Rudra

Rudra for boys#1289 US

In the scared Hindu text, the Rigveda, Rudra is a deity associated with the wind god, Vayu, and also with storms, hunting, and medicine. Praised for actively solving problems, Rudra's character is sometimes linked with Lord Shiva, embodying both fierce and protective aspects.

The name appears in the title of a children's animated TV series, Rudra: Boom Chik Chik Boom, and in the crime drama Rudra: The Edge of Darkness. Characters called Rudra have additionally featured in the horror-comedy movie, Stree and in the video game Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening.

Rudra has been on the rise in England and Wales in recent years, notably in 2024 when it was one of the fastest rising names of the year. In the US, it sits outside the Top 1000, but was given to more than 140 boys in a recent count.

The name is pronounced as ru-druh, the first syllable with the u sound in full or put.

Rudra for girls

An Hindu deity name that has risen in use for boys in recent years, Rudra is a figure associated with wind, storms, hunting, medicine, and Lord Shiva. While it leans masculine in India, Nepal, the UK, and the US, it is also used for girls, most notably in Bangladesh.

Derived from Sanskrit, it means "roaring", "howling", and "crying", though it is occasionally interpreted "frightening and fierce one" too. The name is pronounced as ru-druh, the first syllable with the u sound in full or put.