The first name Rishi
A boy’s name from Sanskrit meaning “rishi”, “sage”.
2 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Sanskrit origin
Rishi means “rishi”, “sage” in Sanskrit.
From Sanskrit ऋषि (ṛṣi, “rishi, sage”), via New Indo-Aryan languages, such as Punjabi ਰਿਸ਼ੀ (riśī). Compare rishi.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 28 boys were named Rishi, making it the 1,066th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2008, with 68 births (#508).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Rishi with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Rishi at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 207 boys born in the United States were named Rishi, the 1,059th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2023, when 229 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Rishi in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
More Sanskrit boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Rishi mean?
- Rishi means “rishi”, “sage” in Sanskrit.
- What is the origin of the name Rishi?
- From Sanskrit ऋषि (ṛṣi, “rishi, sage”), via New Indo-Aryan languages, such as Punjabi ਰਿਸ਼ੀ (riśī). Compare rishi.
- How popular is the name Rishi?
- In 2025, 28 boys born in England and Wales were named Rishi, ranking 1,066th. Its peak was 2008, with 68 births.
- Is Rishi a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 5,142 US babies named Rishi since 1880 were boys.
- When was Rishi most popular?
- 2023 in the United States, when 229 babies were named Rishi, its highest rank at 969th.