Daksha

Classical Sanskrit origin

दक्ष (dakṣa): n. able, fit, adroit, expert, clever, dexterous, industrious, intelligent.

Source: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899), a public-domain scholarly reference — not every popular name today traces to a classical dictionary entry, so this section only appears where a verified match exists.

In the epics

Daksha appears in the Rāmāyaṇa as a character: Prajapati who had sixty famous daughters.

Source: Drimigo Scripture KG (CC BY 4.0). Many characters share a name across the epics — this is one notable figure who bore it, not a claim about the name's only meaning.

Traditional associations

In Hindu tradition, names are sometimes chosen by the baby's rashi (moon sign) or nakshatra (birth star). This is cultural tradition, not a rule.

• Rashi: Dhanu
• Nakshatra: Purva Ashadha
• More names starting with D

Names with a similar meaning

Names that share a word with “Able, talented, expert, daughter”. Meanings are the common reading rather than a ruling — the same name is often glossed differently by different sources.

• Samarth — Capable, powerful, able
• Tarsem — One who is able to cross over, blessed rescuer
• Karan — Clever, talented, Arjuna
• Daksh — Capable, talented, son of Brahma
• Mahir — Skilled, expert, talented
• Kausalya — Mother of Rama, skilled, talented

More girls' names of Sanskrit-Marathi origin

• Gauri — Goddess Parvati, fair complexioned
• Shraddha — Faith, devotion, reverence
• Janhavi — Daughter of Jahnu, river Ganga
• Laxmi — Goddess of wealth and prosperity
• Swati — A star, pearl, independent
• Kavita — Poem, poetry, literary composition

Other names under Dhanu rashi

• Subhadra — Sister of Lord Jagannath and Balabhadra, auspicious
• Shruti — Heard, sacred scriptures, Vedas
• Ayyappan — Lord Ayyappa, divine son of Shiva and Vishnu
• Subhashree — Good fortune, beautiful blessing
• Tanushree — One with a beautiful body; graceful woman
• Sowmya — Gentle, calm, mild, Goddess Parvati

Traditional association, recorded because families use it when choosing — see all Dhanu names.

Where this comes from

Daksha's etymology is verified against Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899). Its meaning comes from our compiled name corpus, the least-sourced dataset on this site — we say so plainly on Sources & methodology rather than implying an authority we cannot name.