10 Indian baby names that mean ‘peace’

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On October 11, 2025

Shanti — peace, tranquility

Gender: usually feminine; used neutrally in modern naming.
Meaning & origin: From Sanskrit śānti — calmness, peace. The word appears across Vedic and Upanishadic layers and is central to the familiar śānti mantras invoked at the start and close of many texts and rituals.

Pronunciation: SHAHN-tee
Notes: Deeply classical and spiritual; carries an explicit ritual resonance (ending prayers with “Om Shanti”).
Nicknames: Shan, Shanu.

Shanta — calm, pacified

Gender: feminine.
Meaning & origin: Variant of śānta meaning “calm” or “pacified” in Sanskrit. In some tellings of the Rāmāyaṇa, Shanta is named as a daughter in the royal line, making the name both literary and traditional.

Pronunciation: SHAHN-tah
Notes: A classical name with connections to epic literature and devotional usage.
Nicknames: Shan, Tanu.

Shantanu — peaceful one

Gender: masculine.
Meaning & origin: From Sanskrit roots implying peacefulness; well known from the Mahābhārata as King Shantanu, the father of Bhīṣma. The name evokes royal dignity along with calm temperament.

Pronunciation: shahn-TAH-noo
Notes: Suits parents wanting a traditional, epic-derived name with a clear peace-theme.
Nicknames: Shanu, Tanu.

Prashant / Prashanth — very calm, tranquil

Gender: masculine (Prashanti as the feminine form).
Meaning & origin: From Sanskrit praśānta, meaning deeply calm or tranquil. The prefix pra‑ intensifies the root, so this conveys “profound peace.”

Pronunciation: pruh-SHAHNT (or pruh-SHAHNth)
Notes: Common across many Indian languages and used in contemporary and devotional contexts alike.
Nicknames: Prash, Shant.

Nirav — quiet, serene

Gender: masculine (also spelled Neerav).
Meaning & origin: From Sanskrit nirava / nīrava — silent, hushed, calm. The sense is not simply absence of noise but an inner stillness.

Pronunciation: NEE-ruhv or nih-RAHV
Notes: Modern-sounding and popular; carries contemplative connotations without strong sectarian ties.
Nicknames: Nir, Neeru.

Nirvāṇa — liberation, supreme peace

Gender: used neutrally as a given name in modern contexts.
Meaning & origin: Sanskrit nirvāṇa literally means “blown out” or extinguished; in Indian religious traditions it denotes release from samsāra (the cycle of birth and death) and the resulting peace. Interpretations differ across Buddhist and Hindu schools—Buddhist authors treat it as the ultimate soteriological state; some Hindu texts use related ideas of final rest and liberation.

Pronunciation: nir-VAH-nah
Caveat: This is a technical spiritual term in classical literature; parents sometimes choose it for its strong philosophical resonance rather than only its everyday sense of “peace.”

Shantideva — lord/servant of peace

Gender: masculine; historically a monastic name.
Meaning & origin: Compound of śānti (peace) + deva (god/lord). Most famously, Śāntideva was an 8th-century Indian Buddhist monk and the author of the Bodhicaryāvatāra (“Guide to the Bodhisattva Way”), a text that links compassion, ethical discipline and the pursuit of peace.

Pronunciation: shahn-TEE-day-vuh
Notes: Strongly associated with Buddhist intellectual and ethical traditions; carries both historical weight and a devotional tone.
Nicknames: Shanti, Deva.

Aman — safety, peace

Gender: masculine (widely used across genders in modern India).
Meaning & origin: A name of Persian/Arabic origin meaning “safety” or “peace,” but fully integrated into South Asian naming practice. Its widespread use across communities makes it a secular, pan-Indian choice for parents who value harmony.

Pronunciation: UH-mahn
Notes: Not Sanskrit, but culturally resonant across India; respectful and unsectarian in feel.
Nicknames: Aamu, Maan.

Maitrī — friendliness, loving-kindness

Gender: feminine/neuter.
Meaning & origin: From Sanskrit maitrī, related to mitra (friend). In Buddhist and Hindu literature, maitri describes a quality of friendliness and benevolent regard—an active peace-building disposition rather than mere absence of conflict.

Pronunciation: MY-tri or MY-tree
Notes: Philosophically rich: many commentators treat maitri as an ethical attitude that produces social peace.
Nicknames: Mai, Mitra.

How to choose—and how names are read in tradition

All of these names carry a clear peace-theme but different shades: some foreground inner quiet (nirav), some legal or ritual peace (śānti), some social harmony (maitri), and others point to philosophical liberation (nirvāṇa). In Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Śākta and Smārta families, choice may reflect scripture, family tradition, or regional language. For example, epic names like Shantanu appeal to families looking for a classical/Hindu narrative link, while Aman is attractive for its pan-Indian, intercommunal feel.

Pronunciation, regional spelling and affectionate forms are common—consider how the name will sound in your home language and community. When a name is also a technical religious term (for example nirvāṇa), it can be meaningful to understand its theological depth before deciding.

Note: This list aims to be descriptive and respectful across traditions; meanings and usages can vary by region, language and sectarian interpretation.