Hinduism Names

These names occur in the mythologies and legends of Hinduism.
gender
usage
Aditi अदिति f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada
Means "boundless, entire" or "freedom, security" in Sanskrit, derived from the negative prefix (a) and दिति (diti) meaning "giving". This is the name of a Hindu goddess of the cosmos, motherhood and fertility. According to the Vedas she is the mother of several of the gods.
Aditya आदित्य m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Nepali, Indonesian
Means "belonging to Aditi" in Sanskrit. This is a name for the seven (or more) Hindu gods who are the children of Aditi. It is also another name for the sun god Surya.
Agni 1 अग्नि m Hinduism, Hindi
Means "fire" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Vedic Hindu fire god, typically depicted as red-skinned with three legs, seven arms, and two faces, and riding on the back of a ram.
Ajita अजीत m Hinduism, Buddhism
Means "unconquered, invincible", from Sanskrit (a) meaning "not" and जित (jita) meaning "conquered". This is a name of the gods Shiva and Vishnu, and of a future Buddha.
Ananta अनन्त, अनंत m Hinduism, Odia, Bengali
Means "infinite, endless" in Sanskrit. This is an epithet of the Hindu god Vishnu.
Anila 2 अनिल m Hinduism
Sanksrit transcription of Anil. This is another name of Vayu, the Hindu god of the wind.
Aniruddha अनिरुद्ध m Hinduism, Bengali, Marathi, Hindi
Means "unobstructed, ungovernable" in Sanskrit. According to the Puranas this was the name of a grandson of the Hindu deity Krishna and his wife Rukmini. He is sometimes considered to be an avatar of Vishnu.
Anjana अञ्जना, अञ्जन f & m Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Malayalam, Tamil, Hinduism
Means "kohl, collyrium" in Sanskrit, referring to a black powder traditionally used as an eyeliner. This is a transcription from Sanskrit of both the feminine form अञ्जना (long final vowel) and the masculine form अञ्जन (short final vowel). The feminine form appears in the Hindu epic the Ramayana belonging to the mother of Hanuman. The modern masculine form is Anjan.
Aparna अपर्णा f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali
Means "leafless" in Sanskrit, from the negative prefix (a) and पर्ण (parṇa) meaning "leaf". This is another name of the Hindu goddess Parvati, given because she would not eat even leaves while practicing austerity.
Arjuna अर्जुन m Hinduism
Means "white, clear" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of one of the five Pandavas, the sons of Pandu. He was actually fathered by the god Indra and Pandu's wife Kunti. Arjuna was known as a skilled archer.... [more]
Aruna अरुण, अरुणा m & f Hinduism, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi
Means "reddish brown, dawn" in Sanskrit. The Hindu god Aruna (अरुण) is the charioteer who drives the sun god Surya across the sky. The modern feminine form अरुणा (spelled with a final long vowel) is also transcribed as Aruna, however the modern masculine form is Arun.
Arundhati अरुन्धती, अरुंधती f Hinduism, Hindi
The name of a star (also called Alcor), which was named after a type of climbing plant, meaning "not restrained" in Sanskrit. In Hindu belief it is the name of the sage Vasishtha's wife, who is identified with the star.
Arushi अरुषी, आरुषी, आरुषि f Hinduism, Hindi
From Sanskrit अरुष (aruṣa) meaning "reddish, dawn", a word used in the Rigveda to describe the red horses of Agni. According to some traditions this was the name of the wife of the legendary sage Chyavana.
Baladeva बलदेव m Hinduism
From Sanskrit बल (bala) meaning "strength, might" and देव (deva) meaning "god". Baladeva is another name of Balarama, the older brother of Krishna.
Balarama बलराम m Hinduism
From Sanskrit बल (bala) meaning "strength, might" combined with the name Rama 1. According to the Hindu epic the Mahabharata he was the elder brother of Krishna. He was associated with agriculture and used a plough as a weapon.
Bharata भरत m Hinduism
Means "being maintained" in Sanskrit. This is one of the names of Agni, the Hindu god of fire, and is also the name of a brother of Rama in the Hindu epic the Ramayana. It was also borne by a legendary king, the son of Dushyanta and Shakuntala. The official name of the country of India, Bharat, derives from him.
Bhaskara भास्कर m Hinduism
Means "shining, light maker", derived from Sanskrit भास (bhāsa) meaning "light" and कर (kara) meaning "maker". This is another name of Hindu sun god Surya. It was additionally borne by a 12th-century Indian astronomer, also known as Bhaskaracharya.
Bhima भीम m Hinduism
Means "terrible, formidable" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of the second son of Pandu, and thus one of the five Pandavas. His true father was the wind god Vayu. He was known for his terrific strength and skill as a warrior.
Bhishma भीष्म m Hinduism
Means "terrible, dreadful, formidable" in Sanskrit. According to the Mahabharata he was a son of Shantanu and the river goddess Ganga. He was originally named Devavrata. He became an advisor to the kings of Kuru, and was renowned for his wisdom. He reluctantly helped lead the Kauravas in their war with the Pandavas, during which he was killed by the Pandava brother Arjuna.
Bhumi भूमि f Hinduism
Means "earth, soil" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a Hindu earth goddess. She is the wife of Varaha, an avatar of Vishnu.
Brahma ब्रह्मा m Hinduism
Means "growth, expansion, creation" in Sanskrit. The Hindu god Brahma is the creator and director of the universe, the balance between the opposing forces of Vishnu and Shiva. After the classical period Brahma was no longer as highly revered as Vishnu and Shiva. He is often depicted with four heads and four arms.
Brijesha बृजेश m Hinduism
Means "ruler of Brij" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu god Krishna, Brij being a region associated with him.
Chanda चण्ड, चण्डा f & m Hinduism, Hindi
Means "fierce, hot, passionate" in Sanskrit. This is a transcription of both the feminine form चण्डा (an epithet of the Hindu goddess Durga) and the masculine form चण्ड (the name of a demon).
Chandra चन्द्र, चन्द्रा m & f Hinduism, Bengali, Assamese, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Nepali
Means "moon" in Sanskrit, derived from चन्द (cand) meaning "to shine". This is a transcription of both the masculine form चण्ड (the god of the moon personified) as well as the feminine form चण्डा (spelled with a long final vowel).
Daksha दक्ष m Hinduism
Means "able, competent" in Sanskrit. According to the Mahabharata and the Puranas this was the name of a son of the Hindu god Brahma and the father of Sati. After Daksha insulted Sati's husband Shiva, prompting her to throw herself into a fire, he was killed by the enraged Shiva. He was later restored to life with the head of a goat.
Damayanti दमयन्ती, दमयंती f Hinduism
Means "subduing" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of a beautiful princess, the wife of Nala.
Damodara दामोदर m Hinduism
Means "rope around the belly", derived from Sanskrit दाम (dāma) meaning "rope" and उदर (udara) meaning "belly". This is another name of the Hindu god Krishna, given to him because his foster mother Yashoda tied him to a large urn.
Dasharatha दशरथ m Hinduism
Means "ten chariots" from Sanskrit दशन् (daśan) meaning "ten" and रथ (ratha) meaning "chariot". In the Hindu epic the Ramayana he is the king of Ayodhya and the father of the hero Rama. He was given this name because of his skill with a chariot.
Devaki देवकी f Hinduism, Hindi, Nepali, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil
From Sanskrit देवक (devaka) meaning "divine, celestial", a derivative of देव (deva) meaning "god". According to the Hindu epic the Mahabharata she was the wife of Vasudeva and the mother of Krishna.
Devaraja देवराज m Hinduism
Means "king of gods" from Sanskrit देव (deva) meaning "god" and राज (rāja) meaning "king". This is another name of the Hindu god Indra.
Devi देवी f Hinduism, Hindi, Tamil
Derived from Sanskrit देवी (devī) meaning "goddess". This name can be used to refer to Mahadevi.
Dhruva ध्रुव m Hinduism
Means "fixed, immovable, firm, stable" in Sanskrit, also referring to the North Star (Polaris). According to Hindu mythology this was a devotee of Vishnu who became the North Star.
Dilipa दिलीप m Hinduism
Means "protector of Delhi" from Sanskrit दिल्ली (see Delhi) combined with (pa) meaning "protecting". According to Hindu scripture this was the name of a king who was an ancestor of Rama 1.
Dinesha दिनेश m Hinduism
Means "day lord" from Sanskrit दिन (dina) meaning "day" and ईश (īśa) meaning "lord". In Hindu texts this is used as a name of the sun.
Dipaka दीपक m Hinduism
Means "inflaming, exciting" in Sanskrit. This is another name of Kama, the Hindu god of love.
Draupadi द्रौपदी f Hinduism
Means "daughter of Drupada" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of the daughter of King Drupada of Panchala. She married all of the Pandavas, the five sons of Pandu.
Drupada द्रुपद m Hinduism
Means "wooden pillar" or "firm footed" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of a king of Panchala, the father of Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna.
Durga दुर्गा f & m Hinduism, Hindi, Nepali, Telugu
Means "unattainable, unassailable" in Sanskrit. Durga is a Hindu warrior goddess, usually depicted with multiple arms and riding on the back of a lion or tiger. The Puranas relate that she came into being to combat the buffalo demon Mahishasura. She is sometimes considered a fierce aspect of Parvati the wife of Shiva. In Shaktism she is viewed as a principal aspect of the supreme goddess Mahadevi.
Duryodhana दुर्योधन m Hinduism
Means "difficult to defeat" from the Sanskrit prefix दुस् (dus) meaning "difficult, bad" and योधन (yodhana) meaning "fighting". This is the name of the leader of the Kauravas in the Hindu epic the Mahabharata, which tells of the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Duryodhana, a powerful warrior, was eventually defeated by the Pandava brother Bhima.
Dushyanta दुष्यन्त m Hinduism
Possibly means "destroyer of evil" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of a king who is the husband of Shakuntala and the father of Bharata. The story was adapted by Kalidasa for the 5th-century play Abhijnanashakuntalam.
Dyaus द्यौष् m Hinduism
From Sanskrit द्यु (dyu) meaning "sky", ultimately connected to the name of the Indo-European god *Dyēws. In the Rigveda he is the sky god, the consort of the earth goddess Prithvi. He is also called Dyaus Pita meaning "father sky". His name is cognate with other Indo-European theonyms such as Greek Zeus and Latin Jupiter.
Dyaus Pita द्यौष्पिता m Hinduism
Form of Dyaus suffixed with the Sanskrit epithet पितृ (pitṛ) meaning "father".
Ganesha गणेश m Hinduism
Means "lord of hordes" from Sanskrit गण (gaṇa) meaning "horde, multitude" and ईश (īśa) meaning "lord, ruler". This is the name of the Hindu god of wisdom and good luck, the son of Shiva and Parvati. He is often depicted as a stout man with the head of an elephant.
Ganga गङ्गा f & m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, Telugu
From Sanskrit गङ्गा (Gaṅgā), the name of the Ganges River, derived from गम् (gam) meaning "to go". In Hindu tradition this is a personification of the river, typically depicted as a fair-skinned goddess riding a sea creature. As a given name, it is used by males as well.
Gargi गार्गी f Hinduism, Hindi, Bengali
Meaning unknown. This was the name of a 7th-century BC Indian philosopher who appears in the Upanishads, which are parts of Hindu scripture.
Gauri गौरी f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit गौर (gaura) meaning "white, pale, yellow". This is a Hindu goddess, another name of Parvati the wife of Shiva, so named because of her fair complexion.
Gayatri गायत्री f Hinduism, Marathi, Hindi
From Sanskrit गायत्र (gāyatra), which refers to a type of hymn or song with a particular meter, derived from गै (gai) meaning "to sing". The original hymm, also called the Savitri, is in the Rigveda and is a dedication to the sun god Savitr. As a goddess, Gayatri is a personification of this hymn. She is identified with Saraswati.
Girisha गिरीश m Hinduism
Means "lord of the mountain" in Sanskrit. This is a name of the Hindu god Shiva, given because of his abode in the Himalayan Mountains.
Gopala गोपाल m Hinduism
Means "cow protector" from Sanskrit गो (go) meaning "cow" and पाल (pāla) meaning "guard, protector". This is another name of the Hindu god Krishna. It was also borne by the 8th-century founder of the Pala Empire in Bengal.
Gopinatha गोपीनाथ m Hinduism
Means "leader of the gopis" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu god Krishna, acquired because of his association with the gopis (milkmaids).
Gotama गोतम m Hinduism
Means "the best ox" from Sanskrit गो (go) meaning "ox, cow" and तम (tama) meaning "best". It is best known in its patronymic form Gautama (with the initial vowel lengthened), which was borne by the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. In Hindu texts this is also the name of one of the Saptarshis, or seven sages. Additionally it was borne by an early Indian philosopher who wrote the Nyaya Sutras.
Govinda गोविंद, गोविन्द m Hinduism, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada
Means "cow finder", derived from Sanskrit गो (go) meaning "cow" combined with विन्द (vinda) meaning "finding". This is an epithet of the Hindu god Vishnu or his avatar Krishna.
Hanuman हनुमान् m Hinduism
Probably derived from Sanskrit हनु (hanu) meaning "cheek, jaw". In the Hindu epic the Ramayana this is the name of a monkey god who helps Rama. He was the son of Anjana and Vayu.
Hari हरि m Hinduism, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali
Means "brown, yellow, tawny" in Sanskrit, and by extension "monkey, horse, lion". This is another name of the Hindu god Vishnu, and sometimes of his avatar Krishna. In this context it is sometimes considered a derivative of Sanskrit हृ (hṛ) meaning "to take away", referring to the removal of sins.
Indira इन्दिरा f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil
Means "beauty" in Sanskrit. This is another name of Lakshmi, the wife of the Hindu god Vishnu. A notable bearer was India's first female prime minister, Indira Gandhi (1917-1984).
Indra इन्द्र m Hinduism, Hindi, Nepali, Indonesian
Means "possessing drops of rain" from Sanskrit इन्दु (indu) meaning "a drop" and (ra) meaning "acquiring, possessing". Indra is the name of the ancient Hindu warrior god of the sky and rain, frequently depicted riding the elephant Airavata. He is the chief god in the Rigveda.
Indrajit इन्द्रजित् m Hinduism, Bengali, Hindi
Means "conqueror of Indra" from the name of the god Indra combined with Sanskrit जिति (jiti) meaning "victory, conquering". In the Hindu epic the Ramayana this is another name of Meghanada, the son of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. He was given this name by Brahma after he defeated Indra.
Indrani इन्द्राणी f Hinduism, Bengali, Hindi
Means "wife of Indra" in Sanskrit. This is a Vedic Hindu goddess who is the wife of Indra. She is associated with beauty and jealousy.
Isha ईश f & m Hindi, Marathi, Hinduism
Means "master, lord, ruler" in Sanskrit. This is a transcription of both the feminine form ईशा and the masculine form ईश (an epithet of the Hindu god Shiva). It is also the name of one of the Upanishads, which are parts of Hindu scripture.
Jagadisha जगदीश m Hinduism
Means "ruler of the world" from Sanskrit जगत् (jagat) meaning "world" and ईश (īśa) meaning "ruler, lord". This is another name of the Hindu god Vishnu or his avatar Krishna.
Jagannatha जगन्नाथ m Hinduism
Means "master of the world" from Sanskrit जगत् (jagat) meaning "world" and नाथ (nātha) meaning "master". This is a title of the Hindu gods Vishnu and Krishna.
Janaka जनक m Hinduism, Sinhalese
Means "father" in Sanskrit. According to the Hindu epic the Ramayana he was the king of Videha in northeastern India. He was the father of Sita.
Jaya जया, जय f & m Hinduism, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit जय (jaya) meaning "victory". In Sanskrit this is a transcription of both the feminine form जया (long final vowel) and the masculine form जय (short final vowel), both of which are used as names or epithets for several characters in Hindu texts. As a modern personal name, this transcription is both feminine and masculine in southern India, but typically only feminine in the north.
Jayanta जयन्त, जयंत m Hinduism, Bengali, Assamese
Derived from Sanskrit जयन्त (jayanta) meaning "victorious". This is the name of a son of the Hindu god Indra and the goddess Indrani, as well as other legendary figures.
Jayanti जयन्ती, जयंती f Hinduism, Hindi
Feminine form of Jayanta. This is this name of a daughter of the Hindu god Indra and a wife of Shukra.
Kali 1 काली f & m Hinduism, Bengali, Tamil
Means "the black one", derived from Sanskrit काल (kāla) meaning "black". The Hindu goddess Kali is the fierce destructive form of the wife of Shiva. According to stories in the Puranas, she springs from the forehead of Durga in order to defeat various demons. She is typically depicted with black skin and four arms, holding a severed head and brandishing a sword. As a personal name, it is generally masculine in India.
Kalyani कल्याणी f Hinduism, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, Hindi
Means "beautiful, lovely, auspicious" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Parvati.
Kama काम m Hinduism
Means "love, desire" in Sanskrit. Kama is the Hindu god of love and pleasure, typically depicted as a young man armed with a bow and riding on the back of a giant parrot. His wife is Rati.
Kamadeva कामदेव m Hinduism
From Sanskrit काम (kāma) meaning "love, desire" and देव (deva) meaning "god". This is another name of the Hindu love god Kama.
Kamakshi कामाक्षी f Hinduism, Hindi
From Sanskrit काम (kāma) meaning "love, desire" and अक्षि (akṣi) meaning "eye". This is the name of a Hindu goddess. She is sometimes considered to be an aspect of Parvati.
Kamala कमला, कमल f & m Hinduism, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Nepali
Means "lotus" or "pale red" in Sanskrit. In Sanskrit this is a transcription of both the feminine form कमला and the masculine form कमल, though in modern languages it is only a feminine form. In Tantric Hinduism and Shaktism this is the name of a goddess, also identified with the goddess Lakshmi.
Kanti कान्ति m & f Hindi, Bengali, Hinduism
Means "beauty" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
Kapila कपिल m Hinduism
Means "reddish brown" in Sanskrit, derived from कपि (kapi) meaning "monkey". According to Hindu tradition this was the name of a sage who founded Samkhya philosophy. He is sometimes considered an incarnation of Vishnu.
Karna कर्ण m Hinduism
Derived from Sanskrit कर्ण (karṇa) meaning "ear". According to the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this was the name of the son of the sun god Surya and Kunti, who gave birth to him through her ear. He was a great warrior who became the king of Anga, eventually joining the Kauravas to fight against his half-brothers the Pandavas.
Kartikeya कार्त्तिकेय m Hinduism
From Sanskrit कृत्तिका (Kṛttikā), the Indian name for the constellation the Pleiades, ultimately from कृत् (kṛt) meaning "to cut, to divide". This is another name for the Hindu god Skanda, given because he was raised by the Krttikas.
Kashyapa कश्यप m Hinduism
Means "turtle, tortoise" in Sanskrit. In Hindu belief this is the name of one of the Saptarshis, or seven sages. He appears often in Hindu scripture, and is believed to be the author of several hymns in the Rigveda. According to the Puranas he was the husband of the goddess Aditi and the father by her of some of the gods.
Kausalya कौसल्या f Hinduism
Means "of the Kosala people" in Sanskrit. Kosala was an ancient Indian kingdom that was at its most powerful in the 6th century BC. Kausalya is the mother of the hero Rama in the Hindu epic the Ramayana.
Krishna कृष्ण m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit कृष्ण (kṛṣṇa) meaning "black, dark". This is the name of a Hindu deity believed to be an incarnation of the god Vishnu. According to the Mahabharata and the Puranas he was the youngest of King Vasudeva's eight sons by Devaki, six of whom were killed by King Kamsa because of a prophecy that a child of Vasudeva would kill Kamsa. However, Krishna and his brother Balarama were saved and he eventually fulfilled the prophecy by slaying the evil king. He then helped the Pandavas defeat the Kauravas in the Mahabharata War. His philosophical conversation with the Pandava leader Arjuna forms the text of the important Hindu scripture the Bhagavad Gita.... [more]
Kubera कुबेर m Hinduism
Possibly means "deformed, monstrous" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a Hindu god of wealth. In the Vedas he is presented as the chief of the evil beings.
Kumara कुमार m Hinduism
Derived from Sanskrit कुमार (kumāra) meaning "boy, son". In Hindu texts this is an epithet of both the fire god Agni and the war god Skanda.
Kumari कुमारी f Hinduism, Hindi, Telugu
Feminine form of Kumara. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata Kumari is the wife of the warrior Bhima. This is also another name of the Hindu goddess Durga.
Kunti कुन्ती, कुंती f Hinduism
Means "spear" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of a wife of Pandu and the mother of three of the five Pandavas. By the sun god Surya she was also the mother of the hero Karna.
Lakshmana लक्ष्मण m Hinduism
Means "having lucky marks" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Ramayana he is the younger brother and trusted companion of the hero Rama, accompanying him into exile.
Lakshmi लक्ष्मी f & m Hinduism, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi, Odia
Means "sign, mark" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Hindu goddess of prosperity, good luck, and beauty. She is the wife of Vishnu and her symbol is the lotus flower, with which she is often depicted.
Lalita ललिता f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Thai
Means "playful, charming, desirable" in Sanskrit. According to the Puranas this was the name of one of the gopis, who were milkmaids devoted to the young Krishna. Additionally, in Shaktism, this is the name of a goddess who is also called Tripura Sundari.
Madhava माधव m Hinduism, Sanskrit
Means "sweet, vernal, of the springtime" in Sanskrit, a derivative of मधु (madhu) meaning "honey, sweet". This was the name of a 14th-century Indian scholar from Sangamagrama. This is also an epithet of the Hindu deity Krishna, given because he was a descendant of a Yadava king named Madhu.
Madhavi माधवी f Hinduism, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi
Feminine form of Madhava. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
Mahadevi महादेवी f Hinduism, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi
Means "great goddess", derived from Sanskrit महा (mahā) meaning "great" and देवी (devī) meaning "goddess". This is the Hindu mother goddess who manifests herself as all other goddesses.
Mahesha महेश m Hinduism
Means "great lord" from Sanskrit महा (mahā) meaning "great" and ईश (īśa) meaning "lord, ruler". This is another name of the Hindu god Shiva.
Mani 1 मणि m Hinduism, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada
Means "jewel" in Sanskrit. This name is mentioned briefly in the Mahabharata belonging to both a giant serpent and an attendant of Skanda.
Manoja मनोज m Hinduism
Means "born of the mind", from Sanskrit मनस् (manas) meaning "mind, intellect, spirit" and (ja) meaning "born". This is another name of the Hindu god Kama.
Manu 1 मनु m Hinduism, Hindi, Kannada
Means "thinking, wise" in Sanskrit. In Hindu belief this is a title of Swayambhuva, the progenitor of the human race, as well as several of his descendants.
Maya 1 माया f Hinduism, Buddhism, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Means "illusion, magic" in Sanskrit. In Buddhist tradition this is the name of the mother of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha). This is also another name of the Hindu goddess Durga.
Meenakshi मीनाक्षी f Hinduism, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali
Alternate transcription of Sanskrit मीनाक्षी (see Minakshi).
Meghanada मेघनाद m Hinduism
Means "cloud roar, thunder" from Sanskrit मेघ (megha) meaning "cloud" and नाद (nāda) meaning "sound, roar". This is the name of a powerful son of the demon king Ravana in the Hindu epic the Ramayana, where he is also called Indrajit.
Minakshi मीनाक्षी f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali
From Sanskrit मीन (mīna) meaning "fish" and अक्षि (akṣi) meaning "eye". This is the name of a Hindu goddess associated with the Tamil city of Madurai. She is considered an incarnation of Parvati.
Mitra 1 मित्र, मित्रा m & f Hinduism, Hindi
Means "friend" in Sanskrit, a cognate of Mithra. This is the name of a Vedic god (मित्र) who is associated with friendship and contracts and is frequently paired with the god Varuna. The feminine form मित्रा (spelled with a final long vowel) is also transcribed as Mitra.
Mohana मोहन, मोहना m & f Hinduism
Means "bewitching, infatuating, charming" in Sanskrit. This is a transcription of both the masculine form मोहन (an epithet of the Hindu gods Shiva and Krishna) and the feminine form मोहना (spelled with a long final vowel).
Mohini मोहिनी f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi
Means "perplexing, enchanting" in Sanskrit. This was the name of a beautiful female avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, a form he took in order to trick the asuras (demons) into relinquishing the amrita (elixir of immortality).
Mukesha मुकेश m Hinduism
Means "ruler of Muka" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu god Shiva, given to him because he killed Muka, a demon in the form of a wild boar.
Mumba f Hinduism
From Marathi महा (mahā) meaning "great" and अंबा (ambā) meaning "mother". This is the name of a Marathi incarnation of the mother goddess Mahadevi.
Murali मुरली m Hinduism, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi
Means "flute" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu god Krishna, given to him because he played the flute.
Murugan मुरुगन m Hinduism, Tamil
From a Tamil word meaning "young". This was the name of a Tamil war god who is now identified with Skanda.
Nagendra नागेन्द्र, नागेंद्र m Hinduism, Kannada, Telugu
Means "lord of snakes" from Sanskrit नाग (nāga) meaning "snake" (also "elephant") combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra, used here to mean "lord". This is another name for Vasuki, the king of snakes, in Hindu mythology.
Nala 1 नल m Hinduism
Means "stem" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a king of the Nishadha people in the Hindu epic the Mahabharata.
Nanda नन्द, नन्दा m & f Hinduism, Buddhism, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, Nepali, Burmese, Hindi, Marathi
Means "joy" in Sanskrit. This is a transcription of both the masculine form नन्द and the feminine form नन्दा (spelled with a long final vowel).... [more]
Narasimha नरसिंह m Hinduism, Telugu
Means "man-lion", derived from Sanskrit नर (nara) meaning "man" combined with सिंह (siṃha) meaning "lion". This is the name of a lion-headed avatar of the god Vishnu who kills the evil king Hiranyakashipu.
Narasingha नरसिंह m Hinduism
Alternate transcription of Sanskrit नरसिंह (see Narasimha).
Narayana नारायण m Hinduism, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil
Possibly from Sanskrit नर (nara) meaning "man" and अयन (ayana) meaning "path". In Hindu creation legends this is the name of an eternal god who created the universe. He is considered an incarnation of Vishnu (or sometimes Brahma). According to the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata Purana Narayana and his brother Nara were sages.
Nitya नित्या f & m Hinduism, Hindi
Means "always, eternal" in Sanskrit. This is a transcription of both the feminine form नित्या (an epithet of the Hindu goddess Durga) and the masculine form नित्य.
Padma पद्म, पद्मा f & m Hinduism, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu
Means "lotus" in Sanskrit. This is a transcription of both the feminine form पद्मा and the masculine form पद्म.... [more]
Padmavati पद्मावती f Hinduism
Means "resembling lotuses", derived from the Sanskrit word पद्म (padma) meaning "lotus" combined with वती (vatī) meaning "resemblance". This is the name of a Hindu goddess, the wife of Venkateswara. She is considered an aspect of Lakshmi. This was also the name of a semi-legendary 14th-century queen of Mewar.
Pandu पाण्डु m Hinduism
Means "pale, whitish, yellowish" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of the husband of Kunti and the foster-father of the five Pandavas.
Pankaja पङ्कज m Hinduism
Means "born of mud", referring to the lotus flower, derived from Sanskrit पङ्क (paṅka) meaning "mud" and (ja) meaning "born". This is another name of the Hindu god Brahma.
Parashara पराशर m Hinduism
Means "destroyer" in Sanskrit, from पराशॄ (parāśṝ) meaning "to destroy, to kill". In Hindu belief this is the name of a sage who is credited with the authorship of a few hymns in the Rigveda, as well as other works. According to the Mahabharata he was the father of Vyasa by the fisherwoman Satyavati.
Partha पार्थ m Hinduism, Bengali, Assamese
Means "son of Pritha" in Sanskrit. This is another name for the three elder Pandavas, who were sons of Pritha (another name of Kunti) and Pandu.
Parvati पार्वती f Hinduism, Hindi
Means "of the mountains", derived from Sanskrit पर्वत (parvata) meaning "mountain". Parvati is a Hindu goddess of love and power, the benign form of the wife of Shiva. A daughter of the mountain god Himavat, she was a reincarnation of Shiva's first wife Sati. She is the mother of Ganesha and Skanda.
Pavana पवन m Hinduism
Means "purification, wind, air" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu god Vayu.
Pitambara पीताम्बर m Hinduism
Derived from Sanskrit पीत (pīta) meaning "yellow" and अम्बर (ambara) meaning "garment". This is another name of the Hindu gods Vishnu or Krishna, given to them because yellow clothing is traditionally worn at religious events.
Prabhu प्रभु m Hinduism, Tamil, Kannada
Means "mighty, powerful, master" in Sanskrit. In the Rigveda this is an epithet of both the Hindu gods Surya and Agni.
Prahlada प्रह्लाद m Hinduism
Means "joy, pleasure, delight" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu text the Bhagavata Purana this is a prince saved by Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu.
Pramoda प्रमोद m Hinduism
Means "joy" in Sanskrit. It appears briefly in the Mahabharata belonging to an attendant of the Hindu god Skanda.
Pritha पृथा f Hinduism, Bengali
Means "the palm of the hand" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the legendary Hindu figure Kunti.
Prithvi पृथ्वी, पृथिवी m & f Hindi, Nepali, Hinduism
From Sanskrit पृथ्वी (pṛthvī) meaning "earth", derived from पृथु (pṛthu) meaning "wide, vast". This is the name of a Hindu goddess, a personification of the earth in the Rigveda. She is the consort of the sky god Dyaus. When used as a given name in modern times it is typically masculine.
Priya प्रिया f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Bengali
Means "beloved" in Sanskrit. It appears briefly in the Puranas belonging to a daughter of King Daksha.
Purushottama पुरुषोत्तम m Hinduism
Means "the highest man" from Sanskrit पुरुष (puruṣa) meaning "man" and उत्तम (uttama) meaning "highest". This is another name of the Hindu god Vishnu or his avatars Krishna and Rama.
Radha राधा f Hinduism, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi
Means "success, prosperity" in Sanskrit. This was the name of the favourite consort of the Hindu deity Krishna. She is associated with beauty and compassion, and is considered an avatar of Lakshmi.
Radhika राधिका f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil
Used in Hindu scripture as an endearing form of Radha.
Raghu रघु m Hinduism, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam
Means "swift" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a heroic king in Hindu epics, the great-grandfather of Rama.
Rahu राहु m Hinduism
Possibly means "seizer", from the root रभ् (rabh) meaning "to take hold, to clasp". In Hindu astrology this is the name of the ascending node of the moon, personified as an asura (demon) responsible for eclipses.
Rajani रजनी f & m Hinduism, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi, Nepali
Means "dark, night" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Durga.
Rama 1 राम m Hinduism, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam
Means "pleasing, beautiful" in Sanskrit. In Hindu belief this is the name of an incarnation of the god Vishnu. He is the hero of the Ramayana, a Hindu epic, which tells of the abduction of his wife Sita by the demon king Ravana, and his efforts to recapture her.... [more]
Rama 2 रमा f Hinduism
Means "wife" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the goddess Lakshmi.
Ramachandra रामचन्द्र, रामचंद्र m Hinduism, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil
Derived from the name of the Hindu deity Rama 1 combined with Sanskrit चन्द्र (candra) meaning "moon". This is another name of Rama.
Ramakanta रमाकान्त m Hinduism, Odia
Means "desired of Lakshmi", from Rama 2 (a name of Lakshmi) combined with Sanskrit कान्त (kānta) meaning "desired, beloved". This name refers to Lakshmi's husband Vishnu.
Ramana रमण m Hinduism, Telugu, Tamil
Derived from Sanskrit रमण (ramaṇa) meaning "pleasing, delightful". This is an epithet of the Hindu love god Kama or the solar charioteer Aruna.
Ramesha रमेश m Hinduism
Means "husband of Lakshmi", derived from Rama 2, a name of Lakshmi, combined with ईश (īśa) meaning "ruler, husband". This is one of the names of the Hindu god Vishnu.
Rameshvara रामेश्वर m Hinduism
Means "lord Rama", derived from the name of the Hindu deity Rama 1 combined with Sanskrit ईश्वर (īśvara) meaning "lord, god". This is the name of an island (also called Rameswaram) between India and Sri Lanka, identified as the place where Rama prayed to Shiva when he returned from Lanka. It is now an important pilgrimage site.
Rati रति f Hinduism, Hindi
Means "rest, repose, pleasure" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Hindu goddess of love and pleasure, the wife of Kama.
Ravana रावण m Hinduism
Means "roaring, screaming", derived from Sanskrit रव (rava) meaning "roar, yell". In the Hindu epic the Ramayana this is the name of the demon king who abducts Sita.
Ravi रवि m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Odia, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, Nepali
Means "sun" in Sanskrit. Ravi is a Hindu god of the sun, sometimes equated with Surya. A famous bearer was the musician Ravi Shankar (1920-2012).
Ravindra रवीन्द्र m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada
Means "lord of the sun" from Sanskrit रवि (ravi) meaning "sun" combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra, used here to mean "lord". This is another name for the Hindu god Surya.
Reva रेवा f Hinduism, Hindi
Means "one that moves" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Rati.
Rohini रोहिणी f Hinduism, Marathi
Means "ascending" in Sanskrit, also the Sanskrit name for the star Aldebaran. This is a Hindu goddess, the favourite consort of the moon god Chandra. The name was also borne by a wife of Vasudeva and the mother of Balarama according to the Hindu epic the Mahabharata.
Rudra रुद्र m Hinduism, Nepali, Odia
Probably means "crying, howling, roaring" from Sanskrit रुद् (rud). This is the name of a Hindu god associated with the wind and storms, appearing in the Rigveda. He is identified with Shiva.
Rukmini रुक्मिणी f Hinduism, Marathi, Kannada
Means "adorned with gold" in Sanskrit. According to the Hindu epic the Mahabharata and the Puranas this was the name of a princess of Vidarbha who became the first wife of Krishna. She is regarded as an avatar of Lakshmi.
Sandhya संध्या f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam
Means "twilight" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a Hindu goddess of twilight, a daughter of Brahma.
Sanjaya संजय m Hinduism
Means "completely victorious, triumphant" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a royal official in the Hindu epic the Mahabharata.
Sarasvati सरस्वती f Hinduism
Alternate transcription of Sanskrit सरस्वती (see Saraswati).
Saraswati सरस्वती f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi
Means "possessing water" from Sanskrit सरस् (saras) meaning "fluid, water, lake" and वती (vatī) meaning "having". This is the name of a Hindu river goddess, also associated with learning and the arts, who is the wife of Brahma. She appears in the Vedas.
Sati सती f Hinduism
From Sanskrit सत् (sat) meaning "true, virtuous". This is the name of a Hindu goddess, the first wife of Shiva. A daughter of King Daksha, she threw herself onto a fire when her husband was insulted by her father. After her death she was eventually reborn as the goddess Parvati.
Satisha सतीश m Hinduism
Means "lord of Sati" from the name of the Hindu goddess Sati combined with ईश (īśa) meaning "ruler". This is another name of the Hindu god Shiva.
Satyavati सत्यवती f Hinduism, Hindi, Telugu
Means "truthful", derived from Sanskrit सत्य (satya) meaning "true, real" and the suffix वती (vatī) meaning "having". In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata she is a commoner who becomes the wife of Shantanu, king of Hastinapura.
Savitr सवितृ m Hinduism
Means "rouser, stimulator" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a Vedic Hindu sun god, sometimes identified with Surya.
Savitri सावित्री f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi
Means "of the sun" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a hymn in the Rigveda dedicated to Savitr, a sun god. This is also the name of Savitr's daughter, a wife of Brahma, considered an aspect of Saraswati. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata it is borne by King Satyavan's wife, who successfully pleas with Yama, the god of death, to restore her husband to life.
Shachi शची f Hinduism
From Sanskrit शची (śacī) meaning "eloquence, speech, skill, power". This is another name of the Hindu goddess Indrani.
Shailaja शैलजा f Hinduism, Telugu
Means "daughter of the mountain" in Sanskrit, from शैल (śaila) meaning "mountain" and (ja) meaning "born". This is another name of the Hindu goddess Parvati.
Shakti शक्ति f & m Hinduism, Hindi
Means "power" in Sanskrit. In Hinduism a shakti is the female counterpart of a god. The name Shakti is used in particular to refer to the female counterpart of Shiva, also known as Parvati among many other names.
Shakuntala शकुन्तला f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit शकुन्त (śakunta) meaning "bird". This is the name of a character in the Hindu epic the Mahabharata, with the story adapted by Kalidasa for the 5th-century play Abhijnanashakuntalam. It tells how Shakuntala, who was raised in the forest by birds, meets and marries the king Dushyanta. After a curse is laid upon them Dushyanta loses his memory and they are separated, but eventually the curse is broken after the king sees the signet ring he gave her.
Shani 2 शनि m Hinduism
From the Sanskrit name of the planet Saturn, probably derived from a root meaning "slow-moving". This is the name of a Hindu god who presides over the planet Saturn. He is a son of Surya.
Shankara शंकर, शङ्कर m Hinduism
Derived from the Sanskrit elements शम् (śam) meaning "auspicious, lucky" and कर (kara) meaning "maker". This is another name of the Hindu gods Rudra or Shiva. This was also the name of a 9th-century Indian religious philosopher also known as Shankaracharya.
Shanta शान्ता f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Means "pacified, calm" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Ramayana this is the name of a princess of Anga who marries Rishyasringa.
Shantanu शंतनु m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali
Means "wholesome" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata this is the name of a king of Hastinapura.
Sharada शारदा f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Means "autumnal, associated with autumn" in Sanskrit, a derivative of शरद् (śarad) meaning "autumn". This is another name for the Hindu goddess Saraswati.
Shiva 1 शिव m Hinduism, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Nepali
Derived from Sanskrit शिव (śiva) meaning "benign, kind, auspicious". Shiva is the Hindu god of destruction and restoration, the husband of the mother goddess Parvati. Though he does not appear in the Vedas, Shiva nevertheless incorporates elements of Vedic deities such as the storm god Rudra. He is often depicted with four arms and a third eye, and has both fierce and gentle aspects.... [more]
Shivani शिवानी f Hinduism, Hindi
Means "wife of Shiva 1" in Sanskrit. This is an epithet of the Hindu goddess Parvati.
Shri श्री f Hinduism
Means "diffusing light, radiance, beauty" in Sanskrit, a word used as a title of respect in India. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.
Shridevi श्रीदेवी f Hinduism
From the name of the Hindu goddess Shri combined with Sanskrit देवी (devī) meaning "goddess". This is another name of Lakshmi.
Shripati श्रीपति m Hinduism
Means "husband of Shri" from the name of the Hindu goddess Shri combined with Sanskrit पति (pati) meaning "husband, lord". This is another name of the Hindu god Vishnu.
Shukra शुक्र m Hinduism
From Sanskrit शुक्र (śukra) meaning "clear, bright". This is the name of a Hindu god who presides over the planet Venus.
Shyama श्याम, श्यामा m & f Hinduism, Hindi
Derived from Sanskrit श्याम (śyāma) meaning "dark, black, blue". This is a transcription of both the masculine form श्याम (another name of the Hindu god Krishna) and the feminine form श्यामा (another name of the goddess Kali).
Sita सीता f Hinduism, Hindi, Nepali
Means "furrow" in Sanskrit. Sita is the name of the Hindu goddess of the harvest in the Rigveda. This is also the name of the wife of Rama (and an avatar of Lakshmi) in the Hindu epic the Ramayana. In this story Sita is abducted by the demon king Ravana, with her husband and his allies attempting to rescue her.
Skanda सकंद m Hinduism
Means "hopping, spurting, spilling" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Hindu god of war, also known as Kartikeya or Murugan. He is the son of Shiva and Parvati. He is worshipped especially by the Tamils in southern India.
Soma 2 सोम m & f Hinduism, Bengali, Hindi
From Sanskrit सोम (soma), the name of a ritual drink appearing in the Vedas. It is probably derived from an Indo-Iranian root meaning "to press out, to extract". As a Vedic god, Soma is a personification of this drink. He is sometimes equated with the moon god Chandra.... [more]
Subhadra सुभद्रा f Hinduism, Odia, Marathi, Hindi
Means "good fortune", derived from the Sanskrit prefix सु (su) meaning "good" combined with भद्र (bhadra) meaning "fortune, prosperity". According to the Hindu epic the Mahabharata she was the sister of Krishna and the wife of Arjuna.
Subrahmanya सुब्रह्मण्य m Hinduism, Telugu
From the Sanskrit prefix सु (su) meaning "good" and ब्रह्मन् (brahman) meaning "devout worshipper". This is another name for the Hindu god Skanda.
Sumati सुमती f Hinduism, Hindi
Means "wise, good mind", derived from Sanskrit सु (su) meaning "good" and मति (mati) meaning "mind, thought". According to Hindu tradition this was the name of King Sagara's second wife, who bore him 60,000 children.
Sundara सुन्दर m Hinduism
Derived from Sanskrit सुन्दर (sundara) meaning "beautiful". This is the name of several minor characters in Hindu texts, and is also another name of the Hindu god Kama.
Sunita सुनीता f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Means "well conducted, wise", derived from the Sanskrit prefix सु (su) meaning "good" combined with नीत (nīta) meaning "conducted, led". In Hindu legend this is the name of the wife of King Anga of Bengal and the mother of Vena.
Surendra सुरेन्द्र, सुरेंद्र m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Nepali
Means "lord of gods" from Sanskrit सुर (sura) meaning "god" combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra, used here to mean "lord". This is another name for Indra.
Suresha सुरेश m Hinduism
Means "ruler of the gods" from Sanskrit सुर (sura) meaning "god" and ईश (īśa) meaning "ruler, lord". This is another name of the Hindu gods Indra, Shiva or Vishnu.
Surya सूर्य m Hinduism, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, Indonesian
Means "sun" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Vedic Hindu god of the sun who rides a chariot across the sky.
Sushila सुशीला, सुशील f & m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Means "good-tempered, well-disposed", derived from the Sanskrit prefix सु (su) meaning "good" combined with शील (śīla) meaning "conduct, disposition". This is a transcription of both the feminine form सुशीला (long final vowel, borne by a consort of the Hindu god Yama) and the masculine form सुशील (short final vowel).
Tara 2 तारा f Hinduism, Buddhism, Hindi, Nepali
Means "star" in Sanskrit. Tara is the name of a Hindu astral goddess, the wife of Brhaspati. She was abducted by Chandra, the god of the moon, leading to a great war that was only ended when Brahma intervened and released her. This name also appears in the epic the Ramayana belonging to the wife of Vali and, after his death, his younger brother Sugriva. In Buddhist belief this is the name of a bodhisattva associated with salvation and protection.
Uma उमा f Hinduism, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi
Means "flax" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Parvati. In Hindu texts it is said to derive from the Sanskrit exclamation उ मा (u mā) meaning "O do not (practice austerities)!", which was addressed to Parvati by her mother.
Urmila ऊर्मिला f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Odia
Derived from Sanskrit ऊर्मि (ūrmi) meaning "wave, billow". In the Hindu epic the Ramayana she is the wife of Lakshmana and the younger sister of Sita.
Urvashi उर्वशी f Hinduism, Hindi
Possibly means "widely spreading", derived from Sanskrit उरु (uru) meaning "wide" and अश् (aś) meaning "to prevade". According to Hindu scripture this was the name of an apsara (a type of female spirit) who was the wife of Pururavas.
Usha उषा f Hinduism, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
Variant of Ushas. According to the Hindu text the Bhagavata Purana this was the name of a daughter of the demon king Bana who married Aniruddha, the grandson of the Hindu deity Krishna.
Ushas उषस् f Hinduism
Means "dawn" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Hindu goddess of the dawn, considered the daughter of heaven.
Uttara उत्तर, उत्तरा m & f Hinduism, Marathi
Means "north" in Sanskrit. This is a transcription of both the masculine form उत्तर and the feminine form उत्तरा (spelled with a long final vowel), both of which occur in the Hindu epic the Mahabharata belonging to the son and daughter of King Virata.
Vaishnavi वैष्णवी f Hinduism, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi
Derived from the name of the Hindu god Vishnu, meaning "belonging to Vishnu". This is the name of the shakti (power) of Vishnu, identified with the goddess Lakshmi.
Valli f Hinduism
Means "creeping plant" in Tamil. The Tamil Hindu goddess Valli is the wife of Murugan.
Varaha वराह m Hinduism
Means "boar, hog" in Sanskrit. This is the name of one of the avatars of the Hindu god Vishnu, who appears as a wild boar to slay the demon Hiranyaksha.
Varuna वरुण m Hinduism
Probably from Sanskrit वृ (vṛ) meaning "to surround, to encompass". In Hindu mythology Varuna is a god of water and the ocean, also associated with the sky and law. He appears frequently in the Vedas, often paired with the god Mitra.
Vasanta वसन्त m Hinduism
Means "spring" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a Hindu personification of the springtime.
Vasishtha वसिष्ठ m Hinduism
Means "best, most excellent" in Sanskrit, a superlative form of वसु (vasu) meaning "good, excellent". This is the name of one of the Saptarshis, or seven sages in Hinduism. He is traditionally believed to be the author of parts of the Rigveda.
Vasu वसु m Hinduism, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi
Means "excellent, good, wealthy, bright" in Sanskrit. This is a name for the Hindu gods, in particular the eight elemental deities who are attendants of Indra. It is also borne by several other characters in Hindu legend.
Vasudeva वसुदेव m Hinduism
From Sanskrit वसु (vasu) meaning "excellent, good, wealthy" and देव (deva) meaning "god". This was the name of the father of Krishna. Krishna is also called by the patronymic वसूदेव (Vasūdeva).
Vayu वायु m Hinduism
Means "air, wind" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Vedic Hindu god of the air and wind. In the Ramayana he is the father of Hanuman, while in the Mahabharata he is the father of Bhima.
Vena वेन m Hinduism
Means "yearning, desire" in Sanskrit. According to Hindu scripture this was the name of an evil and irreligious king.
Vidya विद्या f Hinduism, Marathi, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil
Means "knowledge, science, learning" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu goddess Saraswati.
Vijaya विजय, विजया m & f Hinduism, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi
Means "victory" in Sanskrit. This is a transcription of both the masculine form विजय and the feminine form विजया, both of which occur as names or epithets in Hindu scripture. This was also the name of a semi-legendary 6th-century BC king of Sri Lanka.... [more]
Vikrama विक्रम m Hinduism
Means "stride, pace" or "valour" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu god Vishnu. This was also the name of a semi-legendary 1st-century BC king (full name Vikramaditya) of Ujjain in India.
Viraja विराज m Hinduism
Means "ruling, sovereign" in Sanskrit. According to some Hindu texts this was the name of an offspring of Brahma.
Vishnu विष्णु m Hinduism, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Marathi
Probably means "all-pervasive" in Sanskrit, from विष् (viṣ) meaning "to prevade, to spread through". The Hindu god Vishnu is the protector and preserver of the universe, usually depicted as four-armed and blue-skinned. His wife is Lakshmi. Though he appears in the Rigveda, he features more prominently in post-Vedic texts. The great heroes Krishna, Rama, Narasimha and others are regarded as avatars of Vishnu.... [more]
Vyasa व्यास m Hinduism
Means "arranger, compiler" in Sanskrit. In Hindu belief this is the name of a sage who is the traditional author of the Mahabharata and the Puranas. According to the text itself, he was a son of Satyavati and Parashara. His birth name was Krishna Dvaipayana, while Vyasa was his title.
Yama 1 यम m Hinduism
Means "twin" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Hindu god of death. According to the Vedas he was the first mortal being, or in other words, the first person to die. This name is related to Persian Jam.
Yami यमी f Hinduism
Means "twin" in Sanskrit. According to the Vedas this was the name of the first woman, the twin sister of Yama, later equated with the river goddess Yamuna.
Yamuna यमुना f Hinduism, Tamil, Telugu
From the name of an Indian river, a major tributary of the Ganges, derived from Sanskrit यम (yama) meaning "twin". As a Hindu goddess, she is a personification of the river.
Yashoda यशोदा f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Telugu
Means "giver of fame", from Sanskrit यशस् (yaśas) meaning "fame, glory" and दा () meaning "to give". According to the Puranas this was the name of the foster mother of Krishna.
Yudhisthira युधिष्ठिर m Hinduism
Derived from Sanskrit युधि (yudhi) meaning "war" and स्थिर (sthira) meaning "firm, steady". In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata, Yudhisthira was the eldest of the Pandavas, the five sons of Pandu. In actuality, he was born to Pandu's wife Kunti by the god Yama.