A unique virtue name with a sound as happy and lively as its meaning.

Shiva is one of the principle deities of Hinduism. Shiva is the powerful god of both destruction and resurrection but is also associated as the patron god of yoga, meditation and arts. Shiva's wife is Parvati, the mother goddess of creation.

A number of stylish Indian names are making their way to the US mainstream, including wise Rishi. In Hindu mythology, the Rishis are sages and seers; in modern times, Rishi Rich is a popular British-born musician and record producer and Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister of the UK in 2022.

The name of the elephant-headed Hindu god of wisdom is rarely heard outside India.

Dawud is a widely-used Arabic name, a version of David that is among the British Top 1000 names for boys.

Puja (and variant spelling, Pooja) is a common name for girls in Hindu culture. In Hinduism, puja is a worship ritual of offering to a deity.

A name rich in Hindu tradition as the alternate name for the Goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of beauty and charm; currently borne, appropriately, by model-actress-writer Padma Lakshmi.

Some parents are hoping to bestow good karma on their children with this name, derived from the Sanskrit word for "fate". Associated with the Hindu and Buddhist belief that someone's actions in this life (and their previous ones) decide their future existences, it is more informally used in the Western world to refer to good or bad luck.

Kannon, the name of actor Kevin James' son born in 2011, seems at first glance to be a kre8if spelling of bad boy name Cannon. But Kannon is also the name of the Buddhist god (and sometime goddess) of mercy and compassion, a very different image from the big gun. Either way, it made its way into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013, and was one of the year's fastest-rising names.

Though this name is used for both boys and girls in Israel, in the U.S. it sounds decidedly masculine, with Zohara the feminine form. Has a futuristic macho feel.

In Buddhism, Dharma embodies the basic principles of cosmic existence--making it a fitting name for the hippyish character on the sitcom Dharma and Greg, whose middle name was Freedom.

One Greek mythological name -- she was the goddess of order -- not yet embraced by American parents.

Shruti references Hindu scriptures called the Vedas, considered to hold the timeless truths of the universe. It is commonly used among Hindu girls.

Often heard in India, this is the name of the Hindu goddess of abundance, beauty, and prosperity, the embodiment of grace and charm --lucky omens indeed. The goddess Lakshmi is worshiped daily in Hindu homes, and has festivals held in her honor.

Could be a sister to Trinity, Genesis, or Heaven.

Mala is one of those names that's both simple and striking, easy to pronounce yet unfamiliar to many English speakers.

The original Greek form of Circe, also used in various other languages. Less soft than the English Circe, Kirke nonetheless has a distinct sound with modern appeal. In Greek mythology, she is a sorceress with a significant role in Homer's Odyssey.

This simple but alluring name — some might associate it with the Kama Sutra — was chosen by heavy metal rocker Sammy Hagar for his daughter.

Guanyin is the bodhisattva of compassion. It's the Chinese translation of the original Sanskrit bodhisattva's name, Avalokiteśvara. Avalokiteśvara's depiction as male or female varies by culture, but in China, Guanyin is a feminine deity.

Appearing in an early Hindi scripture, The Vedas, Soma is the name of both a ritual drink or elixir, and of a deity, often connected to the moon god Chandra. The drink is sometimes interpreted as having the power to grant immortality or divine qualities, but its actual, more literal meaning is "extract" or "distil" in Sanskrit.