Gokul
A boy's name of Sanskrit origin with 82 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Gokul reads as a modern invention — a name that emerged in the 1990s and was likely coined by parents looking for something fresh rather than inherited.
The sharp, distinct quality of its ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
Gokul is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Gokul is a boy's baby name of Sanskrit origin, meaning 'herd of cows' or, more poetically, 'the village of cows' — from the Sanskrit go (cow) and kula (family, herd, community). In Hindu tradition, Gokul is the sacred village in Vrindavan where the god Krishna spent his childhood.
The name carries profound spiritual significance for Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu/Krishna), evoking Krishna's divine childhood filled with playful miracles and pastoral beauty. In the United States, Gokul is used predominantly within Hindu families from India, connecting children to one of Hinduism's most beloved stories.
EtymologyShow more
Gokul appeared in SSA records in 1996, 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 82 recorded births, Gokul has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Gokul has 11+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1996.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 71 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 11 | — |
The Story of Gokul
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2000, Gokul is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Gokul are most likely born between 1996 and 2009.
How rare is Gokul?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Gokul is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1996, peaked in the 2000s with 71 births that decade.
Gokul by the numbers
- Would fill 2 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(11 years, 1996–2009)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 8 | #9275 |
| 2007 | 5 | #13009 |
| 2006 | 9 | #8243 |
| 2005 | 6 | #10556 |
| 2004 | 5 | #11971 |
| 2003 | 8 | #8106 |
| 2002 | 8 | #7899 |
| 2001 | 10 | #6623 |
| 2000 | 12 | #5691 |
| 1999 | 6 | #9094 |
| 1996 | 5 | #9516 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gokul a boy's or girl's name?
When was Gokul most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1996–2009