Sonam

Sonam is a given name of Tibetan origin, widely used in Tibet, Nepal, India, and among Himalayan diaspora communities. The name is derived from the Tibetan bsod nams, meaning merit, virtue, or auspiciousness. In Tibetan and Himalayan contexts, Sonam is used for both men and women, and forms part of longer compound names such as Sonamchenpo or Sonamduk. The Devanagari rendering is सोनम.

In contemporary use, Sonam is found among various linguistic communities in South Asia and the Tibetan diaspora, and has also been adopted in localized forms in Nepal and India.

Notable bearers include Indian actress Sonam Kapoor, whose full name is Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, a leading figure in Hindi cinema since the mid-2000s. Another prominent figure is Sonam Wangchuk, a Ladakhi engineer and education reformer known for SECMOL and innovative teaching methods.

The name remains widely used and culturally significant in Tibetan and Himalayan communities.