Aditi अदिति f Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, KannadaMeans
"boundless, entire" or
"freedom, security" in Sanskrit, derived from the negative prefix
अ (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.
Agni 1 अग्नि m Hinduism, HindiMeans
"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.
Anjana अञ्जना, अञ्जन f & m Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Malayalam, Tamil, HinduismMeans
"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.
Arjuna अर्जुन m HinduismMeans
"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, HindiMeans
"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, HindiThe 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, HindiFrom 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.
Balarama बलराम m HinduismFrom 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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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, HindiMeans
"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, NepaliMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"subduing" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the
Mahabharata this is the name of a beautiful princess, the wife of
Nala.
Damodara दामोदर m HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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.
Dhruva ध्रुव m HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"protector of Delhi" from Sanskrit
दिल्ली (see
Delhi) combined with
प (pa) meaning "protecting". According to Hindu scripture this was the name of a king who was an ancestor of
Rama 1.
Dinesha दिनेश m HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"inflaming, exciting" in Sanskrit. This is another name of
Kama, the Hindu god of love.
Draupadi द्रौपदी f HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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, TeluguMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismPossibly 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 HinduismFrom 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.
Ganesha गणेश m HinduismMeans
"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, TeluguFrom 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, BengaliMeaning 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, MarathiDerived 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, HindiFrom 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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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.
Hanuman हनुमान् m HinduismProbably 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, NepaliMeans
"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.
Indra इन्द्र m Hinduism, Hindi, Nepali, IndonesianMeans
"possessing drops of rain" from Sanskrit
इन्दु (indu) meaning "a drop" and
र (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, HindiMeans
"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.
Isha ईश f & m Hindi, Marathi, HinduismMeans
"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.
Janaka जनक m Hinduism, SinhaleseMeans
"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, MarathiDerived 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.
Kali 1 काली f & m Hinduism, Bengali, TamilMeans
"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.
Kama काम m HinduismMeans
"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.
Kamala कमला, कमल f & m Hinduism, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, NepaliMeans
"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.
Kapila कपिल m Hinduism, SinhaleseMeans
"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 HinduismDerived 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 HinduismFrom 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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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, NepaliDerived 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 HinduismPossibly 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.
Kunti कुन्ती, कुंती f HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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, OdiaMeans
"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, ThaiMeans
"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.
Madana मदन m HinduismMeans
"intoxicating, maddening" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu love god
Kama.
Madhava माधव m Hinduism, SanskritMeans
"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.
Mahesha महेश m HinduismMeans
"great lord" from Sanskrit
महा (mahā) meaning "great" and
ईश (īśa) meaning "lord, ruler". This is another name of the Hindu god
Shiva.
Manoja मनोज m HinduismMeans
"born of the mind", from Sanskrit
मनस् (manas) meaning "mind, intellect, spirit" and
ज (ja) meaning "born". This is another name of the Hindu god
Kama.
Manu 1 मनु m Hinduism, Hindi, KannadaMeans
"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.
Meghanada मेघनाद m HinduismMeans
"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.
Mitra 1 मित्र, मित्रा m & f Hinduism, HindiMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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, MarathiMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismFrom Marathi
महा (mahā) meaning "great" and
अंबा (ambā) meaning "mother". This is the name of a Marathi incarnation of the mother goddess
Mahadevi.
Murugan मुरुगन m Hinduism, TamilFrom 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, TeluguMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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, MarathiMeans
"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, TeluguMeans
"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.
Narayana नारायण m Hinduism, Kannada, Telugu, TamilPossibly 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, HindiMeans
"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.
Padmavati पद्मावती f HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"born of mud", referring to the lotus flower, derived from Sanskrit
पङ्क (paṅka) meaning "mud" and
ज (ja) meaning "born". This is another name of the Hindu god
Brahma.
Parashara पराशर m HinduismMeans
"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.
Parvati पार्वती f Hinduism, HindiMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"purification, wind, air" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu god
Vayu.
Pitambara पीताम्बर m HinduismDerived 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.
Prahlada प्रह्लाद m HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"joy" in Sanskrit. It appears briefly in the
Mahabharata belonging to an attendant of the Hindu god
Skanda.
Pritha पृथा f Hinduism, BengaliMeans
"the palm of the hand" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the legendary Hindu figure
Kunti.
Prithvi पृथ्वी, पृथिवी m & f Hindi, Nepali, HinduismFrom 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.
Rahu राहु m HinduismPossibly 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.
Rama 1 राम m Hinduism, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, MalayalamMeans
"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] Rameshvara रामेश्वर m HinduismMeans
"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, HindiMeans
"rest, repose, pleasure" in Sanskrit. This is the name of the Hindu goddess of love and pleasure, the wife of
Kama.
Ravana रावण m HinduismMeans
"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, NepaliMeans
"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).
Reva रेवा f Hinduism, HindiMeans
"one that moves" in Sanskrit. This is another name of the Hindu goddess
Rati.
Rohini रोहिणी f Hinduism, MarathiMeans
"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, OdiaProbably 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, KannadaMeans
"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.
Sanjaya संजय m HinduismMeans
"completely victorious, triumphant" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a royal official in the Hindu epic the
Mahabharata.
Saraswati सरस्वती f Hinduism, Hindi, MarathiMeans
"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 HinduismFrom 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 HinduismMeans
"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, TeluguMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"rouser, stimulator" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a Vedic Hindu sun god, sometimes identified with
Surya.
Savitri सावित्री f Hinduism, Hindi, MarathiMeans
"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 HinduismFrom Sanskrit
शची (śacī) meaning
"eloquence, speech, skill, power". This is another name of the Hindu goddess
Indrani.
Shakti शक्ति f & m Hinduism, HindiMeans
"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, MarathiDerived 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 HinduismFrom 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 HinduismDerived 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, NepaliMeans
"pacified, calm" in Sanskrit. In the Hindu epic the
Ramayana this is the name of a princess of Anga who marries Rishyasringa.
Shiva 1 शिव m Hinduism, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, NepaliDerived 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] Shri श्री f HinduismMeans
"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.
Shripati श्रीपति m HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismFrom 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, HindiDerived 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, NepaliMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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, HindiFrom 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] Sumati सुमती f Hinduism, HindiMeans
"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 HinduismDerived 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, NepaliMeans
"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.
Sushila सुशीला, सुशील f & m Hinduism, Hindi, Marathi, NepaliMeans
"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, NepaliMeans
"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, HindiMeans
"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.
Urvashi उर्वशी f Hinduism, HindiPossibly 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.
Ushas उषस् f HinduismMeans
"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, MarathiMeans
"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.
Valli f HinduismMeans
"creeping plant" in Tamil. The Tamil Hindu goddess Valli is the wife of
Murugan.
Varaha वराह m HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismProbably 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 HinduismMeans
"spring" in Sanskrit. This is the name of a Hindu personification of the springtime.
Vasishtha वसिष्ठ m HinduismMeans
"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, HindiMeans
"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 HinduismFrom 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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"yearning, desire" in Sanskrit. According to Hindu scripture this was the name of an evil and irreligious king.
Vijaya विजय, विजया m & f Hinduism, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, HindiMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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, MarathiProbably 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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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 HinduismMeans
"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, TeluguFrom 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.
Yudhishthira युधिष्ठिर m HinduismDerived from Sanskrit
युधि (yudhi) meaning "war" and
स्थिर (sthira) meaning "firm, steady". In the Hindu epic the
Mahabharata, Yudhishthira 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.