10 Baby Names That Mean ‘Devotee of Vishnu’

Introduction — what “devotee of Vishnu” can mean in a name

In Hindu naming practice, devotion is often expressed directly in the meaning of a name. Two common Sanskrit building blocks are dāsa — “servant” or “devotee” — and bhakta — “devotee.” Attach these to names or epithets of Vishnu (for example, Hari, Kṛṣṇa, Mādhava, Venkatesha) and you get names that explicitly mean “devotee of Vishnu.” Interpretations and usage vary by region and tradition: in Gaudiya, Vaishnava and Haridasa lineages, such forms are common; in other communities the same forms may be rare or used with different nuances. The list below gives ten names that convey the sense “devotee/servant of Vishnu,” with pronunciation, gender notes and cultural context.

Practical note: spellings vary (Das, Dasa, Dās; Bhakta, Bhakt) across languages. If you follow a ritual naming or astrological tradition, consult your family priest or guru for the customary form.

• Haridāsa (Haridas)
  • Meaning: “servant/devotee of Hari” — Hari being one of Vishnu’s principal names.
  • Pronunciation: HA-ri-daa-sa / HA-rid-as.
  • Gender: usually masculine; feminine forms (Haridasi) are possible.
  • Notes: The Haridasa movement (Karnataka) produced composers such as Purandara Dāsa and Kanaka Dāsa. Widely used across South India and among Vaishnava communities.
• Haribhakta
  • Meaning: “devotee of Hari (Vishnu).”
  • Pronunciation: HA-ri-bhak-ta.
  • Gender: masculine in common use; can be adapted.
  • Notes: More literal than popular; emphasizes the devotional identity rather than an individual epithet of the Lord.
• Viṣṇudāsa / Vishnudasa
  • Meaning: “servant/devotee of Viṣṇu” (Vishnu).
  • Pronunciation: vish-NOO-daa-sa.
  • Gender: typically masculine; feminine patterns exist.
  • Notes: A literal and unambiguous form. Variants like “Vishnudas” and regional spellings are common in many Indian languages.
• Nārāyaṇa-dāsa (Narayan Das)
  • Meaning: “servant/devotee of Nārāyaṇa” — Nārāyaṇa is a classical name of Vishnu.
  • Pronunciation: na-RAA-ya-na daa-sa / NA-ra-yan DAS.
  • Gender: masculine common.
  • Notes: Very common in North India. Many saintly figures and household names use this form; it fits well with family naming conventions.
• Kṛṣṇadāsa / Krishnadas
  • Meaning: “servant of Kṛṣṇa” — Kṛṣṇa is a principal avatar of Vishnu.
  • Pronunciation: KRISH-na-daa-sa.
  • Gender: masculine; female equivalents (Kṛṣṇadāsī) used historically.
  • Notes: Widely used across Vaishnava traditions (e.g., Gaudiya, Pushti Marg). Because Kṛṣṇa is an avatar, names invoking him are commonly understood as Vaishnava names.
• Govindadāsa / Govind Das
  • Meaning: “servant of Govinda” — Govinda is another beloved name of Kṛṣṇa/Vishnu.
  • Pronunciation: go-VIN-da daa-sa.
  • Gender: masculine.
  • Notes: Common among devotional singers and bhakti lineages; also appears in Bengali and Punjabi usage.
• Mādhavādāsa / Madhavadas
  • Meaning: “servant of Mādhava” — Mādhava is an epithet of Vishnu/Kṛṣṇa (often associated with spring and Lakshmi).
  • Pronunciation: maa-DHA-vaa-daa-sa.
  • Gender: usually masculine.
  • Notes: The name carries literary and classical overtones; often found in Sanskritised forms in the north and in devotional families across India.
• Venkatesa-dāsa / Venkata Das
  • Meaning: “servant of Venkatesha” — Venkatesha is a popular form of Vishnu worshipped at Tirupati.
  • Pronunciation: ven-KA-te-sha daa-sa / VEN-ka-ta DAS.
  • Gender: masculine commonly; variants exist.
  • Notes: Strong South Indian association because of the Tirupati temple; used by devotees and temple families.
• Vishnubhakta (Viṣṇubhakta)
  • Meaning: “devotee of Viṣṇu.”
  • Pronunciation: vish-NOO-bhak-ta.
  • Gender: masculine in day-to-day use; the root bhakta is grammatically flexible.
  • Notes: A literal form that emphasizes the devotional identity rather than a particular epithet of the Lord.
• Vaishnavi / Vaishnava
  • Meaning: “follower/ devotee of Viṣṇu” (female form: Vaishnavi; male: Vaishnava/Vaishnav).
  • Pronunciation: vai-SHNA-vi / vai-SHNA-va.
  • Gender: Vaishnavi is usually feminine; Vaishnava masculine.
  • Notes: Also denotes the Vaishnava community/tradition. Be aware that Vaishnavi is also used as a name of the goddess in some contexts; usages vary by region and sect.

Choosing a name — respectful considerations

When choosing a name that declares devotional identity, families often weigh language, regional pronunciation, and sectarian practice. In some Vaishnava lineages, initiation brings a devotional name (often with the suffix dāsa); in family use a similar form may be chosen at birth. Across Śaiva, Śākta and Smārta households such names are sometimes adopted simply as cultural tradition rather than as a sectarian statement. If you follow a formal sampradāya, consult your guru or elder; for civil records, prefer the simplest standard transliteration. Finally, because naming touches community and ritual life, ask elders about customary forms and nicknames.

Note on variations: spellings like Das, Dasa, Dās, Bhakta may change with language; pronunciations follow local phonetics. Meanings given here reflect standard Sanskrit derivation; actual usage may have local or sectarian shades.