Siddharth is a name of Sanskrit origin, derived from the words 'Sid' meaning 'own' and 'Dhara' meaning 'to have or to hold'. Therefore, Siddharth translates to 'he who has his own path'.
The name Siddharth holds significant historical and religious importance. It was the given name of the Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher whose teachings formed the basis of Buddhism. Born into royalty in what is now Nepal around the 6th century BCE, Prince Siddharth left his palace at the age of 29 to seek enlightenment and understand the suffering of the world outside his royal bubble. After years of meditation and self-denial, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree and became the Buddha.
Today, Siddharth is a popular name in India, Nepal, and other South Asian countries, often given to newborn boys in hope that they too will find their own path towards wisdom and enlightenment. It's also becoming more common globally as a unisex name, reflecting the increasing popularity of names with significant meanings.
In terms of pronunciation, Siddharth is typically pronounced /sɪdːʰərt̪ʰ/, where 'Sidd' rhymes with 'hid' and 'arth' rhymes with 'tart'. The 'h' in both syllables is aspirated, meaning it's pronounced with a burst of air.
The name Siddarth has seen a fluctuating trend in popularity over the years in the United States. With only 8 births recorded in 1995, it started off relatively uncommon. However, there was an increase to 9 births in 1997 and then back down to 8 in 1998.
Interestingly, from 1999 onwards, we see a consistent upward trend in the number of babies named Siddarth. In 1999, there were 12 births, which doubled by 2002 with 29 births. The year 2006 marked a significant peak with 35 births.
However, after this high point, the popularity of the name started to decline again. From 2007 onwards, the number of babies named Siddarth hovered around the 20-30 mark, with a slight dip in recent years - there were only 12 births in both 2016 and 2018.
Despite this recent decrease, over the span of 25 years (from 1995 to 2021), a total of 410 babies have been named Siddarth in the United States. This indicates that while it may not be one of the most common names, Siddarth has certainly made its mark and continues to be chosen by parents for their children.