Shantanu

In the epics

Shantanu appears in the Mahābhārata as a king: Son of Pratipa. Known as Shantanu because he was born when his father had controlled his senses.

Source: Drimigo Scripture KG (CC BY 4.0). Many characters share a name across the epics — this is one notable figure who bore it, not a claim about the name's only meaning.

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: Mithun
• Nakshatra: Mrigashira
• More names starting with S

Names with a similar meaning

Names that share a word with “Wholesome, one whose touch cures all illness”. Meanings are the common reading rather than a ruling — the same name is often glossed differently by different sources.

• Kunal — N. of a son of Aśoka (whose eyes were put out in consequence of a rivalry between Aśoka's wives)
• Sparsh — Touch, feeling
• Charan — Meanings families give: Feet, one who moves; Lotus feet, one who seeks refuge; Feet of God, sacred touch of the divine
• Charankamal — Lotus feet of God, sacred divine touch
• Lajwanti — Meanings families give: Shy, the touch-me-not plant; Modest one, shy and delicate
• Paras — Philosopher's stone, touch that transforms to gold

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 Mithun rashi

• Diya — Meanings families give: Lamp, light; Lamp, divine light
• Yash — Meanings families give: Glory, fame; Fame, glory, success, celebrity; Fame, glory, success; Success, glory, fame
• Kavya — a poem, poetical composition with a coherent plot by a single author (opposed to an Itihāsa)
• Dev — God, divine being
• Jiya — Meanings families give: Sweetheart, piece of heart; Heart, sweetheart
• Divya — Meanings families give: Divine, heavenly; Divine, heavenly, brilliant; Divine, heavenly, brilliant light; Divine, brilliant, beautiful

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

Where this comes from

Shantanu has no entry in the classical Sanskrit dictionary we check against, which is common for modern and non-Sanskrit names. 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.