Gadadhar

Gadadhar is a masculine given name of Indian origin used in various communities across India and among the Indian diaspora. The name is commonly found in Bengali and Hindi-speaking populations and appears in transliterations such as Gadadhar or Gadadhara in different scripts.

The name is generally understood to be composed of Sanskrit elements, often interpreted as gada (mace) and dhar (bearing or holding). In Hindu iconography, the mace is a symbol carried by certain deities, which gives the name a martial or heroic resonance for some families who choose it.

Gadadhar has historically been adopted in Bengal and other northern regions, where it has appeared in literary, scholarly, and public-life contexts. It remains in use today among those who prefer traditional Indian given names.

Notable people with the name include Gadadhar Chandra Sen, a 19th-century Bengali scholar and reformer who contributed to Bengali literature and culture during the period of linguistic and cultural revival in Bengal. His prominence in literary circles has helped keep the name recognizable in South Asian naming traditions.

Variant forms and related names include Gadadhar, Gadadhara, and other transliterations that reflect regional pronunciation and script differences. The name is primarily used as a first name rather than a surname.

See also: Gadadhara (disambiguation) for related forms and uses.