Chaitanya is a male given name of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "chaitanyam," which means "consciousness" or "awareness." The name is associated with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a prominent figure in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism, who was born in 1486 in Nadia, present-day Bangladesh. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is considered an avatar of Lord Krishna and is revered for his devotion to Krishna and his teachings on love and devotion (bhakti). The name Chaitanya has gained popularity not only in India but also among people of Indian descent living abroad. It is often chosen by parents who wish to give their child a unique and meaningful name with spiritual significance. Despite its origins, the name Chaitanya is not limited to any particular religion or culture and can be used as a given name for boys regardless of background.
The name Chaitanya has a consistent but relatively low presence in the United States over the past few decades, with a total of 166 babies born with this name between 1994 and 2019.
In terms of annual births, there was a noticeable spike in popularity in 1999 with 14 newborns named Chaitanya. This is the highest number of births recorded for this name during the period analyzed. The years 2002 and 2004 also saw higher than average numbers of births with this name, at 13 and 12 respectively.
However, the majority of years had fewer than 10 births per year. Between 2005 and 2017, there were only seven years with more than five births recorded for Chaitanya each year.
It is important to note that while these statistics show some variation in popularity over time, Chaitanya remains a relatively rare name in the United States. This could indicate that parents who choose this name are looking for something unique and distinctive for their children.
Furthermore, it is worth considering that these statistics only reflect data from the United States and may not be representative of global trends or other cultural contexts where this name might have different levels of popularity.
Overall, while Chaitanya has had a consistent but low presence in the United States over the past few decades, its popularity has shown some variation over time with spikes occurring occasionally. However, it remains a relatively rare and unique name choice for newborns.