Virat" is an Indian given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "hero" or "courageous". It has gained significant global recognition due to its association with prominent personalities, notably the Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. However, its usage as a given name predates his fame and is not exclusive to him. The name is often accompanied by other names in full names such as Virat Gandhi, Virat Patel, or Virat Singh, reflecting its popularity across various communities in India. In recent years, it has also begun to appear more frequently among baby names worldwide, likely due to the influence of Indian culture and the success of individuals like Kohli.
"Virat experienced a notable increase in popularity as a baby name from 2011 to 2019, with the highest number of births recorded that year (54). However, it has since seen fluctuations, dropping to 22 in 2020 before rising again to 44 in 2021. The most recent data shows another decrease to 33 births in 2022, followed by a slight rebound with 38 births in 2023."