Names That Mean Lord

Dinesh is a popular Indian name -- it stands for the sun in Hindu texts -- made familiar in the US by the HBO show Silicon Valley via the character played by Kumail Nanjiani. With the emphasis on the second syllable, Dinesh is a name that translates easily.

Not to be confused as a variation of Hershel, Heshel is a Yiddish diminutive of Yehoshua, itself a Hebrew form of Joshua.

Elaborate, ultra-feminine variation of Gianna.

Hrisihikesh (the first H is silent) is another name for Lord Vishnu. Musician Hrishikesh Hirway is the creator of the popular podcast Song Exploder. The internationally-friendly short form is Hrishi, pronounced like Rishi.

Variant of Gruffudd and Griffith, currently in the UK Top 1000, though predominantly used in Wales only.

Eliot is the sleekest spelling of the original, very occasionally used for girls, perhaps to honor novelist George Eliot.

Resembling Orion, a current favorite, Kirion is a Russian name ready for import.

Modern respelling of Zaccheus inspired by social media sensation Zakius Boquet, aka @zakiusthegreat.

Variation of Gruffydd, the name that led to Griffith.

Original Welsh form of Meredith, and always a masculine name in Wales.

Intriguing Russian possibility, even though proper pronunciation would not be obvious. Ilya might be a more manageable option.

This rare Russian name ultimately derives from the masculine Greek name Kyriakos.

Currently fashionable in Slovenia.

Jianna was one of the fastest-rising names of 2020 after the deaths of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. It continued to rise in 2021.

Technically speaking, Sakari is the Finnish version of Zachary, with the emphasis on the first syllable. In practice, it's a modern American unisex name, pronounced sah-KAR-ee.

Tanya with a G.

Ilesha is an unusual choice that will undoubtedly be confused with similar and far more common names such as Alicia and Elissa.