Fun Facts About the Name Dhanush
- 138 babies named Dhanush: U.S. records list 138 babies given the name Dhanush from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Dhanush Mean?
Dhanush is an Indian masculine given name from Sanskrit dhanus (धनुस्), meaning "bow." The Sanskrit noun denotes a bow used to shoot arrows, and its Hindi form is dhanuṣ (धनुष), which is the immediate source of the spelling Dhanush. Tamil writes the name as தனுஷ், with the same sense. The literal meaning is "bow"; associations with Hindu gods and epic heroes are symbolic extensions of that ordinary noun, not a separate etymology.
Dhanush Name History & Origins
Sanskrit dhanus is an old Indo-Aryan word for a bow. It appears in classical Sanskrit as a common noun, and in Hindi it took the form dhanuṣ. The use of Dhanush as a personal name follows the Indian custom of giving names drawn from Sanskrit vocabulary, including weapons. The name is used in India, especially in Hindi- and Tamil-speaking regions, and in diaspora communities.
In Hindu literature, bows are important in episodes such as Rama breaking Shiva's bow in the Ramayana and Arjuna's archery in the Mahabharata. These are associations of the weapon, not evidence that Dhanush was a personal name in those periods. Devotional compounds such as Dhanushdhari ("bow-holder") are used as epithets, especially for Rama. The related astrological term Dhanu (Sanskrit for "bow") is the Indian name for Sagittarius, the Archer. Modern bearers include the Tamil actor Dhanush.
How Popular is the Name Dhanush?
Dhanush has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2011. Its best rank was #6,330 in 2011.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,512 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #10,124 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #11,160 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #12,511 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #9,089 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #12,646 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #12,764 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #9,926 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #12,545 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #6,739 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #6,718 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2012 | #8,325 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #6,330 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2010 | #8,313 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #11,358 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #10,143 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #11,286 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #11,902 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #9,900 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Dhanush Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Dhanush's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Dhanush's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.