10 Modern Baby Names that are Synonyms for Lord Ganesha

Introduction

Choosing a baby name that honours a deity is a longstanding practice across Indian communities. For many families, Lord Ganesha — the remover of obstacles and the lord of beginnings — inspires names that carry devotional meaning as well as lyrical sound. Below are ten modern baby names that are synonyms or epithets of Ganesha, each given with a brief gloss, pronunciation help, scriptural or cultural notes, and suggested modern spellings. I give short notes on usage and interpretive range; different śāstric and folk traditions enumerate Ganesha’s names differently (see the Ganesha Purāṇa, the Mudgala Purāṇa and various nāma-stotras), so descriptions below are concise and cautious.

Ten names (synonyms) of Lord Ganesha suited for babies

1. Ganesh / Ganesha

Meaning: Lord of the gaṇa (attendants). Pronunciation: GA-nesh / GA-nesh-a. Variants: Ganesh, Ganesha, Ganēśa.

Notes: The most widely used name in contemporary India. Appears across purāṇic literature and śāstric lists. Commonly used for boys; in some families it is used as a theophoric element in compound names.

2. Ganapati

Meaning: Head or lord of the gaṇas. Pronunciation: GA-na-pa-ti. Variants: Ganapathi, Ganapathy.

Notes: Frequent in temple names and festival invocations. The Gānapati Atharvashirsha and other texts use this epithet. Often used as a masculine name.

3. Vinayaka / Vinayak

Meaning: Supreme guide or leader; sometimes read as “remover of ignorance.” Pronunciation: vi-NAY-a-ka / vi-NAY-ak. Variants: Vinayak, Vinayaka, Vinaya (feminine form used separately).

Notes: Very popular across India, especially in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The name appears in classical and folk sources; Vinayaka Chaturthi (festival) is named for this epithet.

4. Vighnesh / Vighneshvara

Meaning: Lord of obstacles (one who controls obstacles). Pronunciation: vig-NESH / vig-nesh-VAR-a. Variants: Vighnesh, Vighneshwar, Vighneshvara.

Notes: Seen in many regional naming patterns; used when invoking Ganesha as remover and placer of obstacles. The suffix “-vara” implies sovereignty.

5. Siddhivinayak

Meaning: Bestower of success and spiritual attainments. Pronunciation: sid-dhi-vi-NAY-ak. Variant: Siddhivinayaka.

Notes: Also the name of a famous temple in Mumbai. Common as a masculine given name; implies aspiration for achievement and spiritual fulfilment. In temple tradition, this epithet points to Ganesha’s role as grantor of siddhi (success, spiritual powers).

6. Ekadanta

Meaning: One-tusked (Eka = one, danta = tooth/tusk). Pronunciation: e-ka-DAN-ta.

Notes: A classical descriptive epithet from purāṇic stories (Ganesha broke one tusk). Used as a modern, distinctive male name. It points to sacrifice and the writing of the Mahābhārata in some tellings (Vyasa’s scribe), though narratives vary by region.

7. Lambodara / Lambodar

Meaning: Big-bellied (lambo = long/large; udara/dhara = belly). Pronunciation: lam-bo-DA-ra / lam-bo-DAR.

Notes: An affectionate, venerable epithet that surfaces in devotional songs and iconography. Used as a masculine name; conveys abundance and patience in classical symbolism.

8. Gajanana

Meaning: Elephant-faced (gaja = elephant, anana = face). Pronunciation: ga-ja-NA-na.

Notes: Popular as a personal name and in devotional poetry. Emphasises the elephant-headed aspect of the deity; appears frequently in stotras and temple inscriptions.

9. Vakratunda

Meaning: Curved-trunked (vakra = curved, tunda = trunk). Pronunciation: vak-ra-TUN-da.

Notes: An evocative name used in children’s prayers and bhajans (“Vakratunda Mahākaya…”). It’s sometimes chosen for its poetic sound and direct devotional resonance.

10. Heramba

Meaning: Protector of the weak or the mother’s beloved (contextual; Heramba is a five-faced form of Ganesha in some tantric and purāṇic sources). Pronunciation: he-RAM-ba.

Notes: Less commonly used than some other epithets but found in classical lists of Ganesha names. In certain Śākta and tantric contexts, Heramba is a specific iconographic form; families sometimes choose it for its protective connotation.

Practical notes for modern parents

• Gender and spelling: Most of these epithets function as masculine names in current usage, though some forms (e.g., Vinaya as a feminine variant) can be adapted. Spellings vary regionally; consider pronunciation and local script when finalising.
• Cultural sensitivity: Using a deity’s name as a personal name is common in India, but families may choose to observe naming rites (nāmakaraṇa) and consult elders or priests if they follow specific traditions.
• Interpretive diversity: Different texts and regions emphasise different attributes of Ganesha; the short glosses above reflect common meanings but are not exhaustive. For scriptural depth, names appear across the Ganesha Purāṇa, Mudgala Purāṇa and various nāma-stotras.
• Final thought: A name drawn from Ganesha’s many epithets connects a child to a long devotional language and a cultural practice of invoking auspicious beginnings. Families often balance meaning, sound, and family tradition when choosing the final form.