Boy · Sanskrit · Hindu
Dhanush
धनुषSay it DHUN-ush
- Meaning today
- Bow, archer
- Original meaning
- "a bow" Monier-Williams, p. 509
- Say it
- DHUN-ush
- Written
- धनुष
Dhanush
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Dhanush meaning
Dhanush (धनुष) is a Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin.
A bow
Also used to mean: archer
Dhanush (धनुष) is the Hindi and Tamil form of Sanskrit dhanus, "a bow". Monier-Williams records it from the Rigveda on, and also as a measure of length, an arc in geometry, the zodiac sign Sagittarius and a name of Śiva. The bow is central to India's epics: Rama wins Sita by breaking Shiva's great bow, and Arjuna's bow Gandiva is famous in the Mahabharata. Indian name lists give Dhanush as "bow" or "archer". A well-known bearer is the Tamil film star Dhanush.
Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 509 · entry dhanus · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Monier-Williams, dhanus, p. 509 · Wikipedia, Dhanush
Famous namesakes
- Dhanush, Tamil film actor
Fits your syllable
First sound ध
Purva Ashadha nakshatra, pada 2 · Dhanu rashi
This exact sound isn't in the table; the closest is धा, which differs only in vowel length. North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.