Browse Names - Behind the Name

Shakuntala शकुंतला 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.

Shama शमा f Hindi, Urdu, Marathi
Means "lamp, candle" in Hindi and other Indian languages, ultimately from Arabic شمْع (shamʿ).

Shankar शंकर m Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, Nepali
Modern transcription of Shankara.

Shanta शांता 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.

Shanti शांती f Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
From Sanskrit शान्ती (śāntī) meaning "quiet, peace, tranquility".

Sharad शरद m Hindi, Marathi, Nepali
From Sanskrit शरद् (śarad) meaning "autumn".

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.

Sharmila शर्मिला f Tamil, Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit शर्मन् (śarman) meaning "protection, comfort, joy".

Shashi शशि, शशी m & f Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Telugu
Traditional name for the moon, it literally means "having a hare" in Sanskrit. This is a transcription of both the masculine form शशि and the feminine form शशी (spelled with a long final vowel).

Sheela शीला f Marathi, Kannada, Hindi, Tamil
Alternate transcription of Shila.

Shekhar शेखर m Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, Gujarati
From Sanskrit शेखर (śekhara) meaning "crest, crown, peak".

Shila शीला f Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit शील (śīla) meaning "conduct, disposition, character".

Shiv शिव m Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi
Northern Indian form of Shiva 1.

Shobha शोभा f Kannada, Hindi, Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit शोभा (śobhā) meaning "brilliance".

Shreya श्रेया f Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati
From Sanskrit श्रेयस् (śreyas) meaning "superior, better".

Shrinivas श्रीनिवास m Marathi
Means "the abode of Shri" from the name of the Hindu goddess Shri combined with Sanskrit निवास (nivāsa) meaning "abode, house".

Shriram श्रीराम m Hindi, Marathi
From the Sanskrit honorific श्री (śrī) meaning "radiance, splendour" combined with the name of the Hindu deity Rama 1.

Shubham शुभम m Hindi, Marathi
Derived from Sanskrit शुभ (śubha) meaning "splendid, bright, auspicious".

Shweta श्वेता f Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati
From Sanskrit श्वेत (śveta) meaning "white".

Shyam श्याम m Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, Nepali
Modern masculine form of Shyama.

Shyamala श्यामला f Tamil, Telugu, Marathi
Feminine form of Shyamal.

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