Importance of Hindu Names

Naming ceremonies and rituals reinforce the significance of a name. In everyday life, a person's name helps identify not only the individual, but also their culture and religious identity.

In Hindu Tradition are 16 ‘smaskaras’ (cultural heritage and upbringing) are suggested to perform in the life span of a person. Out of that ‘NaamKaran’ (Naming ceremony) is one of the ceremony in which child is given a formal name.

Importance of Hindu Names

Naming ceremonies and rituals reinforce the significance of a name. In everyday life, a person's name helps identify not only the individual, but also their culture and religious identity.

A proper Hindu name is a child's lasting connection to our ancient heritage. Ancient Hindu sages developed the tradition of selecting names that sound pleasant and have an auspicious meaning, such as names of our Gods and Goddesses.

Names like, Krishna, Mukunda, Balram, Nanda, Murari, Gopi, Radha, etc related to Krishna makes child and its family feel the mental connection with Krishna, and feel our relation with great people of Mahabharata time. This helps one to derive his/her identity from the glorious past and helps to motivate them to continue that tradition.

Importance of Hindu Names

Importance of Hindu Names

Names like Vishnu, Laxmi Arjun, Dhrma, Nakul, Sahadev, Bheem, Bishma, Drona, Karna, Ganga, Draupadi, Kunti, Sanjaya, Abhimanyu, Nala, Dmayanti, etc related to Mahabharat makes child and its family feel the mental connection with Krishna, and feel our relation with great people of Mahabharata time. This helps one to derive his/her identity from the glorious past and helps to motivate them to continue that tradition.

Importance of Hindu Names

Names like Shiv, Mahesh, Paravati, Shambhu, Nandi, Pinak, Veerabhadra, Mrityunjay, Gauri, Uma, Ambika, Ganesh, Shanmukh, Devasena, Girija, Uma, Paramashakti, Ananta, Nishkala, Amala, Shanta,Maheshvari, Nitya, Shashvati … makes child and its family feel the mental connection with Shiv Parivar, and feel our relation with divine forms of Hindu God and heritage.

Names like Bramha, Pushkar, Sharada, Saraswati, Veena, Vaani … makes child and its family feel the mental connection with BrahmDev, Saraswati mata, and feel our relation with divine forms of Hindu God and Heritage.

Importance of Hindu Names

Names like Durga, Eshwari, Ambha, Bhagawati, Ishani, Toshani, Sharanya, Annapurna, Nataraja, Tandav … makes child and its family feel the mental connection with Durga, Adi-Shakti, and feel our relation with divine forms of Hindu God and heritage.

Importance of Hindu Names

Names like Vishnu, Narayan, Devesh, Jaganath, Chakradhar, Srinath, Sripad, Lakshmi, Kamalini, Kamala, Amrruta, Indira, Anagha, HemaMalini, Padmini, Vimala, Sudha. .. makes child and its family feel the mental connection with SriVishu and SriLakshmi, and feel our relation with divine forms of Hindu God and heritage.

Importance of Hindu Names

Importance of Hindu Names

Names like Raghava, Ram, Raghu, Raghunath, Sitapathi, Purushotham, Janaki, Sita, Mythili, Siya, Vaidehi, Rama, Shabari, Tara, Ruma,, Hanuman, Bharat, Laxman, Angadha, … makes child and its family feel the mental connection with Sri Ram Parivar, and feel our relation with divine forms of Hindu God and heritage.

Importance of Hindu Names

There are a variety of reasons why some Hindu parents choose non-Hindu names for their children. Reasons include:

(1) Ignorance - Some parents are ignorant about the significance of a name. Western-sounding names might be perceived as sounding cool. In the Ramayana it is explained during the naming ceremony of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna, the meanings of their names are elaborated. It is emphasized that these were chosen after careful deliberation. In continuing this tradition, we owe it to our children to give some serious deliberation to choosing their names.

Importance of Hindu NamesThere are a variety of reasons why some Hindu parents choose non-Hindu names for their children. Reasons include:

(2) Persecution - Some parents feel that identification of their children as Hindus will lead to persecution. Some professionally successful first generation immigrant parents think that their children's success in society will be adversely affected because of Hindu names. This may be true in certain Mulsim countries, but not so in North American countries. Some rural parts could have biased people, but that is race-based.For example, African-Americans adopted Christian names and religion, but that did not end racial bias right away. Generations of Hindus are holding on to their names in muslim-majority countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, etc despite persecution.

Importance of Hindu Names

There are a variety of reasons why some Hindu parents choose non-Hindu names for their children. Reasons include:

3) Inferiority Complex - Some people subconsciously believe in racial inequality based on color. There is no reason to feel defensive about being a Hindu.

Importance of Hindu NamesThere are a variety of reasons why some Hindu parents choose non-Hindu names for their children. Reasons include:

4) Political Ambition - Sometimes, people take on western nicknames or names to win elections or political favors. Although one can reasonably assume that most Americans would relate better to a Western sounding name, whether that will translate into greater acceptance is questionable. People from every part of the world live here and are usually judged by what they have to offer, rather than by the name. Hindus in America have earned a positive image as being hard-working, intelligent, educated, successful, law-abiding citizens. Therefore the advantage of a Hindu name could outweigh the slight disadvantage. For example, Swati Dandekar was elected to the Iowa State Assembly in 2002 despite the Hindu name.

Importance of Hindu NamesThere are a variety of reasons why some Hindu parents choose non-Hindu names for their children. Reasons include:

5) Enticement - Short term monetary gains, such as getting free or discounted services and favors, might entice parents to quickly adopt names used in the host-country or predominant culture. This becomes a question on the value parents place on tradition.

Importance of Hindu Names

Resources :1. Hinduism Today magazine. (Jul-2005 edition)2. Hindu Epics like Ramayan, Mahabharat, and other Purans3. Various artists who have create the beautiful and divine images of

Hindu God and Goddess