Gayatri
A girl's name with 308 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
an ancient metre of twenty-four syllables (variously arranged, but generally as a triplet of eight syllables each), any hymn composed in the गायत्री metre RV. x, 14 ; 16 & 130, 4 VS. AV. etc.
Gayatri is a girl's baby name of Sanskrit origin, meaning 'hymn' or 'song that liberates,' from gā (to sing) and tri (three). The Gayatri Mantra — one of the most sacred mantras in Hinduism — is addressed to Gayatri Devi, the goddess of light and wisdom who presides over the sun's life-giving rays.
Gayatri is both a divine name and a deeply spiritual one in Hindu tradition. Commonly used across India and the South Asian diaspora, it carries scholarly and devotional weight. For Hindu families, naming a daughter Gayatri is an invocation of light, knowledge, and the sacred.
EtymologyShow more
Gayatri is built from 7 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Gayatri creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Gayatri was #7536 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #14004, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 36 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 90 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 120 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 47 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 10 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 5 | — |
The Story of Gayatri
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2006, Gayatri is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Gayatri are most likely born between 1996 and 2016.
How rare is Gayatri?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Gayatri — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1977, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2000s with 120 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Gayatri by the numbers
- Would fill 6 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(34 years, 1977–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #14004 |
| 2023 | 10 | #9835 |
| 2022 | 8 | #11556 |
| 2021 | 6 | #14066 |
| 2020 | 6 | #14021 |
| 2019 | 9 | #10767 |
| 2018 | 10 | #10064 |
| 2017 | 7 | #13183 |
| 2016 | 9 | #11167 |
| 2015 | 10 | #10378 |
| 2014 | 10 | #10413 |
| 2013 | 9 | #11320 |
| 2012 | 5 | #17766 |
| 2011 | 7 | #13838 |
| 2010 | 14 | #8403 |
| 2009 | 11 | #10210 |
| 2008 | 8 | #12995 |
| 2007 | 16 | #7851 |
| 2006 | 16 | #7611 |
| 2005 | 11 | #9678 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gayatri a boy's or girl's name?
When was Gayatri most popular?
How popular is the name Gayatri?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1977–2024