| Rudra | Om | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The roarer (Shiva) | The sacred syllable |
| Origin | sanskrit | sanskrit |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | RUD-ruh | OHM |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 2000 | 1983 |
| Peak year | 2025 (152) | 2008 (153) |
| In 2025 | 152 | 66 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Rudra | Om |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 725 | 411 |
| 2010s | 779 | 920 |
| 2000s | 259 | 968 |
| 1990s | 0 | 17 |
| 1980s | 0 | 5 |
From Sanskrit rudra (रुद्र), the fierce Vedic storm deity whose name is traditionally derived from a root meaning 'to roar/cry'; it is a well-known epithet of Shiva. A divine name with connotations of awe-inspiring power.
From Sanskrit Om (ॐ), the sacred primordial sound and mantra regarded in Hindu tradition as the essence of the universe. Used as a name it carries that whole spiritual weight.
Rudra is more popular than Om today: about 152 US babies were given the name Rudra in 2025, compared with 66 named Om.
Rudra means The roarer (Shiva) (sanskrit origin), while Om means The sacred syllable (sanskrit origin).
In US records, Rudra first appears in 2000 and Om in 1983, so Om has the longer recorded history.