150 Nepali Baby Names With Meanings
Ethnic names that reflect the beauty and serenity of the Himalayan kingdom.
Nepali baby names are distinguished so that you can guess a lot about the name-bearer including their caste, profession, ethnic group, and place of birth. It is a common practice among Nepalis to use their ethnicity or their caste name as a surname (1). Sherpa and Gurung are both habitational names and ethnic surnames. Surnames such as Pant and Bista indicate that the person is a Brahmin, originally belonging to western Nepal. Names such as Pande, Thapa, and Bhasnet reveal that the individual belongs to the Rana ruling family. Shrestha is a higher-class surname while Kami is the Nepalese equivalent of Smith. Some Nepalese, especially those residing on the rural side, name their children after the day he/she was born. However, it is customary behavior among Hindu Nepalis to have their children named on the 11th day after their birth (1). For example, Dawa indicates the child was born on a Monday while Phurba denotes the child was born on Thursday. Similarly, Nyima indicates that the child was born on Sunday. The Nepalese naming convention is also a lot similar to Indian naming customs. The naming ceremony in Nepalese culture is known as ‘Nwaran,’ where the priest bestows a name upon the child after consulting the birth charts and astrology (1). After the baby is born, his or her horoscope, along with the chosen letter from the Devanagari, is given to the astrologer. The astrologer then has to find a suitable beginning sound from the particular letter according to the child’s horoscope. Some parents do not select any letter, entitling the naming responsibility entirely to the astrologer. Nepali names are commonly derived from Sanskrit and Pali languages and are also sometimes inspired by the beauty of Nepal (1). If you're looking for a unique name for your son or daughter, check out our list below which includes some of the beautiful and traditional Nepali baby boy and girl names with meanings.
Name | Gender | Meaning | |
---|---|---|---|
Aanga | Boy | Yard | |
Abiral | Boy | Never ending | |
Ahupathi | Boy | Follower of prayer; A devotee | |
Alina | Girl | Beautiful; Bright | |
Alisha | Girl | Noble | |
Amir | Boy | Ruler; Prince; Commander | |
Baburam | Boy | Leader of a rebellion; Head of an uprising; Referring to Lord Ram as the leader | |
Baijanthi | Girl | A flower | |
Balapuspika | Girl | The young blossom; The young flower | |
Ballabh | Boy | Beloved | |
Batsa | Boy | Nepali variant of Vatsa; Son | |
Batsal | Boy | A variant of Vatsal; Love or affection | |
Bhavaroopa | Girl | One who is unique | |
Bhavisana | Girl | Divine | |
Bhintuna | Boy | Wishes | |
Bibek | Boy | Conscience, ethics | |
Bilhana | Girl | A woman of the dawn; Of the morning | |
Binsa | Girl | A woman who is fearless | |
Biswabandita | Girl | A name of Goddess Durga | |
Chaarumathi | Girl | One who is beautiful and intelligent | |
Chaha | Girl | Love, wish or desire | |
Chalise | Unisex | A ceremonial drinking cup | |
Chantin | Girl | Moon | |
Chatushkarni | Girl | One of the names of Goddess Lakshmi. | |
Chenbagam | Girl | Name of a flower | |
Chimini | Girl | Light | |
Chirashree | Girl | A woman with everlasting beauty | |
Chirasmi | Girl | A long life | |
Chitavake | Boy | The eye of Lord Shiva | |
Daxa | Girl | One who is clever | |
Devance | Boy | Part of god; Presence of god; A part of Lord Krishna | |
Devna | Girl | Godly; Divine | |
Devnand | Boy | Lord Krishna | |
Dexa | Girl | To teach | |
Dhanvi | Girl | A woman who is rich and wealthy; One of the names of Goddess Lakshmi | |
Dhonu | Boy | King | |
Dhriti | Girl | One who has courage and patience | |
Dhyansh | Boy | Attention; An attentive person | |
Ditya | Girl | Another name of Goddess Durga; Answer to prayers | |
Divsimar | Boy | One who remembers God | |
Druhi | Girl | Daughter | |
Drupadh | Boy | The great king | |
Dvarika | Boy | Name of Lord Krishna's capital | |
Eenakshi | Girl | A doe eyed woman | |
Eeshvi | Girl | God | |
Ehani | Girl | Song | |
Etisha | Girl | Beginning after the end | |
Faalgunee | Girl | The day of the full moon | |
Faneel | Boy | Sea waves | |
Fatehjit | Girl | One who is victorious in whatever he does | |
Feba | Girl | The source of light | |
Feshikha | Girl | Princess | |
Fuli | Girl | To bloom like a flower | |
Gamya | Girl | A beautiful destiny | |
Garvesh | Boy | Proud; One of the many names of Lord Ganesha | |
Gavya | Girl | Garden of God | |
Geetu | Girl | Someone who's very special | |
Gianprakash | Boy | Light of devine knoledge | |
Gigyansh | Boy | Being curious about something | |
Girivardhan | Boy | A name of Lord Venkateshwara | |
Girvesh | Boy | A name of Lord Shiva | |
Gnapika | Girl | An intelligent woman | |
Griva | Girl | A woman with a beautiful singing voice | |
Gurratan | Boy | The diamond of God | |
Gurrehmat | Boy | Kindness or mercy | |
Hanit | Girl | A beautiful diamond | |
Hanka | Girl | Grace or favor | |
Haral | Girl | Time after the sunset | |
Harnoop | Boy | The beautiful person of God | |
Hartaj | Boy | The crown of God | |
Hasri | Girl | One who is always happy and joyful | |
Heena | Girl | Myrtle | |
Hekshith | Boy | Made up of gold or diamond | |
Hiranjan | Boy | The one who delights his parents. | |
Hiransh | Boy | A part of diamond | |
Hitu | Girl | Well wisher | |
Idha | Girl | Insight | |
Ihina | Girl | Enthusiasm | |
Ikroop | Girl | Beauteous form | |
Iloosha | Boy | Lord of the earth | |
Imay | Boy | One with an independent nature; One who likes being independent | |
Indradu | Boy | Desired by Lord Indra | |
Indragop | Boy | Glow or light | |
Iniya | Girl | Sweet | |
Iraianbu | Boy | Divine love | |
Ishya | Girl | The season of Spring | |
Ita | Girl | Oil lamp | |
Izna | Girl | Light | |
Jaysha | Boy | Office | |
Juddha | Boy | War; A variant of Yuddha | |
Kaneila | Girl | Beautiful like a rose | |
Kasmitha | Girl | Angel | |
Khyana | Girl | Light or deity | |
Kiran | Boy | Dust; Beam of light | |
Kopisha | Girl | An intelligent and wise woman. | |
Krishna | Boy | Dark | |
Kwina | Girl | Queen | |
Liniksha | Girl | A lovable woman | |
Liswini | Girl | A beautiful woman | |
Logaratchagi | Girl | A woman with bright eyes | |
The charm of Nepali names lies in the languages it has been derived from, that is Sanskrit and Pali. Nepali baby names serve not only as a form of identification of an individual but it also indicates the individual’s caste, location, profession, and ethnicity. The naming ceremony or Nwaran ensures that Nepali babies are given meaningful names that match their individual self. This curated list of Nepali baby names allows parents to explore the fascinating names that emerged from the land of the mountains.
Infographic: Adorable Nepali Baby Names With Meanings
Nepali baby names are indicative of one’s profession, place of birth, and ethnicity. These names are commonly derived from the Pali and Sanskrit languages and are occasionally inspired by Nepal’s aesthetic surroundings. If you are looking for a Nepali name for your little one, look at the infographic below to get a glimpse of the enchanting nature of Nepali names.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which name is most popular in Nepal?
The most popular name in Nepal varies over time and can be influenced by cultural and regional factors. However, according to recent statistics, Rama is the most popular boy’s name followed by Krsna, Lakshmi, and Mana.
2. How do Nepali baby boy names reflect the culture of other South Asian countries, such as India or Bangladesh?
Nepali baby boy names, while distinctively Nepali, often share cultural influences and similarities with other South Asian countries like India and Bangladesh. Nepalese names often derive from Sanskrit and Pali (2), with a significant Hindu population comprising part of the Indo-Aryan language family. Nepal shares borders with India and has ethnic communities with historical ties to specific regions in India and Bangladesh. As a result, Nepali baby boy names may reflect regional or ethnic connections with these countries (3).
3. What are some potential cultural or linguistic misunderstandings that may arise while choosing a Nepali baby boy name without understanding its meaning or significance?
Choosing a Nepali baby boy name without understanding its meaning or significance may lead to potential cultural or linguistic misunderstandings. Without knowledge of the name's meaning, you may unintentionally select one that has a negative or inappropriate connotation in Nepali culture. It can also lead to mispronunciations and may also hinder effective communication and connection with the culture.
4. How do Nepali baby boy names reflect the values and beliefs of Nepali society, and how can I choose a name that aligns with my own values?
Many Nepali names are derived from Hindu, Buddhist, or other religious traditions prevalent in Nepal (3). In Nepal, naming conventions exhibit diversity. Typically, the eldest member of Nepalese households announces the names of the children (2). When choosing a Nepali baby boy name, Choose a name that resonates with your values, such as virtues you admire, spiritual beliefs you embrace, or cultural aspects that hold significance for you.
References
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.