10 baby names that mean ‘hope and faith’

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On October 18, 2025

Why names of “hope” and “faith” matter

Names carry layers: linguistic meaning, mythic memory, and the moral qualities parents wish to encourage. In Hindu traditions, words like āśā — “hope, expectation” — and śraddhā — “faith, trust” — appear in scripture, hymn and daily prayer. Different schools (Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Śākta, Smārta) may emphasize particular virtues or deities, but choosing a name that evokes hope or faith is a cross-community gesture of aspiration.

Ten baby names that mean (or evoke) hope and faith

Asha (Āśā)

Meaning: Hope, expectation.
Root/notes: From Sanskrit āśā. Widely used in modern India as Asha; simple pronunciation: AH-sha.
Gender: Mostly feminine, used unisex in some regions.
Associations: Conveys optimism and longing; commonly chosen for its direct meaning and easy sound across languages.
Variants: Āsha, Aasha.

Shraddha (Śraddhā)

Meaning: Faith, reverent trust, devotional confidence.
Root/notes: Sanskrit śraddhā appears in classical literature and devotional texts; pronounced SHRAH-dha.
Gender: Primarily feminine; masculine form or related epithets exist (e.g., Shraddhavan — “one endowed with faith”).
Scriptural context: Many philosophical and Bhakti texts discuss śraddhā as a key quality for spiritual practice; commentators note its centrality across traditions.
Variants: Shraddha, Sraddha.

Vishwas (Viśvāsa)

Meaning: Trust, confidence, faith.
Root/notes: From Sanskrit/Hindi usage; pronunciation: VISH-wahs.
Gender: Commonly masculine in Hindi-speaking regions but used unisex.
Associations: Often used to express trust between people or trust in the divine; familiar in modern names and phrases.

Pratyasha (Pratyāśā)

Meaning: Expectation, hope, desire for a particular outcome.
Root/notes: From Sanskrit pratyāśā. Pronunciation: pruh-TYAH-sha.
Gender: Mostly feminine.
Usage: Chosen by parents seeking a name that signals hopeful anticipation; not to be confused with similarly spelled names meaning “dawn.”

Pratiksha (Pratīkṣā)

Meaning: Waiting, expectation; often implies patient hope.
Root/notes: Sanskrit pratīkṣā. Pronounced prah-TEEK-sha.
Gender: Primarily feminine.
Associations: Evokes the virtue of patient waiting — a long-valued quality in devotional and household life.

Apeksha (Apekṣā)

Meaning: Expectation, regard, hope.
Root/notes: Sanskrit apekṣā. Pronunciation: uh-PEK-sha.
Gender: Mostly feminine; used in modern India across languages.
Notes: Linguistically close to “expectation” in both philosophical and everyday registers.

Nishtha (Niṣṭhā)

Meaning: Firmness, steadiness, devotion; a quality of committed faith.
Root/notes: Sanskrit niṣṭhā. Pronounced NIS-tha (or NISH-tha).
Gender: Feminine in name form; the concept is used across genders in Sanskrit literature.
Philosophical use: Used in spiritual texts to indicate steadfast practice or resolute devotion; commentators across schools treat it as a stabilising virtue.

Nischay / Nischaya (Niścaya)

Meaning: Conviction, certainty, firm resolve.
Root/notes: Sanskrit niścaya. Pronunciation: NISH-chay or NIS-chay-ah for the longer form.
Gender: Usually masculine in modern use; unisex variants occur.
Connotation: Suggests resolute faith or determined hope — useful where parents want emphatic confidence embedded in a name.

Pratyaya (Pratyaya)

Meaning: Belief, confidence, cause or reason (in grammar it has technical senses).
Root/notes: Sanskrit pratyaya. Pronounced pruh-TYAH-yuh.
Gender: Used as a masculine or neutral name in modern contexts.
Notes: Carries both philosophical weight (trust, conviction) and linguistic texture (in classical grammar, a technical term).

Usha (Uṣā)

Meaning: Dawn; often read as a symbol of hope and new beginnings.
Root/notes: The goddess Uṣā appears in the Rigveda as the personified dawn; pronunciation: OO-sha or UH-sha depending on region.
Gender: Feminine.
Associations: Uṣā’s hymns in the Vedas and later poetry associate dawn with renewal — an implicit form of hope across traditions.

Practical notes for choosing

When picking a name: consider regional pronunciation, script (Devanagari, Tamil, Kannada, etc.), and family customs such as Namakarana (naming ceremony). Some families prefer names with clear Sanskrit roots; others choose modern or vernacular forms. If you intend ritual alignment (e.g., matching a name to a nakshatra or gotra custom), consult a trusted family elder or priest who respects your tradition.

Respectful diversity: Meanings can have shades: in some texts śraddhā denotes devotional trust, while in philosophical commentaries it can denote intellectual conviction. Similarly, symbols like dawn (Uṣā) read as hope in poetry but have specific mythic roles in ritual. A humble approach — recognising layers — keeps choices grounded.

Final thought

Names that evoke hope and faith are both personal and communal: they shape how a child is greeted by language and story. Whether you choose the direct clarity of Asha or the devotional depth of Shraddha, the name will enter daily prayers, school roll calls and family stories. Think about sound, meaning and the traditions you wish the name to carry forward.