Boy · #4,990 in 2026

Vishnu

Vishnu, also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation (sattva). Though not prominently represented in the Vedas Vishnu was possibly already a significant non-elite divine figure in early Vedic times.

  • Hinduism
  • Malayalam
  • Kannada
  • Telugu
Current Rank
#4,990
Peak Rank
#2,094 (2007)
Total Babies
1K
5-Yr Trend
-18%
1977
First Year
2026
Last Year
2007
Peak Year
#2094
Peak Rank
1K
Total Count
45
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Vishnu

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

Vishnu, also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation (sattva). Though not prominently represented in the Vedas Vishnu was possibly already a significant non-elite divine figure in early Vedic times.

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

Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)

  • Hinduism
  • Malayalam
  • Kannada
  • Telugu
  • Tamil
  • Hindi
  • Marathi
Etymology
Vishnu (also spelled Viṣṇu, Sanskrit : विष्णु ) means 'all pervasive' and, according to Medhātith ( c. 1000 CE), 'one who is everything and inside everything'. Vedanga scholar Yaska (4th century BCE) in the Nirukta defines Vishnu as viṣṇur viṣvater vā vyaśnoter vā ('one who enters everywhere'); also adding atha yad viṣito bhavati tad viṣnurbhavati ('that which is free from fetters and bondage is Vishnu'). In the tenth part of the Padma Purana (4–15th century CE), Danta (Son of Bhīma and King of Vidarbha ) lists 108 names of Vishnu (17.98–102). These include the ten primary avatars (see Dashava

The Story of Vishnu

Vishnu first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1977, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 65 Vishnus were born — ranking #2,094 that year. As of 2026, Vishnu ranks #4,990 for baby boys with 20 births, falling sharply (-18%). In total, more than 1K Vishnus have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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Variants & Related Forms of Vishnu

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

  • Bishan

Names that sound like Vishnu

Phonetically similar names — useful when Vishnu 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 Vishnu

What does the name Vishnu mean?
Vishnu, also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation (sattva). Though not prominently represented in the Vedas Vishnu was possibly already a significant non-elite divine figure in early Vedic times.
What is the origin of the name Vishnu?
Vishnu has roots in the following cultural and linguistic traditions: Hinduism, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Marathi.
How popular is Vishnu in 2026?
In 2026, Vishnu ranks #4,990 among boys' names in the U.S., with 20 babies given the name that year.
When was Vishnu most popular?
Vishnu reached its peak popularity in 2007, ranking #2,094 that year with 65 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Vishnu most popular?
Vishnu has historically been most popular in New Jersey, Michigan, California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Vishnu.
Is Vishnu a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Vishnu is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Vishnu?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Vishnu include Yvon, Damarco, Yanni. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.
What are nicknames or variants of Vishnu?
Common variants and related forms of Vishnu include Bishan. These cover foreign-language equivalents, alternate spellings, and short forms.

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About the name Vishnu

Vishnu is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1977 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Vishnu's peak popularity came in 2007 when it ranked #2,094. Use the chart and map above to compare Vishnu'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.