Tag Archives: Buddhist Names

Padma

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  • Origin: Sanskrit
  • Kannada: ಪದ್ಮಾ (Kanada)
  • Sanskrit, Hindi: पद्म, पद्मा
  • Tamil: பத்மா
  • Telugu: పద్మా
  • Tibetan: པདྨ
  • Gender: Unisex
  • Meaning: “lotus.”
  • (PUD-mah); (pəd̪.mə/)

The name Padma (पद्म) is derived from Sanskrit, meaning “lotus.” In South Asian tradition, the lotus is one of the most sacred flowers, symbolizing purity, beauty, spiritual awakening, and transcendence — a blossom that rises pristine from muddy waters.

Religious & Mythological Significance

Lakshmi: In Hindu texts, Padma is used as a by-name of the goddess Lakshmi, goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. She is often depicted standing or seated upon a lotus, holding lotus flowers in her hands.

Vishnu: The lotus is also associated with Vishnu, Lakshmi’s consort, and the cosmic lotus from which the universe springs.

Attributes: The padma is one of the four attributes (ayudhas) often shown in iconography of deities — symbolizing purity, enlightenment, and divine perfection.

Buddhism & Jainism: The lotus also holds deep meaning in Buddhist and Jain traditions, where it represents spiritual liberation and the blossoming of wisdom.

The name is technically unisex but more commonly bestowed on females. A notable bearer is American author, Padma Lakshmi (b. 1970).

It is also the name of a major river in Bangladesh and in the Harry Potter series, Padma Patil is the twin of Parvati Patil.

International Variations

  • Padmé (f) – a pop-culture invention from the Star Wars franchise, which is based on the Sanskrit name.
  • Badma Бадма (u) (Buryat, Kalmyk)
  • Pema པད་མ (u) (Bhutanese)
  • Padmi (f), Padmo (m) (Javanese)
  • Bhotum បទុម (u) (Khmer)
  • Badmaa Бадмаа (f) (Mongolian)
  • Badam Бадам (u) (Mongolian)
  • Padam पद्म (u) (Nepali)
  • Patthama ปัทมา (Thai) (f)

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Rudraksha, Rudrakshi

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Rudraksha beads
  • Origin: Sanskrit
  • Meaning: “Rudra’s eye’s; also the name of a plant

Rudraksha रुद्राक्ष is a male Sanskrit name. It is the name of a genus of Eleocarpus plant. The seeds are considered sacred to Lord Shiva. They are harvested and dried to be used to create prayer beads in both Hinduism and Buddhism. The etymology is composed of the Sanskrit Rudra and अक्ष (akṣa), meaning “eyes.”

Another masculine for is Rudraksh.

Rudrakshi रुद्राक्षी is the feminine form.

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Tashi

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  • Origin: Tibetan, Bhutanese བཀྲ་ཤིས
  • Meaning: “good luck, fortune, auspicious.”
  • Gender: unisex

The name comes directly from the Tibetan word བཀྲ་ཤིས (good luck, fortune, auspicious). It is traditonally given equally to both males and females in Tibetan Buddhist countries.

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Tenzin

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  • Origin: Tibetan བསྟན་འཛིན
  • Meaning: “upholder of Buddhist dharma”
  • Gender: unisex
  • Pronunciation: TEN-zin

The name is a popular Tibetan Buddhist name and ultimately derives from the Tibetan (bstan-‘dzin) བསྟན་འཛིན meaning “upholder of teachings.” It is one of the current names of the Dalai Llama, Tenzin Gyatso (b. 1935).

Other forms are Tenzing and Stanzing. A Ladakhi form is Stanzin. All of them are considered gender neutral and are used interchangeably among males and females.

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Dhyana, Dhyani, Dhyan

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Dhyana & Dhyani are unisex (pronounced TAH-nah & TAH-nee), ultimately derived from the Sanskrit ध्यान and meaning “meditation; attention.” Both concepts are applied in Buddhism and Hinduism.

An exclusive masculine form is Dhyan.

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Siddhi

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Ganesha with consorts Riddhi and Siddhi, Painting titled “Riddhi Siddhi” by Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906)
  • Origin: Sanskrit सिद्धि
  • Marathi: सिद्धि
  • Meaning: “perfection, attainment, completion; accomplishment; success.”
  • Gender: feminine
  • Pronunciation: SID-dee; SIT-tee (depending on language & dialect)

The name comes from the Sanskrit noun सिद्धि (siddhi), meaning “perfection, attainment, accomplishment,” which is a concept that refers to the attainment of magical, paranormal or psychic abilities through meditation and yoga. It is a concept found in Yoga, Buddhism and Hinduism.

In Hinduism, it is the name of one of Lord Ganesha’s wives, the other being named Riddhi.

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