Gyatso

Gyatso is a Tibetan given name and a component used in surnames, meaning ocean or sea. It is common in Tibetan and related Buddhist contexts and appears in the full names of many religious figures as well as in modern personal names. The element is especially associated with several Dalai Lamas, whose family names incorporate Gyatso.

Notable figures with Gyatso in their name include Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama (1619–1682); Tsangyang Gyatso, the Sixth Dalai Lama; Kelzang Gyatso, the Seventh Dalai Lama (1708–1757); and Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama (born 1935). In addition, Kelsang Gyatso (1931–2011) was a Tibetan Buddhist teacher who founded the New Kadampa Tradition. Beyond the Dalai Lamas, Gyatso appears in other monastic names and in the wider naming practices of Tibetan communities.

In popular culture, Gyatso is used as a given name for fictional characters, such as Monk Gyatso, a mentor figure in the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. The name’s association with Tibet’s religious and historical figures has contributed to its recognition in both real-world and fictional contexts. Overall, Gyatso functions as a versatile linguistic element signaling Tibetan heritage and Buddhist cultural influence.