Rohini (given name)
| Pronunciation | /roʊˈhiːni/ roh-HI-nee Hindi: [roːɦiːniː] Sanskrit: [roːɦiːniː] |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Language(s) | Sanskrit |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Sanskrit |
| Meaning | “star”, “ascending”, “growing”, “red one” |
| Region of origin | Indian subcontinent |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Rohinee, Rohiṇī |
| See also | Rohini (disambiguation) |
Rohini (Rohiṇī) is a South‑Asian feminine given name of Sanskrit origin. It literally means “ascending”, “growing”, “red one”, and by extension “star” and “cow”, reflecting its links to the reddish star Aldebaran and to fertility symbolism in Hindu culture.[1][2][3][4]
Etymology and religious significance
The name derives from the Sanskrit root roh (“to rise, grow, ascend”) plus the feminine suffix -inī.[1]
- The Monier‑Williams dictionary glosses rohiṇī as “ruddy; a red cow; the fourth lunar mansion.”[1]
- Contemporary commentaries likewise emphasise the ideas of ascent and growth.[5]
In Hindu mythology, bearers include Rohinī Devi, favourite consort of Chandra and personification of Aldebaran, and Rohinī, mother of Balarama and Subhadra in the Mahābhārata.
People
The name is widely used across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the South‑Asian diaspora. Notable people with the given name include:
- Rohini Arora, Canadian politician
- Rohini Balakrishnan, Indian bioacoustics expert
- Rohini Banerjee, Indian actress and model
- Rohini Bhate (1924 – 2008), Indian Kathak dancer and scholar
- Rohini Chowdhury (born 1963), Indian author and literary translator
- Rohini Kumar Chaudhuri (1899–1955), Indian politician
- Rohini Sindhuri Dasari (born 1984), Indian bureaucrat
- Rohini Devasher, Indian contemporary artist
- Rohini Godbole (1952 – 2024), Indian particle physicist
- Rohini Hattangadi (born 1951), Indian actor, BAFTA winner for Gandhi
- Rohini Mariam Idicula, Indian actress, anchor and model
- Rohini Khadilkar (born 1963), Indian chess player
- Rohini Khadse-Khewalkar (born 1982), Indian politician
- Rohini Kuner (born 1970), Indian-born German pharmacologist and academic
- Rohini Marasinghe, Sri Lankan puisne justice of the Supreme Court
- Rohini Mohan, Indian musician and artist
- Rohini Mohan, Indian journalist and writer
- Rohini Molleti (born 1969), Indian actress, screenwriter, dubbing artist and lyricist
- Rohini Nanayakkara Sri Lankan banker
- Rohini Nilekani (born 1960), Indian author and philanthropist
- Rohini Pande, Indian economist
- Kodavatiganti Rohini Prasad (1949–2012), Indian author and scientist
- Rohini Salian (born 1947), Indian lawyer and prosecutor
- Inoka Rohini de Silva, Sri Lankan badminton player
- Rohini Somanathan (born 1965), Indian economist
- Rohini Kesavan Srihari, American computer scientist and entrepreneur
- Rohini Kumari Wijerathna, Sri Lankan politician
See also
- Rohini (Buddha's disciple)
- Rohini (goddess)
- Rohini (wife of Vasudeva)
- Gloria Rohini (born 1955), Indian judge
- Rohini (disambiguation)
- All pages with titles beginning with Rohini
- All pages with titles containing Rohini
References
- ^ a b c Monier‑Williams, Monier (1899). A Sanskrit–English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. p. 887. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ Apte, Vaman Shivaram (1957). The Practical Sanskrit‑English Dictionary. Poona: Prasad Prakashan. p. 942. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ "Rohini – Meaning, Origin & Popularity". MomJunction. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ "Rohini – Baby Name Meaning". The Bump. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
- ^ "The Symbolism of Rohini Nakshatra". Elephant Journal. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2025.