Rudra

An uncommon Sanskrit pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's name| Also girlsSanskritRising fast
#1337 51in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A Rigvedic deity, associated with wind or storm and the hunt.

Rudra is a boy's and girl's baby name of Sanskrit origin, meaning 'the howler, the roarer' or 'the terrible one' — from the Sanskrit rud (to howl, to weep). Rudra is one of the most ancient and complex deities in the Vedic tradition, associated with storms, the hunt, and transformation.

In the Rigveda, Rudra is the fierce storm god who can both cause disease and heal it — a deity of tremendous destructive and creative power. He is considered an early form of Shiva. The name carries the awesome, fearsome energy of the divine storm — a name for a child of extraordinary force and vitality.

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Popularity Over Time

Rudra climbed 8402 spots in the last 20 years — from #9739 to #1337.

0367210714320002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Rudra
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s572
2010s779
2000s259

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(25 years, 20002024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Rudra
YearBirthsRank
2024143#1337
2023134#1388
202299#1718
202198#1685
202098#1644
2019103#1610
2018109#1552
2017101#1601
201686#1782
201573#1996
201477#1902
201344#2702
201235#3225
201182#1778
201069#1998
200944#2792
200856#2339
200754#2408
200643#2728
200523#4035

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

Rudra as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Rudra has also been given to 32 girls in the U.S. since 2008.

Unranked
Current rank
32
Total births
2022
Peak year
Compare Rudra as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Rudra be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Rudra is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #1337. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (20002024) · Methodology