Rishi is a Sanskrit word for a "sage" or "seer", the inspired poets to whom the hymns of the Vedas were revealed. The name became known far beyond India when Rishi Sunak became British prime minister in 2022. In the United States Rishi entered the top 1000 in 2004, peaked at number 938 in 2008 and has recently climbed again to number 1059 in 2025.