Agastya

Agastya is a boys' name that originated in Hindu mythology, and there are several theories as to the exact etymology of the name. The most widely-embraced comes from a verse in the Ramayana — one of two important epics of Hinduism. The verse says that Agastya comes from 'aga' (mountain) and 'gam' (move), so the meaning would translate into 'mountain mover'. Another theory proposes that the name comes from the root 'Anj', which means 'bright one' — which would be fitting, as Agastya is also the traditional Indian name for Canopus, one of the most visible stars in the Indian sub-continent (second only to Sirius). Either way, the meaning is positive.

In Hinduism, Agastya was a highly-revered sage and a scholar of diverse languages. He was considered to be the father of siddha medicine, one of India's oldest systems of traditional medicine (even in modern times, traditional healers called 'siddhars' comprise over 50% of medical care in rural regions). Several Buddhist and Javanese texts also mention Agastya.

Though it has never been in the top 1000 most popular baby names in the United States, as of the most recent count, there were over 100 baby boys named Agastya in the U.S. last year.

Some notable Agastyas throughout history include Tamil writer and social reformer Agastya Muthanna;
Indian-American computer scientist Agastya Ramanujan; and Indian actor Agastya Nanda.

Agastya in quotes:

"Agastya was a man of many contradictions. He was a powerful sage, but he was also humble. He was a scholar, but he was also a warrior. He was a friend to the gods, but he was also a friend to the humans. Agastya was a man who defied all expectations." — 'The Agastya Saga'

“Books were magic to her, as colours were magic to Agastya. The reasons they bonded so well because they loved a form of art. Both understood and appreciated the meaning and value in paints and words.”
― Vidushi Gupta, 'The Unending Maze: Because Finding Your Way Out Has Never Been More Difficult'