Harivansh

Harivansh meaning

Harivansh (हरिवंश) is a Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin.

The family of Kṛṣṇa; the Harivaṃśa, a poem on Kṛṣṇa's life

Also used to mean: lineage of Hari

Harivansh (हरिवंश) is Sanskrit hari-vaṃśa, "the family or lineage of Hari", that is, of Krishna. Monier-Williams records it as the family of Krishna, as the name of various men, and above all as the Harivaṃśa, the long poem that follows the Mahābhārata and tells of Krishna's birth, life and family. The best-known bearer is the Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, father of the actor Amitabh Bachchan, whose parents named him after a recitation of the Harivaṃśa. Name lists give "lineage of Hari", which matches.

Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 1290 · entry hari-vaṃśa · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Monier-Williams, hari-vaṃśa, p. 1290 · Wikipedia, Harivansh Rai Bachchan · Snell, A Hindi Poet from Allahabad (Modern Asian Studies)

Famous namesakes

• Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Hindi poet

Fits your syllable

First sound ह

Punarvasu nakshatra, pada 3 · Mithun rashi

This exact sound isn't in the table; the closest is हा, which differs only in vowel length. North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.

Spellings

Harivansh · Harivansha · Harivamsh

Related names

Also meaning god

Also starting with Har-

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