10 Baby Boy Names meaning ‘The Supreme Soul’ (Paramatma)

Names that evoke the “Supreme Soul” (Paramātman) — overview

In Hindu thought the phrase paramātman — “the supreme Self” or “supreme soul” — appears across scriptures and traditions, but different schools understand it in different ways. In Advaita Vedānta it is often identified with the impersonal absolute (Brahman); in Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva bhakti it is frequently used as a personal Lord (Vishnu/Kṛṣṇa or Śiva) who indwells the universe; other systems treat the term philosophically (the inner witness, the highest consciousness). Below are ten boy names drawn from Sanskrit roots and devotional usage that connote the idea of the Supreme Soul. For each name I give a short gloss, linguistic note, traditional contexts where it appears, and gentle practical notes on usage.

Ten names and short notes

1. Paramātman (Paramatma)

• Gloss: “the supreme Self” (param = supreme; ātman = self/soul).
• Usage: Directly used in the Bhagavad Gītā and various Upaniṣads as the inner supreme reality that pervades beings. Recognisable across Vedānta, Pūrāṇic and bhakti contexts.
• Notes: Formal and philosophical; often chosen by families seeking an explicitly Vedāntic name. Nickname: Param.

2. Parātman (Paratman)

• Gloss: “the Transcendent Self” (para = beyond/transcendent; ātman = self).
• Usage: Found in Upanishadic vocabulary to signal the transcendent aspect of Self. Emphasises the “beyond” aspect rather than personal lordship.
• Notes: Slightly more philosophical than devotional. Nickname: Parat or Aran.

3. Parabrahma (Parabrahman)

• Gloss: “Supreme Brahman/Absolute” (para + Brahman).
• Usage: Common in Vedāntic and Upanishadic discourse to mean the ultimate reality beyond names and forms. In some bhakti texts it is used alongside personal names for God.
• Notes: Carries a strong metaphysical flavour. Nickname: Brahm or Para.

4. Parameśvara (Parameshvara)

• Gloss: “Supreme Lord” (param + īśvara — Lord/Ruler).
• Usage: Widely used in Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava Pūraṇas to denote the supreme personal deity; appears as an epithet of Śiva and, in some contexts, of Viṣṇu.
• Notes: More devotional and personal than purely philosophical. Nickname: Parmesh or Eswar.

5. Parameś (Paramesh)

• Gloss: Shortened form of Parameśvara/Parameśa — “supreme Lord/Soul”.
• Usage: Modern, colloquial variant used as a given name in many regions, especially South India.
• Notes: Casual and affectionate; easy to use as a daily name. Nickname: Paru.

6. Parameśvaran (Parameshwaran)

• Gloss: South-Indian/Dravidian ending of Parameśvara — “supreme Lord.”
• Usage: Common in Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada-speaking communities; seen in temple names and devotional poetry.
• Notes: Strong regional feel; often used by families with South Indian heritage. Nickname: Paran or Meshu.

7. Īśvara (Ishvara)

• Gloss: “Lord” or “Controller”; in many schools implies the supreme controller who is also innerSelf.
• Usage: Central term in Vedānta, Yoga and Sāṅkhya-Vedānta debates; Bhagavad Gītā and Upaniṣads use it in contexts ranging from personal God to philosophical principle.
• Notes: Broadly acceptable across traditions; feels classical and dignified. Nickname: Ishu.

8. Jagadīśa (Jagadisha)

• Gloss: “Lord of the world” (jagat = world; īśa = lord).
• Usage: A theistic epithet often applied to Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa in bhāgavata and temple usage; also used as a devotional given name.
• Notes: Strongly devotional and accessible; common in liturgy and bhajans. Nickname: Jagan or Jai.

9. Mahātman (Mahatman)

• Gloss: “Great soul” or “one of elevated soul”; historically used as an honorific (mahātma).
• Usage: Appears in classical literature and the Gītā in the plural sense (mahātmanas) to describe spiritually realised persons; as a name it evokes moral and inner greatness connected with the soul.
• Notes: More of a character-virtue name than a direct label for the Supreme, but closely associated with inner nobility. Nickname: Mahi.

10. Advait / Advaita (Advait)

• Gloss: “Non-dual” (a-dvaita — not two); points to the unity of individual self and ultimate Self.
• Usage: Philosophical term central to Advaita Vedānta; used as a modern given name (Advait) conveying non-dual realisation and identity with the supreme.
• Notes: Contemporary and philosophical; widely used across India in recent decades. Nickname: Adva or Vait.

Choosing among these names — practical pointers

• Meaning vs. tradition: Some names (Parabrahma, Parātman) emphasise impersonal metaphysics; others (Parameśvara, Jagadīśa) are explicitly devotional. Pick what resonates with your family’s spiritual outlook.
• Phonetics and region: South-Indian forms often add an -an ending (Parameśvaran); shorter colloquial forms (Paramesh) are common in urban settings.
• Respectful use: Many of these names are epithets of deities. Families commonly use them as given names, but be mindful of local sensibilities and familial traditions.
• Astrology and rituals: If you follow naming rituals (nāmakaraṇa), consult your priest or family astrologer for syllable/gotra preferences. These are community-specific choices.

Final note

Each name here carries layers — linguistic, scriptural and devotional. Different schools (Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Advaitic and others) may emphasise distinct aspects of the “supreme soul” idea; none of the names is confined to a single tradition. Choose a name that fits your family’s spiritual meaning, cultural context and everyday use. If you plan formal ritual naming, a short conversation with elders or a priest can help align pronunciation, tradition and auspicious syllables.