Fun Facts About the Name Pawan
- 43 babies named Pawan: U.S. records list 43 babies given the name Pawan from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Pawan Mean?
Pawan is a masculine name from Sanskrit, via Hindi. It goes back to Sanskrit pavana, a word for "wind" or "air." The same Sanskrit word is also an adjective meaning "purifying," from the root pū, "to cleanse"; that is the older literal sense behind the noun. In Hindi, pawan is the ordinary word for wind, and the given name is usually understood in that concrete sense rather than as "purifier."
In Hindu usage, Pavana or Pawan is also a name of the wind god, usually identified with Vayu. The name is not a different word from the common noun; its religious and personal uses both depend on the meaning "wind."
Pawan Name History & Origins
Sanskrit pavana appears in Hindu literature as a common noun and as an epithet of the wind deity. The god is associated with Vayu, and the compound Pavanaputra or Hindi Pawanputra, "son of the wind," is used for Hanuman. This devotional use helps explain why the word was available as a personal name in Hindi-speaking regions.
The Hindi form pawan drops the final -a of Sanskrit pavana; the English spelling "Pawan" represents that Hindi pronunciation. As a given name it is used in India and Nepal, especially among Hindi speakers. The spelling Pavan is an alternate transliteration of the same word, not a separate etymology.
How Popular is the Name Pawan?
Pawan 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 2002. Its best rank was #6,734 in 1987.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | #11,773 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #9,359 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #8,243 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #10,007 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #10,125 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #6,734 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #7,091 | 5 | 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.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with P
Short Boy Names That Start with P
How the Name Pawan Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Pawan's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Pawan's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.