Anurag

A boy's name of Sanskrit origin with 244 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Sanskrit used mainly in India.

Anurag is a boy's baby name of Sanskrit origin, meaning 'deep attachment,' 'love,' or 'passionate devotion.' Derived from the Sanskrit prefix anu (following, after) and raga (attachment, color, music), the name carries associations with both love and music.

In Indian classical music, ragas are the melodic frameworks for improvisation — so Anurag also evokes the beauty of art and emotional depth. A cherished name across Hindu-speaking regions.

EtymologyShow more

Anurag appeared in SSA records in 1972, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Sanskrit roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.

With only 244 recorded births, Anurag has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.

At a Glance

244

Total births

Since 1972

2006

Peak

19 births

1972

First recorded

46 years of data

Compare Anurag with another name

Popularity Over Time

Anurag has 25+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1972.

First appeared: 1972Peak: 2006 (19 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Anurag
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2010s	45	#9483	▼
2000s	137	#5994	▲
1990s	36	#7235	▲
1970s	26	#4791	—

The Story of Anurag

A Gen Z name

Peaking in 2006, Anurag is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Anurag are most likely born between 1996 and 2016.

How rare is Anurag?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Anurag is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1972, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2000s with 137 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Anurag by the numbers

Would fill 5 school buses

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(25 years, 1972–2017)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Anurag
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2017	10	#7586	+4 (66.7%)
2015	6	#10753	-1 (-14.3%)
2013	7	#9717	-2 (-22.2%)
2012	9	#8196	+3 (50.0%)
2011	6	#10899	-1 (-14.3%)
2010	7	#9749	-8 (-53.3%)
2009	15	#5816	+5 (50.0%)
2008	10	#7729	+3 (42.9%)
2007	7	#9844	-12 (-63.2%)
2006	19	#4690	+9 (90.0%)
2005	10	#7142	-5 (-33.3%)
2004	15	#5262	-1 (-6.3%)
2003	16	#4827	+1 (6.7%)
2002	15	#4924	0
2001	15	#4902	0
2000	15	#4799	+6 (66.7%)
1999	9	#6566	+3 (50.0%)
1998	6	#8542	-1 (-14.3%)
1997	7	#7329	0
1995	7	#7028	0

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Anurag a boy's or girl's name?

Anurag is primarily a boy's name.

When was Anurag most popular?

Anurag reached its peak popularity in 2006 with 19 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Anurag?

Anurag is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 244 babies in the U.S. since 1972. Its peak was in 2006.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1972–2017