| Rishi | Pranav | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Sage, seer | The sacred syllable Om |
| Origin | sanskrit | sanskrit |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | RISH-ee | PRUH-nav |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 1977 |
| Peak year | 2023 (229) | 2004 (236) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 56 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Rishi | Pranav |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,156 | 398 |
| 2010s | 1,322 | 1,426 |
| 2000s | 1,578 | 2,010 |
| 1990s | 523 | 358 |
| 1980s | 432 | 28 |
| 1970s | 131 | 5 |
From the Sanskrit ऋषि (ṛṣi), 'a seer, sage, inspired poet' — the title of the sages to whom the Vedic hymns were revealed. A firmly established classical word.
From Sanskrit pranava (प्रणव), the term for the sacred syllable 'Om', regarded as the primordial sound. A spiritually weighted name meaning the mystic syllable itself.
Pranav is more popular than Rishi today: about 56 US babies were given the name Pranav in 2025, compared with 0 named Rishi.
Rishi means Sage, seer (sanskrit origin), while Pranav means The sacred syllable Om (sanskrit origin).
In US records, Rishi first appears in 0 and Pranav in 1977, so Rishi has the longer recorded history.