Rohini (given name)


Rohini is a South‑Asian feminine given name of Sanskrit origin.
It literally means “ascending”, “growing”, “red one”, and by extension “star” and “cow”, reflecting its links to the reddish star Aldebaran and to fertility symbolism in Hindu culture.

Etymology and religious significance

The name derives from the Sanskrit root plus the feminine suffix.
  • The Monier‑Williams dictionary glosses rohiṇī as “ruddy; a red cow; the fourth lunar mansion.”
In Hindu mythology, bearers include Rohinī Devi, favourite consort of Chandra and personification of Aldebaran, and Rohinī, mother of Balarama and Subhadra in the Mahābhārata.

People

The name is widely used across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the South‑Asian diaspora. Notable people with the given name include: