Viraat

Viraat is a masculine given name of Indian origin. It is a variant transliteration of the name Virat, from Sanskrit, used across several Indian languages. The meaning is commonly associated with “giant,” “valiant,” or “powerful,” and the spelling Viraat is a common contemporary variant.

One of the best-known uses of the name is INS Viraat, the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier. It is a Centaur-class carrier that was originally built for the Royal Navy as HMS Hermes and was acquired by India in 1987, being commissioned as INS Viraat. The vessel served as India's flagship for many years and participated in numerous exercises and deployments in the Indian Ocean region before being decommissioned in 2017.

Beyond the vessel, Viraat functions as a personal name for individuals in India and among the diaspora. The term may also appear in fiction or entertainment as a character name or in branding, reflecting its associations with strength and stature.