Ananda
Ananda (आनन्द) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy-name meaning “Pure, boundless bliss”. Find pronunciation, origin, deity association, popularity and similar Hindu baby names.
Ananda (आनन्द) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy-name meaning “Pure, boundless bliss”. Find pronunciation, origin, deity association, popularity and similar Hindu baby names.
Ananda (आनन्द, IAST: Ānanda) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy-name meaning “Pure, boundless bliss”. From the root nand (to rejoice, to delight), prefixed with ā for completeness and fullness, Ānanda names Viṣṇu as the very substance of absolute joy that is both self-luminous and inexhaustible.
Meaning, etymology & significance
In the Upaniṣads, ānanda is consistently named as the innermost essence of Brahman — 'ānando brahmeti vyajānāt' (he knew bliss as Brahman). This is not the fleeting happiness dependent on external causes but the self-sufficient delight that is the nature of pure awareness itself. By identifying Viṣṇu as Ānanda, the Sahasranāma declares that contact with the Divine is the only lasting fulfillment, the destination toward which all longing moves.
Ānanda is one of the most beloved Sanskrit names across Hindu and Buddhist traditions alike, borne by Kṛṣṇa's cousin-disciple Ānanda and by countless saints and teachers. Pronounced 'AA-nan-da,' it is warmly familiar, widely used across India, and carries profound spiritual depth.
Scriptural source
Ananda appears in the Vishnu Sahasranama, among the sacred names of Vishnu.
Astrology — nakshatra, rashi & numerology
By the standard Vedic correspondence between a name’s first syllable and the lunar mansion, Ananda aligns with the Krittika nakshatra, under the Mesha rashi (Moon sign). Its Chaldean name-number is 8.
Ananda — Name Facts
- Meaning
- Pure, boundless bliss
- Gender
- Hindu boy name
- Nakshatra
- Krittika
- Rashi
- Mesha (Aries)
- Numerology
- 8
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ananda mean?
Ananda is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy name meaning “Pure, boundless bliss”.
Is Ananda a boy or girl name?
Ananda is traditionally a Hindu boy name.
Which nakshatra and rashi suit the name Ananda?
By the first-syllable rule of Vedic naming, Ananda aligns with the Krittika nakshatra, under the Mesha (Aries) rashi.
What is the numerology number of Ananda?
The Chaldean name number of Ananda is 8.
Explore more: Krittika nakshatra names · Mesha rashi names · Hindu boy names with A · All Hindu names A–Z