Dharma
/D-AH-R-M-AH/
Cosmic law, righteous duty, the moral order that upholds the universe — Dharma is the single most important concept in Indian civilisation, the principle that governs stars in their orbits and guides human beings toward justice. As a name it asks a child to live with integrity, to seek what is right before what is easy, and to hold the world in balance
See Dharma scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Dharma:
Yes — Dharma is a Hindu boy name of Sanskrit origin, meaning “Cosmic law, righteous duty, the moral order that upholds the universe — Dharma is the single most important concept in Indian civilisation, the principle that governs stars in their orbits and guides human beings toward justice. As a name it asks a child to live with integrity, to seek what is right before what is easy, and to hold the world in balance”. It also appears in Buddhist, Jain, Sikh traditions.
How well does Dharma fit your family?
This page tells you what Dharma means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
Unlock Dharma's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Dharma is a boy's name of Sanskrit origin, traditionally used in Hindu families. The name means "Cosmic law, righteous duty, the moral order that upholds the universe — Dharma is the single most important concept in Indian civilisation, the principle that governs stars in their orbits and guides human beings toward justice. As a name it asks a child to live with integrity, to seek what is right before what is easy, and to hold the world in balance" and belongs to the Wisdom cluster — names meaning knowledge, insight, and thoughtful presence.
Beyond its Hindu heritage, Dharma is also used in Buddhist, Jain, Sikh traditions, reflecting how this name has traveled across cultures.
Common among Indian, SoutheastAsian, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayali, Singaporean, American, British families, Dharma carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What's Dharma's birth star?
In Vedic tradition, a baby's name is matched to their nakshatra (birth star) and rashi (moon sign) — usually through its first syllable. Dharma opens with “Dh.” But whether that's auspicious depends on your baby's exact date, time, and place of birth.
NameRoot works it out for you. Enter your baby's birth details and see exactly which nakshatra and rashi Dharma aligns with — and how strongly it scores.
See Dharma's birth-star reading →What does Dharma's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Dharma resonates in either tradition.
Dharma's destiny number is 9 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Dharma's full reading →
Does Dharma go with your family's names?
Dharma breaks into 5 sounds: /D-AH-R-M-AH/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Dharma sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Dharma beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Dharma — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Dharma
If Dharma resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Hindu boy names, common in Indian families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Hindu boy names from the Wisdom cluster
Names that sound similar
Hindu boy names that open with the same syllables as Dharma
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Dharma — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Dharma
What does the name Dharma mean?
Dharma means "Cosmic law, righteous duty, the moral order that upholds the universe — Dharma is the single most important concept in Indian civilisation, the principle that governs stars in their orbits and guides human beings toward justice. As a name it asks a child to live with integrity, to seek what is right before what is easy, and to hold the world in balance." It is a boy name of Sanskrit origin, traditionally used in Hindu families.
Is Dharma a boy or girl name?
Dharma is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Dharma?
Dharma is of Sanskrit origin, used in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh traditions, commonly among Indian, SoutheastAsian, Marathi families.
Is Dharma a Hindu name?
Yes. Dharma is a boy name traditionally used in Hindu families, of Sanskrit origin. It also appears in Buddhist, Jain, Sikh traditions.
What does Dharma mean in Sanskrit?
Dharma originates from Sanskrit, where it means "Cosmic law, righteous duty, the moral order that upholds the universe — Dharma is the single most important concept in Indian civilisation, the principle that governs stars in their orbits and guides human beings toward justice. As a name it asks a child to live with integrity, to seek what is right before what is easy, and to hold the world in balance."
What are common nicknames for Dharma?
Common short forms of Dharma include Dhari, Dharmu.
What is the numerology of Dharma?
Dharma has a Pythagorean destiny number of 9 — compassion and humanitarian service.
See how Dharma scores for your family
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