Given name
Vayu
“a vital life force; the air”
Vayu is used as a given name. One Hindi interpretation is “a vital life force; the air.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Hindi interpretation is “a vital life force; the air.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Hindi.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 2018. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Vayu through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 272
- 272 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 69 babies
- 2025
- 68
- #2,141 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +577%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 68 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,141 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (11).
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Vayu, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Viraj
Viraj is used as a given name and a surname. One Hindi interpretation is “a magnificent man; in Hinduism, a primeval being.”
>99% boys
Virat
“a supreme ruler”
>99% boys
Kavi
“a great poetess” · “a poetic man”
92% boys · 8% girls
Vivaan
“plaiting, twisting”
>99% boys
Ravi
“from the sun”
>99% boys
Hari
“resembling a lion”
95% boys · 5% girls
Shiva
Shiva is used as a given name and a surname. One Hindi interpretation is “one who is good; lucky; in Hinduism, the god of destruction and restoration.”
83% boys · 17% girls
Mohan
“an attractive woman”
>99% boys