Shankar is a name of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit language. Its meaning is associated with Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. In Hindu mythology, it is believed that Lord Shiva wears a crescent moon (Chandra) on his head, hence the name Shankar means "one who has the moon's crests".
The name Shankar has been popular among Indians for centuries and has also gained international recognition due to its association with prominent figures in various fields. For instance, Shankar is the given name of renowned Indian film composer A. R. Rahman, winner of two Academy Awards.
Historically, the name Shankar has been used by many notable individuals throughout India's history. One famous example is the 18th-century Carnatic music composer Tyagaraja, whose real name was Kakarla Subbarao but he was known by his pet name Shankara, later shortened to Shankar.
In addition to its use as a personal name, Shankar has also been employed as a title or honorific for individuals holding spiritual or scholarly positions. For example, Swami Vivekananda was affectionately referred to as "Shankar" by his followers due to his profound knowledge and wisdom.
Overall, the name Shankar carries a rich historical and cultural significance in India, making it a unique and meaningful choice for parents looking for a distinctive name with deep roots in Indian tradition.
The statistics provided show the annual births of babies named Shankar in the United States from 1985 to 2018. During this period, there were a total of 80 babies born with the name Shankar.
The years with the highest number of births for the name Shankar were 1997 and 1999, with 9 births each. This indicates that these two years had a peak in popularity for the name Shankar among parents choosing names for their newborns.
However, the popularity of the name varied throughout the years. For instance, there was only one birth for the name Shankar between 2005 and 2011 (in 2012), but it then increased again to 6 births each in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Overall, while the name Shankar may not have been extremely popular during this period, with an average of around 4 births per year, it was consistently present among the names chosen for newborns in the United States between 1985 and 2018.