Kavi

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAH-vee /ˈkɑː.vi/Medium

Meaning: From the Sanskrit kavi, 'poet; seer; wise one' — a word of high honour in Indian tradition, where the poet was also a visionary. In India it is usually a boy's name, a lean we note; Kavya and Kavita are the common girls' forms.Medium

In 30 seconds: The poet-seer: Kavi is Sanskrit for 'poet; wise one' (said 'KAH-vee'). Usually a boy's name — we note the lean.

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Origin HighSanskrit, Hindi

MeaningFrom the Sanskrit kavi, 'poet; seer; wise one' — a word of high honour in Indian tradition, where the poet was also a visionary. In India it is usually a boy's name, a lean we note; Kavya and Kavita are the common girls' forms.

U.S. rank (2024)#14300 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 33

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kavi comes from the Sanskrit kavi, 'poet; seer; wise one,' a title of real honour in Indian tradition, where poetry and vision were one calling. In India it is chiefly a boy's name, a lean we note, with Kavya and Kavita serving as the usual girls' forms. Used for a girl it is rare (said 'KAH-vee').

In the U.S. it appears rarely for girls, against heavier use for boys. Rare here, honoured in India, and boy-leaning.

Did you know? In Sanskrit a kavi is not merely a poet but a seer — someone who sees truly and then sings it. The name is usually given to boys in India, which we note; Kavya and Kavita are the girls' forms.

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Kavi — Sanskrit kavi, 'poet; seer'; usually male

Variations

KavyaKavitaKavin

Nicknames

KavVeeKavu

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kavi…

Kavya— the usual girls' form of the same root

Ravi— a like short Sanskrit name

Aria— a like poetry-adjacent girls' pick

Kashvi— another Sanskrit name

Kaashvi— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kavi mean?

Kavi is Sanskrit for 'poet; seer; wise one.'

How do you pronounce Kavi?

It's said KAH-vee — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Kavi a boy or girl name?

Kavi is usually a boy's name in India — we note the lean. Kavya and Kavita are the common girls' forms.

How popular is Kavi?

Kavi is rare for girls in the U.S. and used mainly for boys in India.