Nitish

Nitish is a male given name of Indian origin. It is widely used in India and among the Indian diaspora, particularly in Hindi-speaking regions and in communities that draw on Sanskrit- and Indo-Aryan naming traditions. The name has several variant spellings, including Nitesh, reflecting differences in transliteration from regional languages.

Notable people with the name include Nitish Kumar (born 1951), an Indian politician who has served as Chief Minister of Bihar and has been a prominent national figure as the leader of the Janata Dal (United). Another well-known bearer is Nitish Rana (born 1993), an Indian cricketer who plays in the Indian Premier League for the Kolkata Knight Riders and has represented India A at various levels.

As a given name, Nitish appears across fields such as politics, sports, and entertainment, illustrating the name’s broad usage among people of Indian origin. There is no single universally agreed-upon meaning for the name; like many Indian names, its interpretation can vary by family and language, often drawing on Sanskrit roots used in different ways by parents. Outside India, the name is found among communities with Indian heritage, reflecting the spread of Indian naming traditions through migration and diaspora communities.