10 baby names that mean ‘immortal’ or ‘everlasting’

Introduction

In Sanskrit and many Indian languages, words such as amara (अमर — immortal), nitya (नित्य — eternal), and akṣaya (अक्षय — imperishable, inexhaustible) carry spiritual and cosmological weight. Names drawn from these roots are often chosen to invoke continuity, resilience, or a connection to the eternal — ideas central to Hindu thought across Shaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Śākta and Smārta traditions. Below are ten names used for babies that mean “immortal,” “everlasting” or “conqueror of death,” with brief notes on etymology, scriptural associations, gender use and variant spellings.

How to read these entries

Each name is followed by a short gloss, the usual gender usage, a pronunciation hint, and notes on classical sources or devotional associations. Hindu traditions interpret names in different ways; where relevant, I point to how a name appears in Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava or other contexts.

10 names that mean “immortal” or “everlasting”

1. Amara (अमर)

• Meaning: “Immortal,” “deathless.”
• Gender: Mostly feminine in modern usage, but historically unmarked.
• Pronunciation: AH-mah-rah.
• Notes: Amara is a common poetic term in classical Sanskrit literature for beings or qualities beyond death. It also appears as an epithet for gods in some Puranic passages. Variants: Amar (masculine).

2. Amar (अमर)

• Meaning: “Immortal,” “undying.”
• Gender: Masculine.
• Pronunciation: AH-mar.
• Notes: Simple and direct; used across languages in India. In devotional contexts, gods or siddhas are sometimes called amar in a poetic sense.

3. Amrita (अमृत)

• Meaning: “Immortalising drink,” usually translated as “nectar” or “ambrosia.”
• Gender: Feminine.
• Pronunciation: uh-MREE-tuh.
• Notes: In Vedic and Purāṇic stories, amrita is the divine nectar obtained in the nectar-churning (Samudra-manthana). It represents literal and symbolic immortality. Used as a name to suggest life-giving, spiritual sustenance.

4. Akshaya (अक्षय)

• Meaning: “Imperishable,” “inexhaustible.”
• Gender: Unisex (often feminine in contemporary usage).
• Pronunciation: uhk-SHAY-uh.
• Notes: The festival Akshaya Tritiya (अक्षय त्रितीय) uses the same root to suggest an auspicious, never-decreasing quality. The term appears in many Dharma and ritual contexts to denote permanence.

5. Akshara (अक्षर)

• Meaning: “Imperishable,” also “letter/syllable” — especially the sacred syllable oṁ.
• Gender: Mostly feminine.
• Pronunciation: uhk-SHAH-rah.
• Notes: In Vedanta and mantra theory, akshara signifies the imperishable reality (brahman) or the unchanging syllable. This name carries explicit metaphysical overtones.

6. Ananta / Anant (अनन्त)

• Meaning: “Endless,” “infinite,” “without end.”
• Gender: Anant often masculine; Ananta appears as both masculine and feminine forms.
• Pronunciation: uh-NAHN-tuh / uh-NAHNT.
• Notes: In Vaiṣṇava tradition, Ananta (the serpent) is the cosmic bed of Viṣṇu and symbolizes endless time. The word is widely used in philosophical texts to indicate the infinite nature of the Self or Brahman.

7. Nitya (नित्य)

• Meaning: “Eternal,” “always,” “constant.”
• Gender: Commonly feminine but used as unisex in some regions.
• Pronunciation: NIT-yuh.
• Notes: Used in many compound names (e.g., Nityananda — “eternal bliss”). In Hindu metaphysics, distinguishing the nitya (eternal) from the anitya (impermanent) is a central theme.

8. Shashvat / Sashvata (शाश्वत)

• Meaning: “Perennial,” “everlasting,” “stable.”
• Gender: Shashvat typically masculine; Sashvata a neutral or feminine form.
• Pronunciation: SHAASH-vut / sash-VAH-tuh.
• Notes: Common in classical Sanskrit to describe eternal dharma or timeless truths. Found in philosophical and poetic literature.

9. Chiranjeevi (चिरंजीवी)

• Meaning: “Long-lived,” literally “one who lives for a long time” or “immortal.”
• Gender: Masculine (used as a respectful epithet sometimes for female saints too).
• Pronunciation: chi-RUN-jee-vee.
• Notes: In Puranic lists, certain figures (e.g., Hanumān, Ashvatthama, Vyasa) are called chiranjeevi. The term implies exceptional longevity rather than absolute theological immortality.

10. Mrityunjaya / Mritunjay (मृत्युञ्जय)

• Meaning: “Conqueror of death.”
• Gender: Masculine.
• Pronunciation: mri-tyoon-JUH-yuh / mrit-un-JAY.
• Notes: An epithet of Śiva in the Śiva Pūjā and the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (a classical Vedic/Smarta devotional text), where Śiva is invoked as one who overcomes death. In devotional practice this name stresses victory over mortality rather than literal immortality; commentators vary on metaphysical readings.

Naming notes and cultural context

Choosing a name in Hindu families may involve language, family lineage, caste or community traditions, horoscope (janma kuṇḍalī), and preferences for sound and meaning. Some families prefer names tied to a particular deity or to a significant festival tithi; others prioritize simple meanings. Interpretations of “immortal” differ — in some schools it points to spiritual liberation (mokṣa), in others to poetic or mythic longevity.

Where a name links to a deity or mantra (for instance, Mrityunjaya with Śiva), families sometimes consult priests or elders about suitability. This is a cultural practice rather than a requirement; choices should respect family sentiments and the child’s later autonomy. Plain practical note: consider how the name sounds in day-to-day use and how it will appear on official documents.

Across traditions, names that suggest the eternal are appreciated for their positive connotations. At the same time, many commentators stress humility: a name can point to an ideal (everlasting wisdom, resilience, devotion) even if literal immortality lies within theological debate.