Ankur is a name of Indian origin, specifically from the state of Punjab. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "ankur", which means "seed" or "bud". In Hindu mythology, Ankur is often associated with the lotus flower, as the lotus seed is considered pure and divine despite growing in muddy waters.
The name Ankur has a significant historical context in India. According to folklore, King Janaka named his daughter Sita "Ankusha" after she was found as a baby along with a lotus seed in a furrow of a plowed field. The king interpreted this as a divine sign and gave her the name Ankusha, which later evolved into Ankur.
In the Hindu epic Ramayana, Ankusha is also the name of a magical elephant goad used by King Ravana to control his elephants. However, despite this association with a negative character in the epic, the name Ankur has predominantly positive connotations due to its connection with Sita and the lotus flower.
Today, Ankur is still a popular name in India and among Indian communities worldwide. It is often given to children in the hope that they will grow into strong, pure, and divine individuals like the lotus seed from which the name originates.
The name Ankur experienced a peak in popularity between 1976 and 1981 with over 30 births each year during this period, reaching a high of 40 births in 1981. However, there was a significant decrease thereafter, with fewer than 30 births per year from 1982 onwards, except for a brief spike in 1994. The name's popularity continued to decline into the new millennium, with single-digit birth counts since 2007 and no recorded births after 2016. Overall, there were a total of 668 babies named Ankur over the course of these years.