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

Shantanu is primarily a boy's name.

When was Shantanu most popular?

Shantanu reached its peak popularity in 2002 with 9 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Shantanu?

Shantanu is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 69 babies in the U.S. since 1990. Its peak was in 2002.

Shantanu

An uncommon Sanskrit pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's nameSanskritNot ranked recently

Rare name

Meaning & Origin

The name of a king in the Mahabharata.

Shantanu is a boy's baby name of Sanskrit origin, meaning 'whole-bodied, bringing well-being.' In the Mahabharata, the great Hindu epic, Shantanu is a king of the Kuru dynasty, father of the great warrior Bhishma, who swore an extraordinary oath of celibacy for his father's sake.

Shantanu carries the weight of one of Sanskrit literature's most poignant stories of paternal love and filial devotion. It is a name of great royal and mythological significance in Hindu tradition.

Compare Shantanu with another name

Popularity Over Time

Shantanu has 11+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1990.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Shantanu
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2010s	12	#12298	▼
2000s	42	#10670	▲
1990s	15	#10208	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(11 years, 1990–2011)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Shantanu
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2011	5	#14020	-2 (-28.6%)
2010	7	#10575	+2 (40.0%)
2009	5	#14169	-3 (-37.5%)
2008	8	#9720	0
2007	8	#9628	+2 (33.3%)
2006	6	#11831	0
2004	6	#11136	-3 (-33.3%)
2002	9	#7537	+4 (80.0%)
1998	5	#11041	0
1996	5	#10297	0
1990	5	#9287	—

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

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1990–2011) · Methodology