10 Indian baby names that mean ‘wisdom’

Names that evoke wisdom — an introduction

In many Indian traditions a name carries blessing and aspiration. Choosing a name that means “wisdom” or “knowledge” (Sanskrit: jñāna — knowing, insight) often reflects spiritual values found across Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Śākta and Smārta homes. Below are ten names used in Indian languages and traditions that are commonly understood to connote wisdom, discernment or awakening. For each name I give a brief meaning, a pronunciation guide, scriptural or traditional connections where relevant, common variants and a short cultural note. Interpretations can vary by region and school of thought.

1. Vidyā (वीद्या / Vidya)

Meaning: knowledge, learning, sacred learning. (Pronunciation: VID-yah)

• Gender: usually feminine.
• Notes: Vidyā is an important term in the Vedas and Upanishads, where it denotes both secular learning and transcendental knowledge. The goddess Sarasvatī is traditionally associated with vidyā.
• Variants & nicknames: Vidi, Vid, Vidushi (formal).

2. Veda (वेद)

Meaning: knowledge; specifically the Vedas — the canonical body of sacred knowledge. (Pronunciation: VAY-dah)

• Gender: often feminine as a given name.
• Notes: The word literally means “knowledge” and names the four Vedas. As a personal name it carries the sense of learned tradition or revealed wisdom. Used across communities, though especially resonant in households that revere the Vedic corpus.
• Variants: Ved (masculine), Vedika (feminine diminutive).

3. Jñāna / Gyan (ज्ञान)

Meaning: knowledge, spiritual knowledge, wisdom. (Pronunciation: GYAAN or JNYA-na)

• Gender: gender-neutral in many modern uses.
• Notes: Central in Upanishadic and Vedānta thinking, jñāna names insight that liberates. The Bhagavad Gītā and later commentators distinguish paths of action (karma), devotion (bhakti) and knowledge (jñāna).
• Variants: Gyan (Hindi), Jnan / Jnana (vernacular spellings).

4. Prajñā / Prajna (प्रज्ञा)

Meaning: wisdom, higher understanding, intuitive insight. (Pronunciation: pra-JNYA)

• Gender: primarily feminine but used neutrally in some families.
• Notes: Found in Upanishadic and Buddhist texts; in classical Sanskrit it connotes discriminating wisdom or wisdom of the heart. In some traditions prajñā is the culmination of study and meditation.
• Variants: Prajna, Prajnan (masculine form), Prajñā.

5. Buddhi (बुद्धि)

Meaning: intellect, reason, discriminative faculty. (Pronunciation: BOOD-dhee)

• Gender: feminine in Sanskrit grammar; used for both genders as a name.
• Notes: The Bhagavad Gītā and other philosophic works discuss buddhi as the guiding intellect. In Advaita and other schools, buddhi is the faculty that discerns reality from illusion.
• Variants: Buddhī, Buddhan (rare), nicknames like Buddhu (affectionate).

6. Medhā / Medha (मेधा)

Meaning: intelligence, understanding, cleverness. (Pronunciation: MEH-dha)

• Gender: usually feminine.
• Notes: The root appears in Vedic and classical literature to praise keen intellect. In later poetry and Puranic storytelling, medhā signifies wise counsel or quick insight.
• Variants: Medhā, Medhini (feminine derivatives); Sumedha is a related form meaning “good intellect.”

7. Sumedhā / Sumedha (सुमेधा)

Meaning: well-endowed with intelligence; wise. (Pronunciation: su-MEH-dha)

• Gender: used for both genders in different regions.
• Notes: Found in classical Sanskrit and Pāli literature; famous in Buddhist Jātaka tales and in Sanskrit stories as a name for a wise person. Conveys both natural intelligence and cultivated wisdom.
• Variants: Sumedh, Sumedhā; often shortened to Sum or Medh.

8. Vivek (विवेक)

Meaning: discernment, discriminating wisdom (the power to distinguish the real from the unreal). (Pronunciation: VIV-ek)

• Gender: commonly masculine, but used neutrally in modern naming.
• Notes: Viveka is central to Vedānta and Yoga discussions; many teachers stress viveka as the starting point of spiritual practice. Gītā commentators and Vedāntins often highlight its role.
• Variants: Viveka (Sanskrit form), Vivik (informal).

9. Bodhi (बोधि)

Meaning: awakening, enlightened knowledge. (Pronunciation: BO-dhee)

• Gender: widely used as gender-neutral in contemporary India.
• Notes: Prominent in Buddhist vocabulary where “bodhi” names awakening; the root bodh (to wake, to know) also appears in Hindu contexts (e.g., Bodha texts). The name suggests spiritual awakening rather than mere book learning.
• Variants: Bodh (short), Bodhya.

10. Manīṣā / Manisha (मनीषा)

Meaning: intelligence, thoughtful reflection, desire of the mind. (Pronunciation: ma-NEE-sha)

• Gender: usually feminine.
• Notes: The term appears in the Rigveda and later literature to mean wise counsel or reflective intellect. It connotes both thoughtful speech and inward intelligence.
• Variants: Manīṣā, Manisha; short forms Mani, Nisha.

Closing notes: cultural use and choice

These names range from explicitly scriptural terms (Veda, Jñāna) to personal names that came to signify a wise person (e.g., Sumedha). Usage varies by region and language — Sanskrit-origin names often have Konkani, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil or Kannada forms in everyday speech. Families sometimes consult elders, astrologers or family priests for naming ceremonies; others choose on aesthetic or philosophical grounds. Be mindful that sacred terms carry different resonances in different communities; if you plan ritual use (chanting mantras or specific rites) consult a knowledgeable elder or priest in your tradition.

If you would like, I can suggest masculine/feminine pairings, regional pronunciations, or modern variations for any of these names.