include Jas, Gaetan, Zedric. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Shantanu

Shantanu is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1990 and has accumulated 69 births in the dataset. Shantanu's peak popularity came in 2002 when it ranked #7,054. Use the chart and map above to compare Shantanu'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.