Kanva

Kanva meaning

Kanva (कण्व) is a Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin.

Name of a celebrated Vedic Ṛṣi, author of Ṛgveda hymns

Also used to mean: a vedic sage

Kanva (कण्व) is the name of a celebrated Vedic sage. Monier-Williams describes Kaṇva as a Ṛṣi who composed several hymns of the Ṛgveda, a son of Ghora of the Aṅgiras family, and notes that his descendants, the Kāṇvas, carried on a Vedic school. In the Mahābhārata and in Kālidāsa's play Abhijñānaśākuntalam, Kaṇva is the hermit who raises Śakuntalā in his forest ashram. Name lists simply give "a Vedic sage". The adjective kaṇva can also mean "praising", though the name refers to the sage.

Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 246 · entry kaṇva · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Monier-Williams, kaṇva, p. 246 · Wikipedia, Kanva

Famous namesakes

• Kanva, Vedic sage and foster-father of Shakuntala

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

Kanva · Kanv

Related names

Also meaning wisdom

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