Mahesh

Mahesh is a male given name of Sanskrit origin. It is formed from maha, meaning "great," and ish, meaning "lord" or "ruler," and is commonly understood as "great lord." In Hindu tradition the name is associated with the god Shiva, who is sometimes referred to by epithets such as Maheshvara, "great lord." The name is widely used across the Indian subcontinent and among the Indian diaspora, particularly in states where Sanskrit-derived names are common.

Usage and distribution: It is primarily a given name in many Indian languages, including Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Marathi, and Hindi. While primarily masculine, it may appear in longer compound names, and occasionally as part of a surname in some families.

Notable people named Mahesh include: Mahesh Babu (born 1975), Telugu film actor; Mahesh Bhatt (born 1948), film director and producer; Mahesh Bhupathi (born 1974), former professional tennis player; Mahesh Dattani (born 1955), playwright and author; Mahesh Manjrekar (born 1958), actor and director.

The name remains common in India and in diaspora communities.