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Home › Baby Names Directory › Nirvana

Nirvana

♂ Boy

Pronounced neer-VAH-nuh /nɪrˈvɑː.nə/Medium

Meaning: From the Sanskrit nirvana, literally 'blowing out; extinguishing' — the state of liberation from craving and suffering, and the release from the cycle of rebirth. It is a central concept in Buddhism and is also used in Hinduism and Jainism. In American use the word is additionally famous as the name of the rock band Nirvana, and some families come to it that way.Medium

In 30 seconds: Nirvana is Sanskrit for 'blowing out' — the Buddhist and Hindu state of liberation (said 'neer-VAH-nuh'). It is also, famously, a band name.
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Origin MediumSanskrit
MeaningFrom the Sanskrit nirvana, literally 'blowing out; extinguishing' — the state of liberation from craving and suffering, and the release from the cycle of rebirth. It is a central concept in Buddhism and is also used in Hinduism and Jainism. In American use the word is additionally famous as the name of the rock band Nirvana, and some families come to it that way.
U.S. rank (2024)#13611 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 12

History & Origin

Nirvana is the Sanskrit word for the extinguishing of desire and the release from suffering — the central aim of Buddhist practice, honoured also in Hindu and Jain thought. It is a word of great religious weight, and we treat it as such. In American culture it is also, unavoidably, the name of the band that helped define the early 1990s, and that is honestly part of why the word is familiar to parents today (said 'neer-VAH-nuh').

As a boy's name it appears only rarely in the U.S., and it is used for girls too. Rare, weighty, and word-bright.

Did you know? Nirvana's literal sense is a flame going out — the extinguishing of craving. It is one of the most serious words in Buddhist thought. In the U.S. it also carries the memory of the band that took the word for its name, and both routes are real (said 'neer-VAH-nuh').
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Nirvana — Sanskrit nirvana, 'extinguishing'; Buddhist/Hindu concept; also the band

Variations

NirvanNirvaanNirvahna

Nicknames

NirVana

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Nirvana…

Zen— a like word-name from Buddhist tradition
Nirav— a like Sanskrit name beginning Nir-
Bodhi— another name drawn from Buddhist thought
Karma— a like concept-word used as a name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nirvana mean?

Nirvana is Sanskrit for 'blowing out' — the Buddhist and Hindu state of liberation from suffering. It is also the name of the rock band.

How do you pronounce Nirvana?

It's said neer-VAH-nuh /nɪrˈvɑː.nə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Nirvana a boy or girl name?

Here Nirvana is used as a boy's name; it is given to girls as well.

How popular is Nirvana?

Nirvana is a rare name for boys in the U.S.

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