Why is Brahma referred as Viranchi in Scriptures?

Question

In some scriptures Brahma is referred as Viranchi (विरञ्चि):

Whenever I see sun raising in early morning, following mantra automatically pops out from my mind/month:

नमः सवित्रे जगदेकचक्षुषे । जगत्प्रसूती स्थिति नाश हेतवे
त्रयीमयाय त्रिगुणात्म धारिणे । विरञ्चि नारायण शङ्करात्मने॥

Salutations to the Sun God, the Eye of the Universe, the Cause of Creation, Maintenance and Destruction of the Universe, the three Gunas, taking form as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Above mantra is from Surya Mandalashtaka.

Another example from memorized Narmadashtakam:

विरिञ्चि विष्णुशंकरस्वकीयधामवर्मदे त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं नमामि देवि नर्मदे ॥

The presence of Brahma, Vishnu and Shankara in Your Holy Dhama (i.e. River body) provides a Protective Shield (of Blessings to the Devotees), O Devi Narmada, I Bow down to Your Lotus Feet, Please give me Your Refuge.

As you've seen in above examples, Brahma is referred Viranchi (विरञ्चि). So, I want to know why is Brahma referred as Viranchi in Scriptures?

Answer 1

Virañci means "he who creates."

Following are the various names of Brahmā from the Puranic Encyclopedia.

In Amarakośa, the following names are given to Brahmā.

Brahmātmabhūḥ surajyeṣṭhaḥ
Parameṣṭhi pitāmahaḥ |
Hiraṇyagarbho lokeśāḥ
Svayaṁbhūścaturānanaḥ ||

Dhātābjayonir druhiṇo
Virañciḥ kamalāsanaḥ |
Sraṣṭā prajāpatir vedhā
Vidhata viśvasrṭvidhiḥ ||

Nābhijanmāṇḍajaḥ pūrvo
nidhanaḥ kamalodbhavaḥ |
Sadānando rajomūrtiḥ
Sattyako haṁsavāhanaḥ ||

• Brahmā — he who increases.
• Ātmabhū — born of his own accord or born of the Supreme Spirit.
• Surajyeṣṭha — he who came into being before all the suras (gods).
• Parameṣṭhin — he who dwells in the world of truth or Parama.
• Pitāmaha — grandfather of the manes such as Aryamā and others.
• Hiraṇyagarbha — having the golden egg (mundane egg) in womb.
• Lokeśa — the god of the worlds.
• Svayaṁbhū — who is born of himself.
• Caturānana — who has four faces.
• Dhātā — who holds or bears everything.
• Abjayoni — born of lotus, (abja)
• Druhiṇa — who hurts asuras.
• Virañci — he who creates.
• Kamalāsana — who sits on lotus.
• Sṛṣṭa — he who creates.
• Prajāpati — Pati of prajas (Lord of progeny).
• Vedhā — he who creates.
• Vidhātā — he who does.
• Viśvasṛt — who creates the world.
• Vidhi — he who does or decides or judges.
• Nābhijanmā — born from the nave of Visnu.
• Aṇḍaja — born from the egg.
• Haṁsavāhanaḥ — who has swan as his conveyance.

Monier-Williams dictionary just says it's another name of Brahmā:

Answer 2

From Sanskrit Dictionary:

virañci विरञ्चि

Definition: m. idem or m. idem or 'm. (perhaps fr. rac-). Name of brahmā- ' '

So, विरञ्चि (Viranchi) perhaps comes from Sanskrit word रच् (rach) which means to generate/make/produce/create.

Now, as Brahma is the creator of world/universe, Viranchi refers to Brahma.

_{Note: This is not exact or final answer I think as it is based on "विरञ्चि (Viranchi) perhaps comes from Sanskrit word रच् (rach) . Answer with better/scriptural reference/source will be appreciated.}