Marathi Baby Boy Names with Meanings

Marathi families often name a son after Vitthal of Pandharpur and the warkari saints, Ganpati of the Ashtavinayak shrines, or a hero of Shivaji's Maratha history. Most of these names come from Sanskrit but have their own Marathi spelling and sound, which the Devanagari below shows. Here are Marathi baby boy names with their meanings and Marathi spellings, from saint names to classic and modern favourites.

1. Names of Vitthal and the Warkari Saints

Every year in the month of Ashadh, lakhs of warkaris walk to Pandharpur for Ashadhi Ekadashi, carrying the palkhis (palanquins) of Sant Dnyaneshwar from Alandi and Sant Tukaram from Dehu. On the way they sing the abhangs of the saint poets in praise of Vitthal. Naming a son after Vitthal or one of the saints is a way of joining that tradition.

Names For Boys

Name	Meaning
Vitthal	The god of Pandharpur, who stands on a brick waiting for his devotees (विठ्ठल)
Pandurang	The fair one; a name of Vitthal (पांडुरंग)
Dnyaneshwar	Lord of knowledge; the 13th-century saint who wrote the Dnyaneshwari (ज्ञानेश्वर)
Tukaram	After Sant Tukaram of Dehu, the best loved warkari poet (तुकाराम)
Namdev	After Sant Namdev, the tailor saint and devotee of Vitthal (नामदेव)
Eknath	After Sant Eknath of Paithan (एकनाथ)
Nivrutti	Withdrawal from worldly life; Sant Nivruttinath, Dnyaneshwar's elder brother and guru (निवृत्ती)

2. Names of Ganpati and the Ashtavinayak

Ganpati is Maharashtra's best loved god, and Ganeshotsav, which Lokmanya Tilak turned into a public festival in 1893, is the state's biggest celebration. The Ashtavinayak are eight ancient Ganpati temples, most of them around Pune, and many families make the pilgrimage to all eight. Each temple has its own name for Ganpati, and several of those names are given to boys.

Names For Boys

Name	Meaning
Vinayak	The remover of obstacles; the Ashtavinayak are his eight shrines (विनायक)
Gajanan	The elephant-faced one (गजानन)
Mayuresh	Lord of the peacock; Ganpati of Morgaon, the first Ashtavinayak (मयुरेश)
Siddhesh	Lord of success; recalls Siddhivinayak of Siddhatek and Mumbai (सिद्धेश)
Chintamani	The wish-fulfilling jewel; Ganpati of Theur (चिंतामणी)
Varad	Giver of boons; Varadvinayak of Mahad (वरद)
Vighnesh	Lord of obstacles; Vighneshwar of Ozar (विघ्नेश)

3. Names from Shivaji and Maratha History

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha kingdom and was crowned at Raigad in 1674, and the forts and heroes of his time are part of every Marathi childhood. Names like Shivaji, Sambhaji and Tanaji honour that story. Malhar, Yashwant and Madhav recall the later Maratha chiefs of the Holkar family and the Peshwa era.

Names For Boys

Name	Meaning
Shivaji	After Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the Maratha kingdom (शिवाजी)
Sambhaji	After Shivaji's elder son and successor, Chhatrapati Sambhaji (संभाजी)
Tanaji	After Tanaji Malusare, who gave his life capturing Sinhagad (तानाजी)
Bajirao	After Peshwa Bajirao I, the great Maratha general (बाजीराव)
Malhar	Khandoba of Jejuri, the family god of many Marathi homes; also Malhar Rao Holkar (मल्हार)
Yashwant	Glorious, famous; after Yashwantrao Holkar and Yashwantrao Chavan (यशवंत)
Madhav	A name of Krishna; also Peshwa Madhavrao (माधव)

4. Classic Marathi Boy Names

These names were common in Marathi families through the twentieth century and are still given today. Many are simple Sanskrit words for qualities, trees or seasons. Some are well known through Marathi personalities, such as the cricketer Ajinkya Rahane.

Names For Boys

Name	Meaning
Ajinkya	Invincible, never defeated (अजिंक्य)
Prasad	A blessed offering; God's grace (प्रसाद)
Mandar	The coral tree, a tree of heaven (मंदार)
Shrikant	Beloved of Lakshmi; a name of Vishnu (श्रीकांत)
Abhay	Fearless (अभय)
Sameer	A breeze (समीर)
Hemant	The early winter season (हेमंत)

5. Modern Marathi Boy Names

Marathi parents today often choose short names with a spiritual meaning, many taken from the Vedas and Upanishads. Advait, Soham and Vedant reflect the ideas of Vedanta philosophy. Ninad, Shlok and Yash are simple, musical words that are easy to say.

Names For Boys

Name	Meaning
Advait	Non-dual; one without a second (अद्वैत)
Atharva	After the Atharva Veda, the fourth Veda (अथर्व)
Shlok	A verse, a hymn (श्लोक)
Soham	I am That; the self is one with God (सोहम)
Vedant	The end of the Vedas; the highest knowledge (वेदांत)
Ninad	A sound, a resonance (निनाद)
Yash	Success, fame (यश)