Atreya

Atreya is a Sanskrit name used as both a given name and a surname in the Indian subcontinent and among the South Asian diaspora. The name derives from the sage Atri, one of the ancient rishis in Hindu tradition, and it functions as an indicator of descent from Atri or affiliation with the Atreya gotra, a Brahmin lineage name found in various regional communities.

Historically, Atreya appears in Vedic and post‑Vedic literature as an identifier for sages and scholars linked to Atri’s line. In traditional Hindu genealogies, the Atreya gotra is listed among Brahmin lineages, and individuals bearing the name are associated with families tracing their ancestry to Atri.

In contemporary usage, Atreya is encountered as both a surname and a given name across India, Nepal, and among South Asian communities worldwide. It reflects cultural heritage and lineage rather than any single regional or professional association. The name is found across languages and communities, illustrating the enduring cultural memory of ancient sages in modern naming practices.

Notable people with the name come from a variety of fields, including academia, public life, and the arts. As a name with deep historical roots tied to a revered sage, Atreya continues to function primarily as a marker of lineage and identity within South Asian cultures. See also Atri, the sage from whom the Atreya lineage is said to descend, and Atreya gotra, the Brahmin lineage associated with the name.