Boy · Sanskrit · Hindu
Gautam
गौतमSay it GOW-tum
- Meaning today
- Dispeller of darkness, enlightened
- Original meaning
- "descendant of Gotama; a name of the Buddha and of sages" Monier-Williams, p. 369
- Say it
- GOW-tum
- Written
- गौतम
- Other spellings
- Gautham, Goutam, Gowtham, Gautama
Gautam
Stays on your phone. A family name is never required.
Gautam meaning
Gautam (गौतम) is a Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin.
Meaning today
Dispeller of darkness, enlightened
Original Sanskrit meaning
"descendant of Gotama; a name of the Buddha and of sages"
Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 369 · entry gautama · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
Gautam (गौतम) is Sanskrit gautama, "descended from Gotama". Monier-Williams describes Gotama as a Vedic seer of the Aṅgiras family and author of Rigveda hymns, and treats the name as a superlative of go, "cow". Gautama was the clan name of Śākyamuni, the Buddha, and MW lists it for many Vedic and later sages as well. Indian name lists usually give Gautam as "dispeller of darkness" or "enlightened". That reading is not in the dictionaries and appears to be a modern interpretation tied to the Buddha's enlightenment. Gautham and Gowtham are South Indian spellings.
References: Monier-Williams, gautama, p. 369 · Monier-Williams, gotama, p. 364
Famous namesakes
- Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha
Fits your syllable
First sound गौ
Shatabhisha nakshatra, pada 1 · Kumbh rashi
This exact sound isn't in the table; the closest is गो, which differs only in vowel length. North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.
Spellings
Gautam · Gautham · Goutam · Gowtham · Gautama