Vikram is a name of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit language. It is composed of two elements: 'vika' and 'rama'. 'Vika' means 'courageous', while 'rama' signifies 'pleasing or delightful'. Therefore, Vikram translates to 'courageous and delightful'.
The name Vikram has a significant historical background in India. It was the name of a famous king from the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. King Vikramaditya, also known as Vikram, was renowned for his courage, wisdom, and generosity. He is believed to have ruled over Ujjain, an ancient city in present-day Madhya Pradesh, India.
In addition to its historical significance, Vikram is also associated with a collection of short stories called the 'Vikram and Betal' tales. These stories are part of medieval Indian literature and feature Vikram, a king who encounters a ghost named Betal. Each tale ends with a riddle that King Vikram must solve to rescue his friend, the minister Chandrakanta.
Today, Vikram is a popular name among people of Indian origin worldwide. It is often chosen for its strong and positive connotations, reflecting the brave and pleasant character associated with it in Indian culture and history. Despite its rich background, Vikram remains a unisex name, suitable for both boys and girls.
The name Vikram has a varied history of popularity in the United States over the past few decades. Between 1969 and 2023, there were a total of 1979 births registered with the name Vikram.
Looking at the annual statistics, we can observe several trends:
* The name's popularity started to rise significantly from the late 1970s onwards, with the highest number of births recorded in 2023 (60 births).
* There were some peak years for the name Vikram, including:
+ 1979: 31 births
+ 1981: 42 births
+ 1985: 44 births
+ 1996: 41 births
+ 1997: 43 births
+ 1999: 46 births
+ 2000: 65 births
* However, there were also several years where the name's popularity declined or fluctuated:
+ 1970-1978: between 5 and 18 births per year
+ 1994-1995: 29 births in both years
+ 2011-2021: between 31 and 55 births per year
In conclusion, while the name Vikram has had its ups and downs in popularity over the years, it has consistently been present in the US baby naming landscape since the late 1960s. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues or changes in the coming years.