Shambhu

Shambhu is a masculine given name widely used in India and across South Asia. It is derived from the Sanskrit name Shambhu, an epithet of the Hindu god Shiva, and is commonly understood to mean "auspicious," "benign," or "one who brings happiness." The name has several transliteration variants, including Shambhu, Shambu, and Shambhoo.

In Hinduism, Shambhu is an epithet of Shiva, reflecting his role as the auspicious one within the Trimurti and the broader Hindu pantheon. The term appears in hymns, prayers, and temple inscriptions and is often used in compound forms such as Shambhu-nath or Shambhushvara to invoke Shiva in devotional contexts.

As a personal name, Shambhu is widely used across India and in diaspora communities. It appears in many languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu, with spelling variants reflecting transliteration. In secular contexts, the name is typically used for cultural or familial reasons rather than explicit religious meaning, though it retains its historical association with the deity.

See also: Shambhu, Shiva.