Boy · Sanskrit · Hindu
Vishwanath
विश्वनाथSay it vish-VUH-naath
- Meaning today
- Lord of the universe, Lord Shiva
- Original meaning
- "'lord of the universe': a name of Shiva, especially at Benares" Monier-Williams, p. 993
- Say it
- vish-VUH-naath
- Written
- विश्वनाथ
- Other spellings
- Viswanath, Vishvanath
Vishwanath
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Vishwanath meaning
Vishwanath (विश्वनाथ) is a Hindu boy's name of Sanskrit origin.
'lord of the universe': a name of Shiva, especially at Benares
Also used to mean: Lord Shiva
Vishwanath (विश्वनाथ) joins Sanskrit viśva, "all, the whole world", and nātha, "lord, protector". Monier-Williams gives it as "lord of the universe", a name of Shiva, especially as he is worshipped at Benares. The Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, is dedicated to Shiva under this name. Monier-Williams also lists many authors called Viśvanātha, among them the author of the Sāhitya-darpaṇa on poetics. Name lists give it as "lord of the universe", matching the dictionary. In the South it is written Viswanath, as with the Telugu film director K. Viswanath, or Viswanathan.
In Hindu tradition this is a name of Shiva.
Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 993 · entry viśva-nātha · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Monier-Williams, viśva-nātha, p. 993 · Wikipedia, Kashi Vishwanath Temple · Wikipedia, K. Viswanath
Famous namesakes
- K. Viswanath, Telugu film director
Fits your syllable
First sound वि
Rohini nakshatra, pada 3 · Vrishabh rashi
This exact sound isn't in the table; the closest is वी, which differs only in vowel length. North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.
Spellings
Vishwanath · Viswanath · Vishvanath