10 baby names that mean ‘wind’ or ‘breeze’

Intro

Below are ten Sanskrit-rooted baby names that mean “wind” or “breeze,” with short notes on sense, pronunciation, gender tendencies and cultural or scriptural resonances. I use a neutral, descriptive tone: Sanskrit words like vayu (wind) and prana (breath, life-force) have layered meanings across Vedic, Puranic and classical devotional literature, and different communities may emphasise different associations.

The names

1. Vayu

• Meaning: Wind; also the Vedic deity of wind.
• Pronunciation: VAH-yu.
• Gender: Typically masculine.
• Notes: Vayu is a major figure in the Rigveda and later Puranic texts. In popular tradition he is also described as the father of Hanuman and Bhima (epithet: Vayuputra — “son of Vayu”). Using Vayu as a name carries clear religious resonance for some families.

2. Pavan / Pavana

• Meaning: Wind; purifier (literally “that which purifies”).
• Pronunciation: PAH-van / PAH-vuh-nuh.
• Gender: Mostly masculine, Pavana sometimes used poetically.
• Notes: Pavana appears as an epithet for the wind and is used in devotional contexts (for example, as an element in names like Pavanaputra). It emphasises the cleansing aspect of breeze in ritual and poetic language.

3. Anil (Anila)

• Meaning: Wind, air.
• Pronunciation: AH-nil (Anila: AH-nee-luh).
• Gender: Anil usually masculine; Anila can be unisex.
• Notes: Anila appears as one of the Vasus in some Puranic lists. The name is common in modern India and crosses linguistic regions.

4. Samir / Sameer / Samira

• Meaning: Breeze, gentle wind.
• Pronunciation: sah-MEER (Sameer); sah-MEE-rah (Samira).
• Gender: Samir/Sameer masculine; Samira feminine.
• Notes: Samira/Samir is used across South Asia and has a parallel Arabic name Sameer with different roots and meanings; in Indian usage the Sanskrit sense of “breeze” is prominent.

5. Marut / Maruti

• Meaning: Storm-wind; the Maruts are the storm deities in Vedic literature.
• Pronunciation: MAH-root (Marut); MAH-roo-tee (Maruti).
• Gender: Marut masculine; Maruti commonly masculine and devotional (Hanuman is often called Maruti).
• Notes: The Maruts appear frequently in the Rigveda. Maruti is also a popular devotional name associated with Hanuman in many bhakti traditions.

6. Vata

• Meaning: Wind, air; in classical contexts the “wind-principle.”
• Pronunciation: VAA-tuh.
• Gender: Usually masculine when used as a name, though rare.
• Notes: Vata is also an important term in Ayurveda (one of the three doshas, often translated as wind or movement-principle). That medical-philosophical usage is widespread; some families avoid the name for that reason, others embrace the elemental sense.

7. Udana

• Meaning: Upward-moving breath or vital air; one of the five prana (vital airs) in classical yoga and Ayurvedic literature.
• Pronunciation: OO-dah-nah.
• Gender: Usually masculine or unisex.
• Notes: Because udana is a technical term in yogic physiology, some choose it for its spiritual nuance (uplift, voice, vitality). If you follow breath practices, consult a qualified teacher—pranayama can affect health.

8. Vayavya

• Meaning: “Of the wind” or “wind-born”; an adjective found in Vedic contexts.
• Pronunciation: VAY-uhv-yuh.
• Gender: Typically masculine or neutral.
• Notes: Vayavya is less common as a modern personal name but has a strong Vedic flavour and may appeal to families seeking an explicitly classical form.

9. Pavanaja

• Meaning: Born of the wind (pavana + ja = “wind-born”).
• Pronunciation: PAH-vuh-nuh-juh.
• Gender: Mostly masculine in traditional use.
• Notes: This compound form appears in devotional and poetic registers. It reads as a respectful, slightly formal name with mythic undertones.

10. Vayuputra / Pavanaputra (as a name element)

• Meaning: “Son of Vayu” or “son of the wind.”
• Pronunciation: VAH-yu-poo-truh / PAH-vuh-nuh-poo-truh.
• Gender: Masculine (compound epithets are often masculine).
• Notes: These are typically epithets (e.g., Hanuman is called Pavanaputra). Some families use the compound as an affectionate or devotional personal name; others prefer the shorter root (Vayu, Pavan).

Practical notes for parents

• Regional forms: Sanskrit roots change slightly across languages (Samir / Sameer, Anil / Anil). Try the name in your home tongue to check flow and pronunciation.
• Religious resonance: Names tied to deities (Vayu, Maruti) have devotional weight in many families; different sampradayas (Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shakta, Smarta) will read slightly different significance into the same name.
• Auspicious timing: Many families consult tithi or nakshatra when naming. That practice varies widely; if you follow it, discuss the spelling form that matches the chosen syllable.
• Respectful use: If a name is a direct epithet of a major deity, be aware some communities treat certain usages as especially reverential.

All entries aim to be descriptive rather than prescriptive. Sanskrit words carry multiple layers—Vedic, Puranic, devotional and technical (yoga/Ayurveda)—so different readers may hear different echoes in the same name. If you plan ritual or breathwork practices connected to a name’s meaning, consult a knowledgeable family elder or qualified teacher as appropriate.