Vanraj

Vanraj meaning

Vanraj (वनराज) is a Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin.

'forest-king': a lion

Also used to mean: king of the forest

Vanraj (वनराज) joins Sanskrit vana, "forest", and rāja, "king". Monier-Williams gives vanarāja as "forest-king", that is, a lion, a sense recorded by the Sanskrit lexicographers; the same idea appears in other words for the lion such as mṛgarāja, "king of beasts". The name is especially associated with Gujarat, where tradition remembers the eighth-century Chavda king Vanraj as the founder of the city of Anahilapataka, today's Patan. Name lists give it as "king of the forest" or "lion", matching the dictionary. The composer Vanraj Bhatia, known for film and theatre music, is a well-known bearer.

Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 918 · entry vana-rāja · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Monier-Williams, vana-rāja, p. 918 · Wikipedia, Chavda dynasty · Wikipedia, Vanraj Bhatia

Famous namesakes

• Vanraj Bhatia, Indian composer

Fits your syllable

First sound व

Rohini nakshatra, pada 2 · Vrishabh rashi

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

Spellings

Vanraj · Vanaraj

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