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Bodhi

♂ Boy

Pronounced BOH-dee /ˈboʊdi/High

Meaning: Awakening, enlightenment; the state of wisdom attained by a BuddhaHigh

In 30 seconds: A Sanskrit name meaning 'awakening' or 'enlightenment' — the same root as 'Buddha' and the sacred Bodhi tree. Cool, spiritual, and surfer-chic, Bodhi is the name that meditates while it catches waves.
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Origin HighSanskrit
MeaningAwakening, enlightenment; the state of wisdom attained by a Buddha
U.S. rank (2025)#265 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births1,301 boys (0.07% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 14,281

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519762025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Bodhi (बोधि) is a Sanskrit word meaning 'awakening' or 'enlightenment' — specifically referring to the state of wisdom achieved by a bodhisattva or Buddha. It shares its root with the word Buddha (the enlightened one) and bodh (knowledge, understanding). In Buddhist tradition, bodhi is the highest spiritual attainment.

In the West, Bodhi gained use as a given name from the 1990s, initially popular in surfer and counter-culture communities — the character Bodhi (Swayze's character) in the 1991 film Point Break helped establish it. It entered the U.S. top 200 for boys by the 2010s, buoyed by celebrity use and the broader fashion for mindful, spiritual names.

Did you know? The Bodhi tree (also called the Bo tree) in Bodh Gaya, India, is where Siddhartha Gautama is said to have attained enlightenment and became the Buddha — making it one of the most sacred trees in the world.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Bodhi — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

BodieBode

Nicknames

Bo

Famous Bearers

  • ★Bodhi Rangi Hewson (2004–present)
    Son of Bono (Paul Hewson) of U2 and Ali Hewson, one of the earlier celebrity uses of the name.

If you like Bodhi…

Zen— Sanskrit-Buddhist spiritual word-name with the same meditative cool
Kai— short, cross-cultural nature name with the same effortless surf-spiritual vibe
Rio— short, vibrant nature-inspired name with the same free-spirited energy
Stone— one-syllable nature name with the same grounded, free-spirited character

Frequently Asked

What does the name Bodhi mean?

Bodhi is a Sanskrit name meaning 'awakening' or 'enlightenment,' sharing its root with the word Buddha.

How do you pronounce Bodhi?

It is said BOH-dee /ˈboʊdi/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bodhi a boy or girl name?

Bodhi is used predominantly as a boys' name, though it occasionally appears for girls.

How popular is Bodhi?

Bodhi entered the U.S. top 200 for boys in the mid-2010s and has been climbing steadily.