Worshipping Lord Shiva, the supreme being and most revered god in Hinduism, is a time-honored tradition. Shiva is known by many names that reflect his benevolence, his destructive powers, and his role in dance and arts. Not surprisingly, parents like to choose hindu boy names after Lord Shiva that signify the god's attributes they hope their son imbibes. If you want your baby boy's name to show your devotion and respect to Mahadev, here are some options along with their interesting meanings and origins from Hindu scripts and folklore.
Rudra: It literally means "the roarer". As per the Vedas and Puranas, it's another name for Lord Shiva that highlights his fierce and destructive tendencies.
Bholenath: It means "the innocent lord" and points to Shiva's benevolent and simple-hearted nature.
Mritunjay: Meaning "the conqueror of death". It signifies Shiva's power over mortality and death.
Chandrashekhar: A combination of Chandra (moon) and Shekhar (crest) referring to the legend that Shiva wears the crescent moon on his head.
Girish: It means "the lord of the mountains". As legends go, Shiva meditates in seclusion on Mount Kailash. So Girish evokes his strong connection to the high mountains.
Mahakal: Maha means "great" and Kaal means "time/death". An epithet celebrating Shiva as above the constraints of time and lord of death.
Bholashankar: Bhola means "innocent/simple" and Shankar means "giver of joy". It thus represents Shiva's innocent and joyful qualities.
Somanath: Soma refers to the moon and Nath means "the master". So it means Shiva as "master of the moon".
Govind: Meaning "finder of cows". It alludes to the legends of Shiva as protector of cows which Hindus revere.
Bilwadbhut: Bilwa is the sacred bel tree. Adhbhut means "wondrous". The name celebrates Shiva's wonder with just bel leaves and water.
Nilkanth – Meaning “blue throat”. It signifies the legend of Shiva drinking poison and it getting stuck in his throat, turning it blue.
Pashupati – Lord of animals or beasts. Shiva as the divine protector of animal life and forests.
Jyotirbhanu – Jyoti means light or flame and bhanu means sun. This name highlights Shiva’s bright and radiant personality.
Ardhanarishwara – Half man and half woman. Refers to the combined male-female avatar of Shiva-Parvati as one unified being.
Umapati – Uma means Parvati and Pati means husband. So this name signifies Shiva as Parvati’s beloved husband.
Andhak – Meaning “blind”. Alludes to the story of demon Andhak getting three eyes like Shiva after penance.
Sambhu – It means “source of happiness”. Celebrates Shiva’s blissful and cheerful persona that uplifts devotees.
Jatadhari – Refers to Shiva’s matted locks of hair, symbolizing his ascetic spirit and indifference to material aspects of living.
Pinakin – Means “wielder of the Pinaka bow”. Shiva used the Pinaka bow to destroy the three demonic cities.
Gangadhara – Meaning lord bearing River Ganga. Refers to the legend of Ganga flowing through Shiva's hair locks.
Lokapal – Lok means world and Pal means guardian. So this name means “guardian of the world”, highlighting Shiva as benevolent caretaker of all life.
Virupaksha – Virupa means distorted and Aksha means eyes. Refers to Shiva’s fiery third eye, symbolic of activating one’s internal conscience.
Mahayogi – Maha means great and Yogi refers to ascetic. Mahayogi evokes Shiva as the ideal ascetic, the supreme master of yoga and meditation.
Nandikeshvara – Consort of goddess Parvati. Nandi was the divine bull mount of Shiva, always dutifully by the god’s side.
Bhutesh – Means god or ruler of all living beings, reflecting Shiva's role as the paramount caretaker of life on earth.
Trilochana – Tri means three and lochana refers to eyes. It represents Shiva's three eyes, the third one indicating a heightened inner awareness.
Kailashnath – Master of Mount Kailash, the divine mountain abode of Shiva known for its natural splendor and seclusion.
Jagdish – Means 'Ruler of the world'. As one of the Hindu Trinity alongside Brahma and Vishnu, Shiva is master of all creation.
Rudrapati - Another name for Shiva, Rudra refers to his fierce side while Pati means master.
Dakshinamurti - Dakshina means south and murti is image/idol. It celebrates Shiva as the south-facing deity, epitome of wisdom and knowledge.
Avimuktesh – Avi means not and mukta means liberation. It refers to Shiva's ability to grant ultimate liberation from the cycles of birth and death.
Ekosh – Eko means concentrated and Ish means God. It evokes Shiva's single-focused meditation and the source of his serenity.
Kailas Lenath – Means “Lord of Kailas”, referring to Shiva calling Mount Kailas his home for deep meditation.
Shvetavesh – Shveta means white and vesha means clothes. Refers to the legend of Shiva wearing tiger skin and ashes/dust as garments.
Nagendr – Naga means snake and Indra means king, signifying Shiva’s lordship over all serpents and nagas.
Trilokesh – Tri means three and lok means worlds. Refers to Shiva presiding over the three realms of earth, space, and netherworlds in creation.
Vishwanath – Vishwa means universe and Nath means lord. So it means Shiva as lord presiding over the entire universe.
Shankarnath – Another name for Shiva converging his benevolent and ascetic nature. Shankara means auspicious and Nath means master.
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