200+ Popular Bhutanese Names for Boys and Girls

In Bhutan, names aren’t just names—they’re spiritual markers, a kind of quiet identity passed down not through bloodlines, but through blessings. You won’t find last names on most official forms, and that’s not a mistake. That’s the system. A Bhutanese name is almost always chosen by a lama or spiritual elder, not by the parents. And the name isn’t just about how it sounds—it’s about the timing, the child’s birth conditions, and the energy the name is meant to carry forward.

Unlike in most places where family names keep legal systems tidy, Bhutanese naming culture leans fully into meaning and tradition over law and structure. For example, two people might both be named Sonam Wangmo, but what separates them isn’t a surname—it’s where they’re from, who named them, and which temple their parents visited. A 2024 survey by Bhutan’s Office of Cultural Affairs found that nearly 9 in 10 Bhutanese babies were still being named by spiritual leaders—not state officials. That tells you everything you need to know.

Boys Names

Girls Names

Unisex Names