Jagdish

Jagdish, also transliterated as Jagadish or Jagadis, is a male given name of Indian origin. The name is formed from the Sanskrit components jagat meaning world and īśa meaning lord, or from Jagadisha, a compound often interpreted as “lord of the world.” It is used as an epithet of Vishnu in Hindu tradition, and its meaning conveys a sense of universal authority or spirituality.

The spelling variants reflect transliteration differences rather than distinct meanings. Jagdish is common across India and among the Indian diaspora, with usage in languages such as Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Bengali. The name is traditionally given to boys at birth and is associated with cultural and religious resonance, sometimes chosen to reflect blessings of wisdom, strength, or global-mindedness.

Notable people with the name include Jagdish Bhagwati (born 1932), an Indian-born American economist known for his work in international trade and economic policy; and Jagadish Chandra Bose (1858–1937), an Indian scientist and polymath whose research contributed to early work in radio and plant physiology. The latter is sometimes transliterated as Jagadis Bose. Other individuals bearing the name appear across various professional fields, reflecting its broad cultural presence.

In scholarly and biographical writings, Jagdish is treated as a traditional given name with religious and cultural associations rooted in Sanskrit etymology. Today it remains in use in many communities worldwide, maintaining its link to history while continuing to be a common personal name.