Generate meaningful Buddhist Dharma names tailored to your preferences, gender, and cultural origin
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Choose your preferred gender, cultural origin (Tibetan, Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese), and any specific meanings that resonate with your spiritual journey.
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Browse through the generated names, explore their deeper meanings, and select the one that truly speaks to your Buddhist practice and path.
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Access traditional Dharma names from Tibetan, Sanskrit, Chinese, and Japanese Buddhist traditions, each with verified meanings and cultural context.
Customize your search by desired spiritual qualities like compassion, wisdom, mindfulness, or enlightenment to find names that align with your practice.
Generate as many names as you need with no restrictions. Explore different traditions and meanings until you find the perfect spiritual name.
Every name includes its original script, pronunciation guide, lineage information, and traditional significance within Buddhist practice.
The practice of bestowing Dharma names dates back to at least 67 CE when Emperor Ming of Han established the White Horse Temple, where monks first received Buddhist ordination names in China.
Traditional Chinese Dharma names typically consist of 2-3 characters, with the first character often indicating one's generation or lineage within a particular Buddhist school, creating a genealogical map spanning centuries.
Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh created a unique 13-generation naming system starting in 1966, where names like 'True Virtue' (Chân Đức) indicate the 7th generation of his Order of Interbeing.
In Japan, posthumous Dharma names (kaimyō) can cost families anywhere from $2,000 to over $10,000, with longer, more prestigious names commanding higher prices from temples.
Tibetan Buddhist Dharma names often follow a three-part structure: a prefix indicating the bestowing lama's lineage, a meaningful middle name, and sometimes a suffix denoting monastic or lay status.
According to Mahayana tradition, there are said to be 84,000 different Dharma doors (teachings), and classical naming drew from this vast pool of concepts to create unique spiritual identities for practitioners.
Unlike most naming conventions, traditional Dharma names are typically gender-neutral, reflecting the Buddhist teaching of transcending conventional distinctions and focusing on spiritual qualities rather than worldly identities.
In Chinese Chan/Zen monasteries, all monks ordained in the same generation share one common character in their Dharma names, allowing practitioners to identify their 'spiritual siblings' across different temples.
The Shaolin Temple maintains ordination records dating back to the 1500s, documenting Dharma names across 70+ generations and preserving one of the longest continuous spiritual genealogies in existence.
Korean Seon (Zen) Buddhist Dharma names traditionally use pure Korean words rather than Sino-Korean characters, a practice that became widespread after the 1930s to emphasize accessibility and directness.
In Theravada Buddhism, lay practitioners who take the Five Precepts may receive a Pali Dharma name, a practice that became standardized in Thailand during King Mongkut's reforms in the mid-1800s.
The 14th Dalai Lama has bestowed over 10,000 Dharma names during his lifetime, personally selecting names based on individual consultations, astrological considerations, and spiritual assessments of each recipient.
Everything you need to know
Begin your spiritual journey with a meaningful Buddhist name that reflects your path to enlightenment.