Sanskrit is one of the classical Indian languages and one of the 22 official languages. Today, it’s mostly spoken in India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia. It’s considered to be one of the oldest languages, spoken since 5,000 BC. However, today it is spoken by less than 1% of Indians – instead, it’s often used by Hindu priests during certain traditional ceremonies.
For girls, you’ll have more than enough unique names to pick from. Anjali is a graceful name that means “gift” and “offering”. Dhuni is another poetic name that was inspired by nature and means “river.” Finally, you also have the name Kamini which means “desirable.”
For boys, you’ll have enough names to pick from as well. One choice rooted in nature would be Chandak which means “the moon.” You also have Kiran which means “ray of light”, since your little one will be the light shining in your life for a while.
Choosing a Sanskrit name can help your little one stay connected with their Indian roots. They’ll feel closer ties with their background, and you’ll be able to explain the importance of their name to them as they grow older. It can also be a good way to help preserve the language as your ancestors have done in the past. Sanskrit names are also often unique and creative, and the right name can easily help differentiate them from their peers!
Anjali
Meaning: Gift and offering
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Asha
Meaning: Hope. Mythology: the wife of a Hindu demigod
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Candra
Meaning: Of the moon
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Carma
Meaning: Fate
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Chan
Meaning: Shining
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Chanda
Meaning: Dignified
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Chandak
Meaning: The moon
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Chandra
Meaning: Dignified; Of the moon
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Dev
Meaning: Title name meaning ‘divine; god.’
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Devika
Meaning: Little goddess. From the mythological Hindu ‘Devi’
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Dhana
Meaning: Wealthy
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Dhuni
Meaning: River
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Hari
Meaning: Lion. In Mythology Hari is one of the names of Vishnu
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Heya
Meaning: Sweet, lovely
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Hrutvy
Meaning: Angel
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Idika
Meaning: The Earth
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Iksha
Meaning: Sight
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Indira
Meaning: Splendid
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Jayne
Meaning: Victorious
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Kalinda
Meaning: The sun. A Hindu mythological reference to the mountains of Kalinda or the sacred Kalindi river
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Kalpana
Meaning: Imagination
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Kanika
Meaning: Seed
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Kama
Meaning: Love
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Kamini
Meaning: Desirable
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Kannan
Meaning: A Form of Krishna
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Kashmir
Meaning: The name of a state in India
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Kiran
Meaning: Ray of light
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Kritika
Meaning: Name Of A Star
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Lalita
Meaning: Pleasant; Playful. In Hindu mythology Lalita is mistress and playmate to the Krishna
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Layla
Meaning: Born at night
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Leela
Meaning: Play
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Meena
Meaning: Fish. In Hindu mythology Meena is a name of the wife of Shiva
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Opal
Meaning: Jewel
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Praveen
Meaning: Knowledgeable and proficient
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Raja
Meaning: King. Raja is an Indian or Malay princely title; Raj means ‘rule.’
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Rama
Meaning: Pleasing. Rama was mythological seventh incarnation of Vishnu and his story is told in the Hindi Ramayana
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Ravi
Meaning: The Hindu god of the sun
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Rohan
Meaning: Ascending
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Roshan
Meaning: Shining light
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Shaurya
Meaning: Bravery
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Shreyas
Meaning: Superior
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Soumil
Meaning: Friend
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Taj
Meaning: Crown
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Tara
Meaning: Shining. In Hindu mythology Tara is one of the names of the wife of Shiva
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Tarak
Meaning: Protector
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Uhud
Meaning: Commitment, Pledge
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Usha
Meaning: Dawn. Mythological daughter of heaven and sister of night
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Veda
Meaning: Understanding
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Girl
Vivaan
Meaning: Full of life
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy
Yuvan
Meaning: Strong
Origin: Sanskrit
Gender: Boy