Sarayu

Sarayu meaning

Sarayu (सरयू) is a Hindu girl's name of Sanskrit origin.

Name of the river on which ancient Ayodhyā stood

Also used to mean: holy river, flowing, wind

Sarayu (सरयू) is the Sanskrit name of the river that flows past Ayodhyā. Monier-Williams describes sarayu, later sarayū, as a well-known river, a tributary of the Ghaghara, "on which stood the ancient city Ayodhyā", citing the opening of the Rāmāyaṇa; the river is named even in the Rigveda, alongside the Sarasvatī, Sindhu, Gaṅgā and Yamunā. For Hindu families the Sarayu is bound up with the story of Rāma, who was born in Ayodhyā on its banks. A masculine word of the same form means air or wind, which is why some name lists add "wind" or "flowing". In Maharashtra the name is often written Sharayu.

Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 1182 · entry sarayu, sarayū · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Monier-Williams, sarayu / sarayū, p. 1182

Famous namesakes

• the Sarayu, the river of Ayodhya in the Rāmāyaṇa

Fits your syllable

First sound स

Shatabhisha nakshatra, pada 2 · Kumbh rashi

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

Spellings

Sarayu · Sarayoo · Saryu · Sharayu

Related names

Also meaning river

Also starting with Sar-

More Sanskrit names

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