Dharma

Classical Sanskrit origin

धर्म (dharma): usage, practice, customary observance or prescribed conduct.

Source: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), a public-domain scholarly reference — not every popular name today traces to a classical dictionary entry, so this section only appears where a verified match exists.

Traditional associations

In Hindu tradition, names are sometimes chosen by the baby's rashi (moon sign) or nakshatra (birth star). This is cultural tradition, not a rule. Traditional rashi (by first letter, as commonly listed in this corpus) — not a personalized astrological reading, and not the same as the traditional first-syllable (akshara) method some families use.

• Rashi: Kanya
• Nakshatra: Hasta
• More names starting with D

Names with a similar meaning

Names that share a word with “usage, practice, customary observance or prescribed conduct”. Meanings are the common reading rather than a ruling — the same name is often glossed differently by different sources.

• Cheriyachan — Little father, beloved elder, North Kerala usage
• Reet — Meanings families give: Tradition, custom and sacred practice; Tradition, custom, flow; Tradition, culture, custom
• Reyaz — Practice, devotion
• Sadhana — Meanings families give: Devotion, practice; Spiritual practice, fulfillment; Practice, worship, attainment; Practice, spiritual discipline
• Tapas — Meanings families give: Austerity, meditation; Austerity, penance and intense spiritual practice; Austerity, warmth; heat of spiritual practice
• Yatish — Meanings families give: Lord of devotees, master of all who practice yoga; Ascetic, devotee, self-controlled

More boys' names of Sanskrit origin

• Reyansh — Meanings families give: Ray of light; Ray of light, part of God Vishnu
• Aryan — Noble, of high birth
• Krish — Meanings families give: Lord Krishna; Short form of Krishna, dark, attractive
• Aarush — Meanings families give: First ray of sun; First ray of the winter sun, calm radiance
• Arnav — come from the sea
• Viaan — Meanings families give: Full of life, energy; Full of energy, lively, animated

Other names under Kanya rashi

• Dhruv — Meanings families give: Pole star, constant; Pole star, fixed, immovable; Pole star, fixed and unwavering
• Parth — Meanings families give: Prince, Arjuna; Arjuna, prince; Son of Pritha, another name for Arjuna the great hero; Arjuna, son of Pritha, earthly; Son of Pritha; name of Arjuna; Arjuna, one who never misses the target; Arjuna, king, prince
• Prisha — Meanings families give: Beloved, God's gift; Beloved, darling; Beloved, God gifted, talent
• Priyanka — Meanings families give: Lovable, beautiful; Favourite, dear one, lovable; Lovable, dear one; Lovable, dear, beautiful; Lovable, dear one, winning heart; Loveable, charming, dear; Lovable, dear; Lovable, dear, beloved
• Pihu — Meanings families give: Sound of a bird; Chirping of birds; sweet sound; Sweet sound, chirping of birds; Sweet sound, chirping bird
• Pooja — Meanings families give: Prayer, worship, adoration; Worship, prayer; Worship, prayer, reverence; Worship, prayer, adoration

Traditional association, recorded because families use it when choosing — see all Kanya names.

Where this comes from

Dharma's etymology is verified against Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899). Its meaning comes from our compiled name corpus, the least-sourced dataset on this site — we say so plainly on Sources & methodology rather than implying an authority we cannot name.