Boy · Sanskrit · Hindu
Sudhanva
सुधन्वाSay it su-DHUN-vaa
- Meaning today
- Good archer, one with a splendid bow
- Original meaning
- "having an excellent bow; a name of Viṣṇu" Monier-Williams, p. 1225
- Say it
- su-DHUN-vaa
- Written
- सुधन्वा
- Other spellings
- Sudhanvan
Sudhanva
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Sudhanva meaning
Sudhanva (सुधन्वा) is a Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin.
Having an excellent bow; a name of Viṣṇu
Also used to mean: good archer, one with a splendid bow
Sudhanva (सुधन्वा) is Sanskrit su-dhanvan, from su, "excellent", and dhanvan, "bow"; Sudhanvā is its nominative form. Monier-Williams gives it as having an excellent bow, a description already used in the Rigveda, records it as a name of Vishnu, and lists many bearers, among them an Āṅgirasa sage and several princes. In the Mahabharata the Brahmin Sudhanvā debates the demon prince Virocana, and Prahlāda, asked to judge, honestly rules in Sudhanvā's favour against his own son. Name lists give Sudhanva as "good archer" or "one with a splendid bow", matching the dictionary.
In Hindu tradition this is a name of Vishnu.
Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 1225 · entry su-dhanvan · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Monier-Williams, su-dhanvan, p. 1225 · Mahabharata 5.35 (Udyoga Parva), enjoylearningsanskrit.com
Fits your syllable
First sound सु
Shatabhisha nakshatra, pada 4 · Kumbh rashi
This exact sound isn't in the table; the closest is सू, which differs only in vowel length. North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.
Spellings
Sudhanva · Sudhanvan