Bodhi

Bodhi - A very unique male name

Bodhi appeared on the charts for the first time in 1993 on position #3153. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Bodhi and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Bodhi? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Bodhi. The baby boy name Bodhi was given to 1,284 baby boys in 2025, ranking #264 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,142 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Bodhi peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 264.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Bodhi, 1-5?

Bodhi is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Bodhi is currently topping the baby name charts in Hawaii at position #91 - and is the least popular in New York at position #546.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Bodhi is where you live.

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Bodhi origin and meaning

Sanskrit (via Buddhism)

Enlightenment or awakening — in Buddhism, the understanding attained by the Buddha

Bodhi is the Sanskrit word for the enlightenment the Buddha reached beneath the Bodhi tree, a fig tree whose name comes from the same word. It entered US data only in 1993 and has climbed steadily, reaching its peak in 2025. Its use is a modern borrowing of a religious concept as a given name.

Attested etymology

Bodhi is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Bodhi, pop culture references for the name Bodhi and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Bodhi

We've found the following names that sound similar to Bodhi, sorted by popularity.

Boyd / Buddy / Bodie / Bud / Bode / Betty / Bodi / Buddie / Bohdi / Budd /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Bodhi

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Bodhi a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Bodhi?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

BOH-dee · /ˈboʊdi/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Bodhi Elfman — American actor known for Criminal Minds and the husband of actress Jenna Elfman (b. 1969) Contemporary

Style

International

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Bodhi for its calm, spiritual meaning and soft sound; it is at its most popular right now, in 2025.

Worth knowing

• The name carries a specific Buddhist meaning, so families should be comfortable using a religious concept as a name.
• It is often confused in writing with the spelling Bodie.