| Advait | Kunal | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Non-dual, one without a second | Lotus; a bird with beautiful eyes |
| Origin | sanskrit | sanskrit |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ud-VYTE | KUH-nahl |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1999 | 0 |
| Peak year | 2024 (54) | 1994 (60) |
| In 2025 | 54 | 0 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Vintage |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Advait | Kunal |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 297 | 24 |
| 2010s | 328 | 92 |
| 2000s | 164 | 324 |
| 1990s | 7 | 454 |
| 1980s | 0 | 351 |
| 1970s | 0 | 14 |
From the Sanskrit अद्वैत (advaita), 'non-duality', the central concept of Advaita Vedanta — the oneness of the self (atman) and the absolute (Brahman). A firmly established philosophical term.
From the Sanskrit कुणाल (kuṇāla), usually glossed as 'lotus' and secondarily 'a bird with beautiful eyes' (the latter a folk etymology). Historically the name of Emperor Ashoka's son Kunala, 3rd century BCE.
Advait is more popular than Kunal today: about 54 US babies were given the name Advait in 2025, compared with 0 named Kunal.
Advait means Non-dual, one without a second (sanskrit origin), while Kunal means Lotus; a bird with beautiful eyes (sanskrit origin).
In US records, Advait first appears in 1999 and Kunal in 0, so Kunal has the longer recorded history.