The possibilities for naming in Sanskrit are vast and this database remains a work in progress. Over time more entries will be added. Please note that the data has not yet been standardized or carefully proofread. Corrections and suggestions are very welcome using the feedback form.
Names are spelled according to the Ánanda Márga Roman Saḿskrta system of transliteration devised by Ánandamúrtijii, who wished to promote the use of Roman script for the writing of Sanskrit. Afterwards, each name is provided in the Bengali and Devanágarii scripts, followed by one or more options in simplified or colloquial Roman script (in-progress). In parentheses, the gender is indicated (m = masculine, f = feminine, n = neuter) followed by the part of speech (noun or adj = adjective). One may sort the names by gender. At this time, the names are provided in Sanskrit alphabetical order; in the future we will try to provide an option for sorting by English alphabetical order.
Sanskrit was in ancient times pronounced in different regional styles and according to different branches of Vedic tradition. In modern India, Sanskrit names are pronounced in accordance with local languages such as Bengali, Hindi and Tamil. This database is not intended as a guide to pronunciation, though we hope to add such information in the future. The most notable difference between Classical Sanskrit and modern pronunciation is that in the former, no vowels are dropped. Taking the name Vinaya as an example, in Hindi one would say “Vinay” and in Bengali “Binoy”, while in the classical language all three syllables are pronounced (“Vi-na-ya”).
Sanskrit has three genders: masculine, feminine and neuter. While most of the names in the database are masculine or feminine, effort has been made to record neuter or non-binary names as well, though this remains a work in progress. Some such names have become popular today (for example, Shivam). We are not suggesting any particular norms or guidance for such names. It should be noted that some names are misgendered in popular usage; for example, Savitá is masculine, but is today usually given to girls. We have provided only correctly-gendered names. Some names are adjectives that are identical in all three genders. By convention, the nominative case, singular number form of a word is used in naming. But if a name ends in -h (visarga), this letter (usually pronounced as an echo of the previous vowel) has by modern convention and for aesthetic reasons been omitted. For example, one would write Divyajyotih in Classical Sanskrit, but we suggest Divyajyoti.
A number of individuals helped bring this project to its current stage. The software was designed by Ac. Lokeshánanda Avt., and most of the data was compiled by the general editor, Shravańa Kumára, with contributions by Shriraksha Mohan, Shriimatii Akanksha, and others. Ac. Maheshvaránanda Avt. convened the project and has provided encouragement along the way. We are grateful to the authors, known or unknown, of all the many name lists we have drawn upon.
If you would like to get involved, please contact us through the feedback form.
Shubham astu (“may there be good fortune”).
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