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Pallavi
Pronounced PUL-uh-vee /ˈpʌləvi/Medium
Meaning: Pallavi is a Sanskrit girls' name meaning 'new leaves,' 'young shoots,' or 'tender sprouts,' an image of fresh growth in spring. It is also a technical term in Carnatic (South Indian classical) music, naming the opening thematic line of a composition. Both senses give the name a graceful, cultured resonance in Indian tradition.Medium
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
Pallavi is a Sanskrit girls' name meaning 'new leaves' or 'young shoots,' with a second life as a term in South Indian classical music. It appears in United States records among Indian American families, part of the growing presence of heritage Sanskrit names in the later twentieth century.
As an American given name it stayed rare, given to only a couple dozen girls a year at its late-1990s high. A girl named Pallavi then is in her twenties or early thirties today, often from an Indian American family.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Pallavi mean?
It is a Sanskrit name meaning 'new leaves' or 'young shoots'; it is also a term in Carnatic music.
How do you pronounce Pallavi?
It's said PUL-uh-vee /ˈpʌləvi/, three syllables, stress on the first.
Is Pallavi a boy or girl name?
Pallavi is used as a girl's name.
Is Pallavi a popular name?
No, it has always been rare in the United States, recorded mainly among Indian American families for a few girls a year.