Girl, Kanishka is also a boys' spelling; boys more often use Kanishk. · Sanskrit · Hindu
Kanishka
कनिष्काSay it kuh-NISH-kaa
- Meaning
- Name of Kaniṣka, the Kushan emperor Monier-Williams, p. 249
- Say it
- kuh-NISH-kaa
- Written
- कनिष्का
- Other spellings
- Kanishkaa
Kanishka
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Kanishka meaning
Kanishka (कनिष्का) is a Hindu girl's name of Sanskrit origin.
Name of Kaniṣka, the Kushan emperor
Kanishka (कनिष्का) is the name of Kaniṣka, the Kushan emperor who ruled a vast realm across Central Asia and northern India in the early centuries CE and was one of the great royal patrons of Buddhism. Monier-Williams records Kaniṣka only as the name of this king and gives no other meaning. Baby-name lists offer a range of glosses for the girl's name, such as "ruler", "gold" or "small", but they do not agree and none of them is supported by the dictionary. Kanishka is also used as a girl's name; Kanishk is the boys' form.
Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 249 · entry kaniṣka · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Monier-Williams, kaniṣka, p. 249 · Kanishka (Wikipedia)
Famous namesakes
- Kanishka I, Kushan emperor and patron of Buddhism
Fits your syllable
First sound क
Mrigashira nakshatra, pada 3 · Mithun rashi
This exact sound isn't in the table; the closest is का, which differs only in vowel length. North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.
Spellings
Kanishka · Kanishkaa