Boy · Sanskrit (Telugu usage) · Hindu
Phani
फणिSay it PHUH-nee
- Meaning
- 'hooded': a serpent, especially the cobra; a name of Patañjali Monier-Williams, p. 716
- Say it
- PHUH-nee
- Spelling in Hindi
- फणि
- Spelling in Telugu
- ఫణి
Phani
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Phani meaning
Phani (फणि) is a Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin (Telugu usage).
'hooded': a serpent, especially the cobra; a name of Patañjali
Phani (फणि, Telugu ఫణి) comes from Sanskrit phaṇin, "having a hood", built on phaṇa, the spread hood of a cobra. Monier-Williams gives phaṇin as a serpent, especially the cobra, and also records it as a name of Rahu and of Patanjali, the grammarian whom tradition links with the serpent Shesha. Serpents have a sacred place in Hindu tradition: Shiva wears them, and Vishnu rests on the many-hooded Shesha. A related longer name is Phanindra, "king of serpents". In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Phani is used both on its own and in pairs such as Phani Kumar, and the name is also found in Bengal and Assam.
Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 716 · entry phaṇin · See the entry · checked 30 Oct 2026
References: Monier-Williams, phaṇin, p. 716 · Wikipedia, Phani (name)
Famous namesakes
- Phani Majumdar, Indian film director
- Phani Sarma, Assamese actor and director
Fits your syllable
First sound फ
Purva Ashadha nakshatra, pada 3 · Dhanu rashi
This exact sound isn't in the table; the closest is फा, which differs only in vowel length. North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.