Rishi

Rishi - A very unique male name

Rishi appeared on the charts for the first time in 1977 on position #2224. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Rishi and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Rishi? 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 Rishi. The baby boy name Rishi was given to 177 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1009 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 8,284 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Rishi peaked in popularity 21 years ago in 2005 on position 892.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Rishi, 1-5?

Rishi is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Rishi is currently topping the baby name charts in New Jersey at position #445 - and is the least popular in Ohio at position #1,436.

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 Rishi is where you live.

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Rishi origin and meaning

Sanskrit

'Sage, seer' — in Hindu tradition a rishi is an inspired sage or seer to whom hymns were revealed

Rishi is an ancient Sanskrit title-word used as a name, borne by the legendary sages of the Vedas. In American use it is concentrated in Indian-American families and is rising toward its 2023 peak level.

Attested etymology

Rishi is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Rishi

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

Ricky / Rick / Ross / Rickey / Rex / Rocco / Royce / Rocky / Reece / Reese /

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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 Rishi

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 Rishi 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 Rishi?

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

RISH-ee · /ˈrɪʃi/

Around the world

• Rishi (Sanskrit/Hindi) — Used as-is in Indian languages.

Famous bearers

• Rishi Sunak — British prime minister 2022–2024 (b. 1980) Contemporary
• Rishi Kapoor — Indian film actor of the Kapoor family (1952–2020) Contemporary

Style

International

Why parents choose it

Rishi carries deep cultural and spiritual meaning in a short, friendly form. Rishi Sunak gave it wide recognition in English-speaking countries.

Worth knowing

• In Britain and beyond, the Sunak association is now the first one many people make.