Writing Adolescent Fiction/Character names/Nepalese

Usage notes

Some names of Sanskrit origin like Kiran, Kanchan are unisex name. Kshatriyas had names with common suffixes as -dhoj (dhwaj), -bir, -keshar, -mardan, -sur, -jung, in their first given name. Example; Ranadhoj, Ranabir, Ranakeshar, Ranamardan, Ranasur, Ranajung. Common middle names among them includes Bir, Bikram, Mansingh, Pratap, Singh, Jung, Shamsher and Bahadur. In the 19th century, Bahadur middle name rose to popularity due to the early usages by rulers such as Prince Bahadur Shah of Nepal, Jung Bahadur Kunwar Ranaji, etc. Prasad was the most popular Brahmin middle name throughout Nepalese history. Other common Brahmin middle names are Kumar, Raj, Nath. -nanda, -lal, -raj, -nath was also used as suffix for first given name. Example; Shivlal, Shivaraj, Shivanath. Sharma was all Brahmin only surname while Upadhyaya was not allowed for Jaisi Brahmins. Most of the remaining Hindu populations used to choose either Brahmin like or Kshatriya like names. Tibeto-Burmese Kiranti Rais use -hang as suffix or middle name. Terai Hindus use Devi, Kumar, Prasad, Lal as common suffixes or middle names. There are many indigeneous names in all three geographies of Nepal.

Hindu names

Bharadari period (before 20th century) names

These are the common names of Nepalese nobles, royals, courtiers, warriors and Kshatriya population in the Nepalese history before 20th century. Most of the names are now abandoned. (+suffix) means these suffixes -dhoj (dhwaj), -bir, -bhadra, -bhanjan, -keshar, -mardan, -sur, -jung (jang) can be adjoined to form new name.

Abhiman
Atibal
Baalnarsingh
Bakhtawar
Bangsharaj
Bangshidhar
Birdohon
Bansharaj
Bhotu
Birbhadra
Birbhanjan
Birdhoj
Birjang
Birkeshar
Birmardan
Birudatta
Chandrabir
Dambar
Dambardhoj
Dambarjang
Dalbhanjan
Daljit
Dalmardan
Dhokal
Fattehjang
Gajabal
Gajaraj
Gajakeshar
Garuddhoj
Hastidal
Hemdal
Hemdhoj
Jagatbam
Jagatjang
Jagatjit
Jeetjang
Juddhabir
Juddhajang
Karbir
Kehar
Kirtidhoj
Kirtimahoddam
Kirtimardan
Kirtimansingh
Kulamansingh
Mathabar
Mathabarsingh
Naahar
Narabhanjan
Narabhupal
Naradhoj
Narajang
Narakeshar
Naramardan
Narasur
Nirbhanjan
Parath
Prithvidhoj
Raghubir
Ranabam
Ranabhupal
Ranajang
Ranajawar
Ranajaya
Ranajit
Ranajor
Ranadal
Ranadhoj
Ranakeshar
Ranamardan
Ranasher
Ranasur
Ranendra
Ranodyot
Ranojjwal
Ripumardan
Shatrubhanjan
Sherjang
Shermardan
Singhabir
Singhadhoj
Surath (+suffix)
Surbir
Ujirsingh
Wazirsingh
Yuddhabir
Yuddhasher

Sherpa (Tibetan) names

Aangchhiring
Aangdandi
Chhiring
Dorje
Dorji
Gelu
Lakpa
Pasang
Sonam
Adhikari(Himalyan)
Tenzing
Sange
Yangchen
Furwa

Terai Indigineous names

Champaklal
Khutlidevi
Jhorilal
Phoolandevi

Surnames

Top

Rai
Shrestha
Thapa
Neupane
Oli
Adhikari
Paudel
Maharjan
Gurung
Aditya
Rai
Tamang
Karki
Ghimire
Lama
Magar
Acharya
Khadka
Bhattarai
Pokharel
Bhandari
Joshi
Sharma
Pradhan
Koirala
Pandey
Basnet
Dahal
Gautam
Chhetri
Upadhyaya
Sherpa
Yadav
Khatri/Khatri Chhetri (K.C.)
Chaudhary
Monger

Rest

Adhikari Chhetri
Ansari
Arjyal
Aryal
Athpahariya
Atreya
Awasthi
Ayer
Bagale
Bajgain
Bakhrel
Banjara
Banjade
Banskota
Banstola
Bantawa
Baraili
Baral
Baruwal
Bashyal
Bastakoti
Belbase
Bhatta
Bhurtel
Bhusal
Bishwakarma
Bista
Bohora
Buda
Budamagar
Budathoki
Burlakoti
Chalise
Chand
Chapagain
Chauhan
Chaulagain
Chamling
Chemjong
Chuhan
Dani
Dahal Chhetri
Devkota
Dhakal
pratap senevasam
Dhital
Dhungana
Dhungel
Dulal
Gaire
Gairel
Gaudel
Giri
Guragain
Jha
Kafle
Kattel
Katwal
Khabatari
Khanal
Khand
Khati
Khawas
Khulal
Kunwar
Lamichhane
Lamsal
Limbu
Lohani
Luitel
Mainali
Malla
Mishra
Nepal
Niroula
Ojha
Pandit
Paneru
Panta
Panthi
Parajuli
Pariyar
Pathak
Prasain
Pun
Punwar
Puri
Rajbhandari
Rana
Ranamagar
Ranapaheli
Ranabhat
Rathaur
Raut
Rawal
Rawat
Raya
Rayamajhi
Regmi
Rimal
Risal
Rokaya
Rokka
Sah
Samal
Sangroula
Sanjel
Sapkota
Sedhain
Sen
Shah
Shahi
Silwal
Singh
Sitoula
Subba
Subedi
Suyal
Thakur
Thakuri
Thapaliya
Tharu
Tiwari
Upreti
Wagle
Wasti
Yogi