Kapila
Kapila (कपिल) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy-name meaning “The tawny-hued, the radiant sage-avatāra”. Find pronunciation, origin, deity association, popularity and similar Hindu baby names.
Kapila (कपिल) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy-name meaning “The tawny-hued, the radiant sage-avatāra”. Find pronunciation, origin, deity association, popularity and similar Hindu baby names.
Kapila (कपिल, IAST: Kapila) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy-name meaning “The tawny-hued, the radiant sage-avatāra”. Kapila derives from kapi (tawny, reddish-brown), describing both a distinctive divine hue and identifying Vishnu's celebrated avatāra who revealed the Sāṃkhya darśana to His mother Devahūti.
Meaning, etymology & significance
The color kapila — a warm, sun-burnished gold-brown — is associated in Sanskrit literature with divine fire and with the sacred cow Kāmadhenu, lending the name a luminous, auspicious character. As an avatāra of Vishnu, Kapila Muni is the founding teacher of Sāṃkhya philosophy, one of the six orthodox systems of Hindu thought, in which the distinction between puruṣa (pure consciousness) and prakṛti (matter) is exhaustively analyzed. His appearance in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the most philosophically rich narratives in all of sacred literature.
Kapila is a beloved and widely used given name in India, honoring both the divine sage and the avatāric presence of Vishnu Himself. Pronounced ka-pi-la with equal stress on each syllable, it flows naturally and carries profound scriptural weight.
Scriptural source
Kapila 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, Kapila aligns with the Mrigashira nakshatra, under the Mithuna rashi (Moon sign). Its Chaldean name-number is 7.
Kapila — Name Facts
- Meaning
- The tawny-hued, the radiant sage-avatāra
- Gender
- Hindu boy name
- Nakshatra
- Mrigashira
- Rashi
- Mithuna (Gemini)
- Numerology
- 7
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kapila mean?
Kapila is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy name meaning “The tawny-hued, the radiant sage-avatāra”.
Is Kapila a boy or girl name?
Kapila is traditionally a Hindu boy name.
Which nakshatra and rashi suit the name Kapila?
By the first-syllable rule of Vedic naming, Kapila aligns with the Mrigashira nakshatra, under the Mithuna (Gemini) rashi.
What is the numerology number of Kapila?
The Chaldean name number of Kapila is 7.
Explore more: Mrigashira nakshatra names · Mithuna rashi names · Hindu boy names with K · All Hindu names A–Z