Lord Shiva is one of the most significant Vedic gods included among the Trinity of Gods; the others two are Vishnu and Brahma. Brahma assists in creating the world, Vishnu maintains it, and Shiva helps in its annihilation.
Shiva is known by many different names according to his function. Here are the 108 names of Lord Shiva with their meaning.
Lord Shiva’s Names Starting with A and B
| Name | Meaning |
| Aashutosh | One who instantly fulfills wishes |
| Adiguru | The first Guru |
| Adinath | The first Lord |
| Adiyogi | The first Yogi |
| Aghora | Non-fearful |
| Aja | The unborn |
| Akshayaguna | The one with limitless qualities |
| Anagha | The faultless one |
| Anant Drishti | Of infinite vision |
| Ashani | Thunderbolt |
| Augadh | One who reveals all the time |
| Avyaya | Imperishable |
| Bhairav | Destroyer of fear; Bhairava is the terrible, destructive aspect of Shiva. |
| Bhalanetra | One who has an eye in the forehead |
| Bhava | Existence |
| Bhima | The tremendous |
| Bholenath | The simple one |
| Bhooteshwara (Bhuteshvara) or Bhutesha | One who has mastery over the elements; Lord of ghosts or elements |
| Bhudeva | Lord of the earth |
| Bhutapala | Protector of the disembodied beings |
| Chandrapal | Master of the moon |
| Chandraprakash | One who has a moon as a crest |
| Chandrashekhara | Lord of the Crescent Moon |
During the time when the demons and demigods were churning the ocean of milk, many objects started to be produced from it. One was the moon, which Shiva took and placed in his hair. This cresent-shaped moon in the head of Lord Shiva represents the passing of time. The crescent moon also signifies the happiness of life, especially when it is based on a spiritual purpose. Because of this ornament, Lord Shiva has many names that begin with chandra. Some of the popular names are; Chandrapal, Chandraprakash, Chandrashekhara, etc.
Lord Shiva’s Names Starting with D, G, J, and K
| Names | Meaning |
| Dakshinamurti | A universal teacher |
| Dayalu | The compassionate one |
| Devadi Deva | The god of gods |
| Dhanadeepa | Lord of wealth |
| Dnyandeep | The light of meditation |
| Dhyutidhara | Lord of brilliance |
| Digambara | The one who wears the sky as his raiment |
| Durjaneeya | Difficult to be known |
| Durjaya | The unvanquished |
| Gangadhara | Bearer of the river Ganga |
| Girisha | Mountain lord |
| Girjipati | Consort of Girija |
| Gunagrahin | Acceptor of Gunas |
| Gurudeva | The great Guru Hara, Remover of sins |
| Hara | Remover of death |
| Isha or Ishan | The ruler |
| Jagadisha | Master of Universe |
| Jaradhisamana | Redeemer from afflictions |
| Jatin | The one with matted hair |
| Jatadhara | Wearer of matted hair |
| Kailashdhipati | Lord of Mount Kailash |
| Kailashnath | Master of Mount Kailash |
| Kamalakshana | Louts-eyed lord |
| Kantha | Ever-radiant |
| Kapalin | One who wears a necklace of skulls |
| Kedarnath | Lord of Kedar |
| Kochadaiyaan | The lord of long dreadlocks |
| Kundalin | One who wears earrings |
According to Vedic literature, when the heavenly Ganga River was descending onto the Earth, the weight of its force would have crushed the world, so Lord Shiva accepted it on his head (Gangadhar), wherein it stayed until it was ready to be released. Ganga river is considered the foot wash of Lord Vishnu. The presence of Ganga water in the head of Shiva represents the flow of knowledge and devotion to God.
Lord Shiva Names starting with L, M, and N
| Name | Meaning |
| Lalataksha | One who has an eye in the forehead |
| Lingadhyaksha | Lord of linga |
| Lokankara | Creator of three worlds |
| Lokapal | One who takes care of the world |
| Mahabuddhi | Extreme intelligence |
| Mahadeva | Great God |
| Mahakala | The lord of time |
| Mahamaya | Creator of great illusions |
| Mahamrityunjaya | One who has boundless energies |
| Mahanidhi | Great storehouse |
| Mahashaktimaya | One who has boundless energies |
| Mahayogi | Greatest yogi |
| Mahesha | Supreme lord |
| Maheshwara | Lord of Gods |
| Mritunjaya | Conqueror of death |
| Nagabhushana | One who has serpents as ornaments |
| Nataraja | King of the art of dancing. Nataraja is one of the most beautiful forms of Lord Shiva. |
| Nilakantha | The Blue-throated one |
| Nityasundara | Ever beautiful |
| Nrityapriya | Lover of Dance |
Severe poison is another object that appeared from the churning. Shiva drank to keep it from spreading and killing gods. However, Parvati, being alarmed at this, grabbed his throat so it could not go down, which made his throat turn blue so the name Nilkantha.
Lord Shiva Names starting with O, P and R
| Names | Meaning |
| Omkara | Creator of OM |
| Palanhaar | One who protects all |
| Panchanana | Five-faced (which corresponds to the five activities of Shiva; creation, preservation, destruction, concealing grace, and revealing grace. |
| Panchatsaran | Vigorous |
| Parameshwara | First among all gods |
| Paramjyoti | Greatest splendor |
| Pashupati | Lord of all living beings. Pashupati also means the herdsman or friend of animals. |
| Pinakin | One who has a bow in his hand |
| Pranava | Originator of the primal sound of OM |
| Priyabhankta | Favorite of the devotees |
| Priyadarshana | Of loving vision |
| Pushkara | One who gives nourishment |
| Pushpalochana | One who has eyes like flowers |
| Ravilochana | Having Sun as the eye |
| Rudra | The Roares; lord of tears |
It is said that Rudra came out from the eyebrows of Lord Brahma and the child immediately started crying, so Lord Brahma named him Rudra (because he cried so anxiously). Rudra is viewed as the protector of humanity against its enemies. He is often shown as tall, well built, with long hair, wielding the thunderbolt with bow and arrow.
Lord Shiva Names starting with S
| Name | Meaning |
| Sadashiva | The Transcended one |
| Sanatana | The Eternal God |
| Sarvacharya | The Supreme Teacher |
| Sarvashiva | The Eternal Lord |
| Sarvatapana | Preceptor of All |
| Sarvayoni | Always Pure |
| Sarveshwara | Lord of All |
| Shambho | The auspicious one |
| Shambhu | Abode of joy |
| Shankara | Lord of All Gods; giver of joy |
| Shantah | Preceptor of Skanda |
| Shoolin | Giver of Joy |
| Shreshtha | Lord of the Moon |
| Shrikantha | Always Pure |
| Shrutiprakasha | The one who has a trident |
| Skandaguru | Illuminator of the Vedas |
| Someshwara | One who has a pure body |
| Sthanu | Immutable |
| Sukhada | The giver of joy |
| Swayambhu | Self-created |
Shiva in his form as Shambhu represents the symbol of masculine mundane procreation. In his role as Shambhu, he is the principle by which Maha-Vishnu impregnates the material nature with the seeds of innumerable living entities. With this form Lord Shiva has been associated with the material energy, otherwise, he has no association with the material energy.
Lord Shiva Names starting with T, U, and V
| Names | Meaning |
| Tejaswani | One who spreads illumination |
| Trilochana | Three-eyed Lord |
| Trilokpati | Master of all the three worlds |
| Tripurari | Destroyer of the ‘Tripur’ (the 3 planets created by Asuras) |
| Trishoolin | One who has a trident in his hands |
| Umapati | Consort of Uma |
| Ugra | The fearful |
| Vachaspati | Lord of Speech |
| Vajrahasta | One who has a thunderbolt in his hands |
| Varada | Granter of Boons |
| Vedakarta | The originator of the Vedas |
| Veerabhadra | Supreme Lord of the Nether World |
| Vishalaksha | Wide-eyed Lord |
| Vishveshwara | Lord of the Universe |
| Vishwanath/Visvanatha | Master of the Universe |
| Vrishavahana | One who has the bull as his vehicle |
Lord Shiva has got a couple of names such as Bhalanetra, Kamalakshana, Lalataksha, Pushpalochana, Ravilochna, Trilochana, Vishalaksha because of his eyes and the unique presence of a third eye in between his eyebrows on his forehead. It is said that his third eye represents the eye of wisdom or inner sight. The other two eyes represent the balance form of love and justice. This, Lord Shiva, is not too harsh nor too lenient but views everything with the proper proportions of love, justice, and insights.
