Hindu Names Introduction
'Hindu Name' is a relatively new term. In fact even the word Hindu is a relatively recent label given for an ancient way of life that used to be known as Sanatana Dharma. During the time when Sanatana Dharma was the singular religion or tradition that existed in the Indian Subcontinent all names of people of the region were derived from the Indic languages. There was no such distinction as a Sanatana Dharma name or a non-Sanatana Dharma name.
In these modern times however, with the mingling of people of diverse cultures and religions that is happening all over the world, maintaining personal identity is becoming more and more an imperative. A big part of our identity is naturally carried by our names. Our name can link us to the heritage of our ancestry and the rich culture and history that, that may carry. In fact our name can tell others (and ourselves) a lot about who we are. Thus as country borders around the world become more transparent, racial and national identity beginning to dissolve in the potpourri of globalization, people are holding on to the their naming traditions with tenacity.
It is generally accepted that Hindu names, following the tradition of Sanatana Dharma, can be any name derived from the indigenous languages of India. Thus if someone is named Pushpa, which means flower in Sanskrit, it is more probable than not that this person is a Hindu, if not a member of a religion that had originated in India. Non-Hindus (Muslims and Christians) of Indian origin too follow this informal rule where at least their first name is derived from the traditional language of their respective religions. While Hindu names may be synonymous with Indian names, not all Indian names represent Hinduism. Indian names can also be associated with Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism or Christianity. (Muslims in India generally use Arabic first and last names.)
To be specific a purely Hindu name would be a name that is associated with one of the names of God or the Mahadevas in Hinduism. Whereas names that describe attitudes and conditions or objects of nature are more trans-tradition.
In this section of MyHinduPage, my intention is to create a database of Hindu Names. These names can be from any Hindu sect or tradition. I want to also preserve ancient names that are rarely if at all used in modern Hindu naming trends. As part of the database I will endeavour to provide the meaning and etymology of the names. For convenience the names will be organized using english alphabets. I would eventually like to be able to provide the names in their original indic scripts, though at this time I don't have this facility. The names are not going to be organized by gender, as many Hindu names can be used by both men or women depending on their suffix or prefix, though if a name is specifically related to a gender it will be indicated by a colour code.
This is a growing list of names and your participation is much appreciated. If you are Hindu and your name or names you would like to see on the list is not in the database please send it to me with any information you may have about the name. Information such as meaning, language origin, gender, sectarian or traditional affiliations and so forth will be much appreciated. You can send your name or other names you would like to include into the database to:
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Hindu Naming Traditions
How to choose a Hindu name? There are traditional systems one can use to choose a Hindu name. The most common is derived from an organization of syllables to start a name with that is based on the astrological birth chart of the individual. Nowadays many people also base names on numerology. What is behind using these systems of naming, how strictly should we adhere to them and what if we want a name that doesn't correspond to any of these systems? These questions and guidelines on using the astrological system is covered in this article. Click here to read this article on Hindu Naming Traditions.
Namakarana: The Hindu Naming Ceremony
Does Hinduism have a baptism ceremony? This is a question that is often asked. Indeed we do and it is called the Namakarana Samskara. Every Hindu would have gone through this ceremony. However many Hindu are not aware of this ceremony and how it is performed. In this article the Namakarana samskara, which can be a simple or elaborate ceremony is explained. Click here to read this article on the Namakarana Samskara.
The Namakarana Samskara Certificate
Hindu Names Lists
The Hindu Names Lists is a list of Indic names that is used in to name a Hindu. This list is organized by the English alphabets. The endeavour of this database is to collect and list names used in the Hindu naming tradition from as many traditions of Hinduism and also to provide information on the name such as literal meaning, language origin, sectarian and gender affiliation. As a dynamic list your participation is much appreciated. If you have a name(s) that is not on the list please send it to
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with any information you may have on the name. Click Here to go to The Hindu Names Database.
