Assamese Baby Boy Names with Meanings

Assamese families often name a son after Krishna of Srimanta Sankardev's devotion, the Brahmaputra and the land of Assam, or a great Assamese artist. Most of these names come from Sanskrit, but Assamese says them its own way: স and শ have a soft kh-like sound, so Sankar sounds close to 'Xonkor'. Here are Assamese baby boy names with their meanings and Assamese spellings.

1. Names from Sankardev's Vaishnavism

Srimanta Sankardev, the fifteenth- and sixteenth-century saint, poet and playwright, spread the worship of Krishna through namghars, sattras and his Borgeet songs. His disciples Madhavdev and Damodardev carried the tradition on, and names of Krishna are still loved in Assamese homes.

Names For Boys

Name	Meaning
Sankar	One who brings welfare; after Srimanta Sankardev (শংকৰ)
Madhav	Sweet as honey, Krishna; after Madhavdev (মাধৱ)
Damodar	Baby Krishna; after Damodardev (দামোদৰ)
Hari	He who removes sorrow; Vishnu (হৰি)
Gopal	Protector of cows; Krishna (গোপাল)
Krishna	The dark one; Lord Krishna (কৃষ্ণ)
Govind	Protector of cows; Krishna (গোবিন্দ)

2. Names from the Brahmaputra and the Land

The Brahmaputra, called Luit in Assam and sung about by Bhupen Hazarika, runs through the whole valley and holds Majuli, one of the world's largest river islands. Assam's year turns with three Bihu festivals, and many names come from its rivers, lotuses and seasons.

Names For Boys

Name	Meaning
Luit	The Brahmaputra, as it is called in Assam (লুইত)
Arnab	The ocean (অৰ্ণৱ)
Utpal	The blue water lily (উৎপল)
Pankaj	The lotus, born of mud (পংকজ)
Mrinal	A lotus stalk (মৃণাল)
Hemanta	The early winter season (হেমন্ত)
Tapan	The sun (তপন)

3. Names from Assam's History and Arts

Bhaskarvarman ruled ancient Kamarupa in the seventh century, and the Ahom general Lachit Borphukan defeated the Mughals at Saraighat in 1671. In the twentieth century Jyoti Prasad Agarwala made Joymoti, the first Assamese film, Bishnu Prasad Rabha became the 'Kalaguru' of Assamese culture, and Bhupen Hazarika and Zubeen Garg carried Assamese song across India. Aniruddha is the hero of the Usha-Aniruddha legend of Tezpur.

Names For Boys

Name	Meaning
Bhaskar	The sun; after Bhaskarvarman of Kamarupa (ভাস্কৰ)
Jyoti	Light; after Jyoti Prasad Agarwala (জ্যোতি)
Bishnu	Vishnu; after Bishnu Prasad Rabha (বিষ্ণু)
Bhupen	King of the earth; after Bhupen Hazarika (ভূপেন)
Zubeen	After the singer Zubeen Garg (জুবিন)
Aniruddha	Unstoppable; the hero of the Usha-Aniruddha legend (অনিৰুদ্ধ)

4. Classic Assamese Boy Names

These names were popular in Assamese families through the twentieth century and are still widely heard. Many are Sanskrit names in their Assamese form, like Pallab for Pallava and Dhruba for Dhruva.

Names For Boys

Name	Meaning
Pranjal	Honest, upright (প্ৰাঞ্জল)
Kaustav	The Kaustubha jewel of Vishnu (কৌস্তভ)
Pallab	A new leaf, a sprout (পল্লৱ)
Bidyut	Lightning (বিদ্যুৎ)
Dhruba	The pole star; firm (ধ্ৰুৱ)
Dipankar	The lamp-bearer (দীপংকৰ)
Manash	The mind (মানস)

5. Modern Assamese Boy Names

Modern Assamese parents often choose short Sanskrit names with a gentle meaning.

Names For Boys

Name	Meaning
Ankur	A sprout, a new shoot (অংকুৰ)
Anurag	Love, devotion (অনুৰাগ)
Ayan	A path, a journey (অয়ন)
Rishav	Excellent; a bull (ঋষভ)
Partha	Arjuna (পাৰ্থ)
Anupam	Incomparable (অনুপম)
Rupam	Beauty, form (ৰূপম)