Boy · Sanskrit · Hindu
Bhairav
भैरवSay it BHAI-ruv
- Meaning
- Formidable, terrible; a fierce form of Shiva Monier-Williams, p. 767
- Say it
- BHAI-ruv
- Written
- भैरव
- Other spellings
- Bhairava, Bhairon
Bhairav
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Bhairav meaning
Bhairav (भैरव) is a Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin.
Formidable, terrible; a fierce form of Shiva
Bhairav (भैरव) comes from Sanskrit bhairava. As an adjective Monier-Williams gives it as frightful, terrible or formidable; as a noun it is a form of Śiva, the fierce guardian worshipped at the gates of many temples and as Kāla Bhairava in Varanasi and Ujjain. The same word names Raga Bhairav, the solemn morning raga of Hindustani music. Baby-name lists give the name as a fierce form of Shiva, which matches the dictionary. In Rajasthan the name is often said as Bhairon, as in Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vice-President of India.
In Hindu tradition this is a name of Shiva.
Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 767 · entry bhairava · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Monier-Williams, bhairava, p. 767
Famous namesakes
- Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vice-President of India (as Bhairon)
Fits your syllable
First sound भै
Uttara Ashadha nakshatra, pada 1 · Dhanu rashi
This exact sound isn't in the table; the closest is भे, which differs only in vowel length. North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.
Spellings
Bhairav · Bhairava · Bhairon