Nanda

Nanda is a name of Sanskrit origin used as a given name and surname in the Indian subcontinent. The root meaning is joy, delight, or happiness, and the term appears in literature and religious texts in various compounds and titles. The name is found across Hindu and Buddhist cultural contexts and is also associated with places and deities in Indian tradition, such as Nanda Devi, the Himalayan goddess and mountain.

The Nanda Dynasty, also known as the Nanda Empire, was a major ancient Indian dynasty that ruled Magadha and surrounding regions in northern India during the 5th and 4th centuries BCE. Its founder, Mahapadma Nanda, established a centralized administration with a capital at Pataliputra (modern Patna). The dynasty expanded Magadha's power and holdings, creating a substantial territorial base that preceded and enabled the rise of the Maurya Empire. The Nanda rule ended when Chandragupta Maurya, aided by Chanakya (Kautilya), overthrew the last Nanda ruler around 322 BCE.

In contemporary use, Nanda remains a common Indian surname and given name. It is found among diverse communities and has prominence in literature, film, and popular culture. The term also persists in toponymy and religious usage through entities such as Nanda Devi, reflecting the enduring cultural presence of the name in the region.