Entry № 6229 · Sanskrit origin

Shakuntala Shakuntala — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ shah-koon-TAH-lah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Sanskrit
Meaning
"Foundational Kalidasa Sanskrit play heroine"
Syllables
4
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Ancient (Sanskrit)

A name that means "foundational kalidasa sanskrit play heroine".

Shakuntala is from the Sanskrit Śakuntalā (शकुन्तला — protected by birds). A modern American baby name in the broader Sanskrit-heritage aesthetic. Shakuntala in Sanskrit traditionthe foundational iconic heroine of the foundational Sanskrit play Abhijñānaśākuntalam (The Recognition of Shakuntala, c. 4th century CE) by Kalidasa — widely considered the foundational greatest Sanskrit dramatist of all time and one of the foundational dramatists in world theatrical history; the iconic foundational Shakuntala play is widely considered one of the foundational works of world drama* alongside the iconic Greek tragedies; the iconic Shakuntala story originally appears in the foundational Mahabharata — where Shakuntala is the foundational mother of the iconic Emperor Bharata (after whom India is named Bhārat); central to traditional Sanskrit dramatic tradition; the iconic foundational play has been translated into 40+ languages worldwide — including the iconic foundational 1789 English translation by Sir William Jones — which famously inspired the iconic German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) to compose the iconic foundational poem Will I the blossoms*; central to traditional Indian classical performing arts including the iconic foundational Bharata Natyam + Odissi + Kathak dance traditions; appears throughout the iconic foundational Indian visual arts including the iconic foundational paintings of Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906) — widely considered the foundational father of modern Indian painting; Shakuntala Devi (1929-2013)iconic Indian mathematician; widely known as the foundational "Human Computer"; the iconic 2020 biographical Hindi film Shakuntala Devi starring Vidya Balan. Princess Shakuntala — Sanskrit heritage naming.

Featured throughout Sanskrit heritage and world drama.

Protected by birds (Sanskrit). Foundational Kalidasa Sanskrit play heroine + Goethe-inspiring 1789 English translation + Shakuntala Devi Human Computer + 2020 film Vidya Balan.

The name in its native script.

शकुन्तला
Transliteration
Śakuntalā
Pronunciation
/ ʃəˌkuːnˈtɑː.lə /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Shakuntala stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Shakuntala · last year
88 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Shakuntalas before her.

Real people
Shakuntala Devi
Iconic Indian mathematician + Human Computer.
1929 – 2013
In fiction
Shakuntala (Kalidasa)
Foundational Sanskrit play heroine.

Names connected to Shakuntala.

The number behind Shakuntala.

8

The Authority

Shakuntala reduces to eight.

Why families chose this name.

"Kalidasa's heroine. Ten letters. Shakuntala."
Anjali · Mother of one · Ujjain