Gyaltsen

Gyaltsen is a Tibetan given name, also rendered as Gyeltsen, Gyeltsen, or Gyaltsin. It is common among Tibetan-speaking communities and in Himalayan regions with Tibetan cultural influence. The name is traditionally masculine and used across secular and religious contexts.

The name is formed from two Tibetan elements: gyal meaning “victory” or “conquest” and tsen (or tshen) meaning “power” or “strength.” Combined, they are commonly interpreted as “victorious and powerful” or “one of great victory and strength.”

In traditional Tibetan naming practice, Gyaltsen is a personal name rather than a hereditary surname. It may be used by rulers, monks, scholars, and laypeople alike. In modern administration, it can appear in records with a patronymic rather than a fixed family surname. The name’s broad usage reflects its appeal across social strata and geographic areas with Tibetan influence, including Tibet, Ladakh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Tibetan diaspora.

Variants and transliteration course through different systems, leading to spellings such as Gyeltsen, Gyeltsen, and Gyaltsin. The name is frequently encountered in historical chronicles and contemporary contexts, often in combination with other given names or honorifics.

Notable bearers include multiple historical Tibetan figures who bore the name Gyaltsen, spanning rulers and Buddhist teachers. Because it is a common given name, the exact list of individuals depends on the source material. See also lists of Tibetan given names for related forms and usages.