Bodhi as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Bodhi

What is the meaning of the name Bodhi ?

The baby name Bodhi is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈboʊdi/ (BOH-dee).

Bodhi is Sanskrit in Origin.

Bodhi stems from Sanskrit bodhi (and Pali bodhi), “awakening” or “enlightenment,” the spiritual realization attained by the Buddha beneath the sacred Bodhi tree. It derives from the verbal root budh, “to wake, know, perceive,” making the name a compact expression of insight, clarity, and mindful awareness. As a given name it functions as unisex and carries serene, reflective overtones.

In personal naming, Bodhi was uncommon in South Asia but gained traction in the West from the late 20th century, buoyed by countercultural interest in Eastern philosophy, the surfer-sage character Bodhi in Point Break (1991), and later celebrity use. It now charts in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Common variants include Bodie and Bodi; Bo serves as a friendly nickname. Note that Bode is unrelated, while Bohdi is simply a misspelling.