| Nirav | Nakul | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Silent, calm, quiet | Mongoose; a Pandava |
| Origin | sanskrit | sanskrit |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | NEE-ruhv | NUH-kul |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 0 |
| Peak year | 1984 (21) | 2004 (15) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Nirav | Nakul |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 48 | 20 |
| 2010s | 120 | 45 |
| 2000s | 63 | 93 |
| 1990s | 63 | 42 |
| 1980s | 158 | 5 |
| 1970s | 94 | 0 |
From the Sanskrit निरव (nirava), 'soundless, still', formed from nir- ('without') + rava ('sound, noise') — hence tranquil stillness. A genuine, if less common, classical formation.
From Sanskrit nakula (नकुल), literally 'mongoose'. Best known as the fourth Pandava brother, twin of Sahadeva, in the Mahabharata, renowned for his beauty and skill with horses.
Nirav and Nakul are given to a similar number of US babies today.
Nirav means Silent, calm, quiet (sanskrit origin), while Nakul means Mongoose; a Pandava (sanskrit origin).
In US records, Nirav first appears in 0 and Nakul in 0, so Nirav has the longer recorded history.