Four hundred names for God and for the transcendent, from more than a hundred languages and traditions.
All 400 names, with their languages and meanings
English, and the philosophers' English
- EnglishGodfrom a Germanic root usually read as the one called upon
- EnglishLordOld English hlaford, the keeper of the bread
- Englishthe Almightyall-powerful
- Englishthe Most Highabove all that is
- Englishthe Eternalwithout beginning or end
- Englishthe Creatormaker of all that is
- EnglishMaker
- English, philosophythe Absolutewhat depends on nothing else
- Englishthe Infinitewithout limit
- English, after Plotinusthe Onethe single source of everything
- Englishthe Holyset apart; kin to whole and hale
- Englishthe Sacredset apart from the ordinary
- Englishthe Divineof God
- Englishthe Ineffablewhat cannot be put into words
- English, from Rudolf Ottothe Numinousthe felt presence of the holy
- English, from Paul TillichGround of Beingnot one being among others but the ground of them all
- English, philosophyBeing Itselfexistence as such
- EnglishUltimate Realitywhat is finally real
- English, from Paul TillichUltimate Concernwhat a person takes with unconditional seriousness
- English, from Rudolf Ottothe Wholly Otherutterly unlike anything in the world
- EnglishHigher Powera power greater than oneself
- English, after AristotlePrime Moverthe first cause of all motion
- English, philosophyFirst Causethe cause that has no cause
- English, after AristotleUnmoved Moverwhat moves everything and is moved by nothing
- Englishthe Sourcewhere everything begins
- EnglishProvidencethe care that sees ahead
- EnglishHeaventhe sky, and what is above it
- English, for many Native American namesGreat Spiritthe spirit above all spirits
- English, for the Lakota Wakan TankaGreat Mysterythe sacred that cannot be explained
- Englishthe Lightwhat makes everything else visible
- EnglishLoveGod is love (1 John 4:8)
- EnglishTruthwhat is so
- English, for the Greek Logosthe WordIn the beginning was the Word (John 1:1)
- English, from Exodus 3:14I AMthe name given to Moses at the burning bush
- English, from Daniel 7:9Ancient of Daysthe one who was before time
- EnglishKing of Kingsruler over every ruler
- EnglishLord of Lords
- English, for the Hebrew TzevaotLord of HostsLord of the armies of heaven
- English, ChristianHeavenly Fatherthe Father in heaven
- English, ChristianHoly SpiritGod as breath and presence
- Englishthe Everlastinglasting through all time
- EnglishSupreme Beingthe highest of all that exists
- Englishthe Beyondwhat lies past the edge of the world
- English, for the Pali asankhatathe Unconditionedwhat nothing has made or shaped
- English, for the Pali amatathe Deathlesswhat does not die
- English, Buddhistthe Unbornwhat never came to be and so cannot pass away
- English, after the Tao Te Chingthe Namelesswhat was there before any name
- Englishthe Formlesswhat has no shape
- English, after Platothe Goodwhat all things reach for
- English, the scholasticsthe Trueone of the transcendentals: being, one, true, good
- English, the scholasticsthe Beautifulcounted by many among the transcendentals
- English, from Ralph Waldo EmersonOver-Soulthe one soul in which every soul shares
- English, from Viktor FranklUltimate Meaninga meaning larger than the mind can hold
- Englishthe Mysterywhat is known only by being met
- Englishthe PresenceGod as nearness
- EnglishSpiritbreath; life
- EnglishFather
- English, from Psalm 23Shepherdthe one who leads and keeps
- EnglishRedeemerthe one who buys back what was lost
- EnglishSaviorthe one who rescues
- English, from John 14:16Comforterthe one called alongside
- English, from the PsalmsRockwhat does not move
- EnglishRefugea safe place
- Englishthe Waythe road, and the one who is the road
- English, from Revelation 1:8Alpha and Omegathe first letter and the last
- Hebrew, by way of GreekEmmanuelעמנואלGod with us (Isaiah 7:14)
- Hebrew, MashiachMessiahמשיחthe Anointed One
- Greek, ChristosChristΧριστόςthe Anointed One
- English, from the Hebrew YeshuaJesusthe Lord saves
- English, from John 1:29Lamb of God
- English, from Isaiah 9:6Prince of Peace
- English, from John 8:12Light of the World
- English, ChristianSon of God
- English, ChristianTrinityone God in three persons
- EnglishGodheadthe divine nature itself
- English, a scholarly reading of the Hebrew YHWHYahwehthe Name, with its vowels restored as scholars think it was said
- English, an older reading of YHWHJehovahthe Name, read with the vowels of Adonai
- Englishthe Living God
- Englishthe Great Architectthe designer of the universe
- Englishthe All
- Englishthe Ultimatethe last and highest
- EnglishTranscendencegoing beyond
- EnglishSublimeraised high
- EnglishBoundless
- EnglishLimitless
- EnglishImmeasurable
- EnglishUnknowable
- EnglishUncreated
- EnglishTimeless
- EnglishChangeless
- EnglishImmortal
- English, from LatinOmnipotentall-powerful
- English, from LatinOmniscientall-knowing
- English, from LatinOmnipresentpresent everywhere
- EnglishGlorythe weight and the shining of God
- EnglishMajesty
- EnglishWonder
- EnglishAwewhat a person feels before the holy
Hebrew and Aramaic
- HebrewיהוהYHWHthe four-letter Name, traditionally left unspoken
- HebrewElohimאלהיםGod; a plural noun that takes a singular verb
- HebrewAdonaiאדניmy Lord; said aloud in place of the Name
- Hebrewאל שדיEl ShaddaiGod Almighty
- HebrewEl Elyonאל עליוןGod Most High
- Hebrewאהיה אשר אהיהEhyeh Asher EhyehI Am That I Am (Exodus 3:14)
- Hebrew, the KabbalistsEin Sofאין סוףwithout end; the Infinite
- HebrewשכינהShekhinahthe Presence that dwells among us
- HebrewHaShemהשםthe Name
- HebrewהמקוםHaMakomthe Place; the one who is everywhere
- Hebrewהקדוש ברוך הואHaKadosh Barukh Huthe Holy One, blessed be He
- HebrewRibbono shel Olamרבונו של עולםMaster of the Universe
- HebrewElאלGod; one of the oldest Semitic words for the divine
- HebrewEloahאלוהGod, in the singular; the usual word in the Book of Job
- HebrewTzurצורRock
- HebrewAvinu Malkeinuאבינו מלכנוour Father, our King
- HebrewYahיהthe short form of the Name, as in Hallelujah
- HebrewAdon Olamאדון עולםLord of the world
- HebrewEl Olamאל עולםthe Everlasting God (Genesis 21:33)
- HebrewEl Roiאל ראיthe God who sees me (Genesis 16:13)
- Hebrewאלהים חייםElohim Chayimthe Living God
- HebrewנשגבNisgavexalted; out of reach
- AramaicAbbaאבאFather
- Syriac AramaicAlahaܐܠܗܐGod
- Syriac AramaicMaryaܡܪܝܐthe Lord
Greek
- GreekΘεόςTheosGod
- GreekΚύριοςKyriosLord
- GreekΛόγοςLogosword, reason, meaning
- GreekΠαντοκράτωρPantokratorruler of all
- Greek, Plotinusτὸ Ἕνto Henthe One
- Greek, Platoτὸ Ἀγαθόνto Agathonthe Good
- Greek, Exodus 3:14 in the Septuagintὁ Ὤνho OnHe Who Is
- GreekὝψιστοςHypsistosMost High
- Greek, Platoἐπέκειναepekeinabeyond; what lies past being itself
- GreekἍγιοςHagiosHoly
- GreekΠνεῦμαPneumabreath; Spirit
- GreekἈγάπηAgapelove (1 John 4:8)
- GreekΣοφίαSophiaWisdom
- Greek, Revelation 1:8τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦto Alpha kai to Othe Alpha and the Omega
- Greek, the NeoplatonistsΝοῦςNousMind
- GreekἈρχήArchebeginning; first principle
- GreekΠατήρPaterFather
- GreekPleromaΠλήρωμαthe Fullness
- Greek, the PythagoreansMonadΜονάςthe One; the unit behind all number
- Greek, the GnosticsBythosΒυθόςthe Depth
Latin
- LatinDeusGod; kin to the Sanskrit Deva and the Greek Zeus
- LatinDominusLord
- LatinOmnipotensall-powerful
- LatinSummum Bonumthe highest good
- Latin, Thomas AquinasIpsum EsseBeing itself
- Latin, the scholasticsActus Puruspure act; nothing left unrealized
- Latin, Rudolf OttoMysterium Tremendumthe mystery before which one trembles
- LatinNumena divine presence; the nod of a god
- Latin, Isaiah 45:15Deus Absconditusthe hidden God
- LatinSanctusHoly
- LatinAltissimusthe Most High
- LatinAeternusthe Eternal
- LatinVerbumthe Word
- LatinLuxLight
- LatinVeritasTruth
- LatinCaritaslove, as in Deus caritas est
- LatinAgnus DeiLamb of God
- LatinPater NosterOur Father
- LatinSpiritus SanctusHoly Spirit
- Latin, the scholasticsPrimum Movensthe first mover
- Latin, the scholasticsCausa Primathe first cause
- Latin, philosophyEns Perfectissimumthe most perfect being
- Latin, SpinozaDeus sive NaturaGod, or Nature
- Latintranscendereto climb beyond; the root of the word transcendent
Arabic
- ArabicاللهAllahGod; the God
- Arabicالرحمنar-Rahmanthe Most Compassionate
- Arabicar-Rahimالرحيمthe Most Merciful
- Arabicالحقal-Haqqthe Truth; the Real
- Arabicالنورan-Nurthe Light
- Arabical-Ahadالأحدthe One, the Indivisible
- Arabicالصمدas-Samadthe Eternal Refuge
- Arabical-Awwalالأولthe First
- Arabical-Akhirالآخرthe Last
- Arabicالسلامas-SalamPeace; the Source of Peace
- Arabical-Malikالملكthe King
- Arabicالقدوسal-Quddusthe Most Holy
- Arabical-Khaliqالخالقthe Creator
- Arabicالحيal-Hayythe Ever-Living
- Arabical-Qayyumالقيومthe Self-Subsisting, who sustains all
- Arabicالعليal-Alithe Most High
- Arabical-Azimالعظيمthe Magnificent
- Arabicالودودal-Wadudthe Loving
- Arabical-Baqiالباقيthe Everlasting
- ArabicRabbربLord; Sustainer
- Arabicالظاهرaz-Zahirthe Manifest
- Arabicالباطنal-Batinthe Hidden
- Arabical-Latifاللطيفthe Subtle; the Gentle
- Arabical-Karimالكريمthe Generous
- Arabicالغفورal-Ghafurthe All-Forgiving
- Arabicالمتعاليal-Muta'alithe Supremely Exalted; the Transcendent
- Arabical-Wahidالواحدthe One
- Arabic, the SufisHuهوHe; the breath of remembrance
Persian, Turkic and the steppe
- Persian and UrduخداKhodaGod
- PersianYazdanیزدانGod; from the Zoroastrian word for those worthy of worship
- Avestan, ZoroastrianAhura Mazdathe Wise Lord
- TurkishTanrıGod; from the old Tengri
- Old Turkic and MongolianTengriHeaven; the Eternal Sky of the steppe
- MongolianТэнгэрTengerHeaven; sky
- MongolianБурханBurkhanBuddha; God
- KurdishXwedêGod
- Persian, the Sufi poetsدوستDustthe Friend
- Persian and UrduParvardigarپروردگارthe Sustainer
Sanskrit and the languages of India
- Sanskritब्रह्मन्Brahmanthe Absolute; the ground of all that is
- SanskritॐOmthe sacred syllable
- SanskritIshvaraईश्वरthe Lord
- Sanskritभगवान्Bhagavanthe Blessed One; the Lord
- SanskritParamatmaपरमात्माthe Supreme Self
- Sanskritसच्चिदानन्दSat-Chit-AnandaBeing, Consciousness, Bliss
- SanskritParabrahmanपरब्रह्मthe Highest Brahman, beyond all description
- Sanskritलोकोत्तरLokottarabeyond the world; transcendent
- SanskritTuriyaतुरीयthe Fourth: awareness beyond waking, dream and sleep
- Sanskritअनन्तAnantathe Endless
- SanskritTatतत्That
- Sanskritसत्SatBeing; Truth
- SanskritPurushottamaपुरुषोत्तमthe Supreme Person
- SanskritनारायणNarayanaa name of Vishnu
- SanskritHariहरिa name of Vishnu
- SanskritशिवShivathe Auspicious One
- SanskritVishnuविष्णुthe All-Pervading
- Sanskritकृष्णKrishnaworshipped by his devotees as the Supreme Person
- SanskritRamaरामworshipped as God in human form
- Sanskritशक्तिShaktiPower; the divine as feminine
- SanskritDeviदेवीthe Goddess
- SanskritDevaदेवa shining one; a god; kin to the Latin Deus
- SanskritParameshvaraपरमेश्वरthe Supreme Lord
- Sanskritप्रभुPrabhuLord; Master
- SanskritNirgunaनिर्गुणbeyond all qualities
- Sanskritअक्षरAksharathe Imperishable
- SanskritSvayambhuस्वयम्भूthe Self-Existent
- Tamilகடவுள்KadavulGod; often read as the one beyond and within
- Tamilஇறைவன்Iraivanthe Lord
- Bengaliঈশ্বরIshwarGod; the Lord
- TeluguదేవుడుDevuduGod
- KannadaದೇವರುDevaruGod
- MalayalamദൈവംDaivamGod
- GujaratiભગવાનBhagvanGod; the Lord
- Sinhalaදෙවියන්DeviyanGod
- Punjabi, SikhਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂWaheguruthe Wondrous Lord
- Punjabi, SikhੴIk Onkarthere is one God; the first words of the Guru Granth Sahib
- Punjabi, SikhAkal Purakhਅਕਾਲ ਪੁਰਖthe Timeless One
- Punjabi, SikhSat Namਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁTruth is the Name
Pali, Thai and the Buddhist world
- PaliDhammaธรรมthe truth of how things are; the teaching
- PaliNibbanathe unbinding; the end of craving
- PaliLokuttarabeyond the world; the Pali word for transcendent
- PaliAmatathe Deathless
- PaliAsankhatathe Unconditioned
- Pali and SanskritTathagatathe One Thus Gone; the Buddha's name for himself
- Pali and SanskritBuddhathe Awakened One
- SanskritNirvanaनिर्वाणblown out, as a flame; the end of suffering
- Sanskrit, the Mahayanaधर्मकायDharmakayathe Truth Body of the Buddha
- Sanskrit, the MahayanaTathataतथताsuchness; things as they are
- Sanskrit, the Mahayanaशून्यताShunyataemptiness
- Thaiพระเจ้าPhra ChaoGod
- Thaiพระผู้เป็นเจ้าPhra Phu Pen Chaothe Lord God
- ThaiนิพพานNipphanNirvana
- Thai, from PaliโลกุตระLokuttarabeyond the world; transcendent
- ThaiพระธรรมPhra Thamthe Dhamma
- Thaiสิ่งศักดิ์สิทธิ์Sing Saksitthe sacred
- ThaiเหนือโลกNuea Lokabove the world
- ThaiอมตะAmatadeathless
- Thaiนิรันดร์Niraneternal
- Thaiอนันต์Ananinfinite
- Thaiพระผู้สร้างPhra Phu Sangthe Creator
- Thaiพระพุทธเจ้าPhra Phuttha Chaothe Lord Buddha
- Isan and LaoพญาแถนPhaya Thaenthe Lord of the Sky; the rain rockets are fired to him
- Khmerព្រះPreahGod; the Buddha; the sacred
- Khmerព្រះជាម្ចាស់Preah Chea Mchasthe Lord God
- Laoພຣະເຈົ້າPhra ChaoGod
- Burmeseဘုရားသခင်Hpaya Thakhinthe Lord God
- Tibetanདཀོན་མཆོགKonchokthe Rare and Supreme
Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese
- Chinese道Daothe Way
- Chinese天TianHeaven
- Chinese上帝Shangdithe Lord on High
- Chinese神ShenGod; spirit
- Chinese太極Taijithe Supreme Ultimate
- Chinese無極Wujithe Limitless
- Chinese天主Tianzhuthe Lord of Heaven
- Chinese真主Zhenzhuthe True Lord
- Chinese超越chaoyueto go beyond; transcendent
- Chinese, the Tao Te Ching玄Xuanthe dark; the mystery within the mystery
- Chinese佛FoBuddha
- Chinese空Kongemptiness
- Chinese涅槃NiepanNirvana
- Chinese天道Tiandaothe Way of Heaven
- Chinese老天爺Lao Tian YeOld Lord Heaven, as people say it at home
- Japanese神様Kami-samaGod, said with reverence
- Japanese仏HotokeBuddha
- Japanese, Zen無Munothingness
- Japanese彼岸Higanthe other shore
- Japanese大日如来Dainichi Nyoraithe Great Sun Buddha
- Korean하나님HananimGod; the one Lord of Heaven
- Korean하느님Haneunimthe Lord of Heaven
- Korean, Cheondoism한울님Hanullimthe Lord of Heaven
- Korean초월chowoltranscendence
- VietnameseThiên Chúathe Lord of Heaven
- VietnameseTrờiHeaven
- VietnameseThượng Đếthe Lord on High
Europe
- GermanGottGod
- German, Rudolf Ottodas Heiligethe Holy
- German, Rudolf Ottodas ganz Anderethe Wholly Other
- German, Meister EckhartGottheitthe Godhead
- GermanUrgrundthe primal ground
- German, Karl Jaspersdas Umgreifendethe Encompassing
- German, Viktor FranklÜbersinnsupra-meaning; a meaning above the reach of reason
- GermanTranszendenztranscendence
- FrenchDieuGod
- Frenchl'Éternelthe Eternal; how many French Bibles write the Name
- Frenchle Très-Hautthe Most High
- Frenchl'au-delàthe beyond
- SpanishDiosGod
- Spanishel Altísimothe Most High
- Spanishel Todopoderosothe Almighty
- Spanishel Señorthe Lord
- ItalianDioGod
- Italianl'Altissimothe Most High
- RomanianDumnezeuGod; from the Latin Domine Deus
- Swedish, Danish and NorwegianGudGod
- IcelandicGuðGod
- FinnishJumalaGod
- HungarianIstenGod
- PolishBógGod
- CzechBůhGod
- Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian and SerbianБогBogGod
- RussianГосподьGospodthe Lord
- RussianВсевышнийVsevyshnythe Most High
- Russianзапредельноеzapredelnoyewhat lies beyond the limit
- LithuanianDievasGod; kin to Deus and Deva
- IrishDiaGod
- WelshDuwGod
- BasqueJainkoaGod
- AlbanianZotGod; Lord
- AlbanianPerëndiGod; once the word for majesty
- MalteseAllaGod
- ArmenianԱստվածAstvatsGod
- GeorgianღმერთიGhmertiGod
- Old EnglishDryhtenLord
- Old EnglishMetodthe Measurer; the one who sets the bounds
- GothicGuþGod, in the oldest Germanic Bible
- Proto-Indo-European, reconstructedDyeus Pater*Dyḗus ph₂tḗrSky Father; the root behind Zeus, Jupiter and Deus
Africa
- Amharic and Ge'ezእግዚአብሔርEgziabherthe Lord of the world
- SwahiliMunguGod
- ZuluuNkulunkuluthe Great-Great One
- XhosauThixoGod
- XhosaQamatathe Supreme Being
- Sotho and TswanaModimoGod
- ShonaMwariGod
- YorubaOlodumarethe Supreme Being
- YorubaOlorunthe Lord of Heaven
- IgboChukwuthe Great Spirit
- IgboChinekethe God who creates
- AkanNyamethe Supreme God
- AkanOnyankoponthe Supreme God
- Kikuyu and KambaNgaiGod
- MaasaiEnkaiGod
- OromoWaaqaGod; the sky
- Kinyarwanda and KirundiImanaGod
- LugandaKatondathe Creator
- KongoNzambiGod
- Bemba and TongaLezathe Supreme Being
- Chewa and other Bantu languagesMulunguGod
- MalagasyAndriamanitraGod; literally the fragrant lord
- MalagasyZanaharythe Creator
- HausaUbangijithe Lord
- SomaliEebbeGod
- DogonAmmathe Creator
- Ancient EgyptianAmunthe Hidden One
- Ancient EgyptianNetjergod; the divine
- CopticPhnoutiⲫⲛⲟⲩϯGod
The Americas
- LakotaWakan TankaWakȟáŋ Tȟáŋkathe Great Mystery
- OjibweGichi-Manidoothe Great Spirit
- CherokeeᎤᏁᎳᏅᎯUnetlanvhithe Creator
- CheyenneMa'heo'oGod
- PawneeTirawathe Father Above
- ApacheUsenthe Giver of Life
- CrowAkbaatatdíathe One Who Made Everything
- NahuatlIpalnemohuanithe One through whom we live
- NahuatlTeotlthe sacred; god
- QuechuaWiraqochathe Creator, in the Andes
- QuechuaPachakamaqthe Maker of the World
- GuaraníTupãGod
- GuaraníÑandejáraOur Lord
- Haitian CreoleBondyethe Good God
- Rastafari, from the Hebrew YahJahGod
- InuitSilabreath, sky, the spirit of the world
Southeast Asia's other tongues, and the Pacific
- Malay and IndonesianTuhanthe Lord; God
- TagalogBathalathe old Tagalog name for the Supreme Being
- TagalogPanginoonthe Lord
- BalineseSang Hyang Widhithe Divine Order; the one God of Balinese Hindus
- JavaneseGustithe Lord
- Old Javanese and SundaneseHyangthe unseen divine
- HmongVajtswvGod; the Lord King
- HawaiianKe AkuaGod
- Māori and other Polynesian languagesAtuaGod; the divine
- MāoriIothe Supreme Being; the Parentless One
- TonganʻOtuaGod
- FijianKalouGod
- Kamilaroi and WiradjuriBaiamethe Maker; the Sky Father
A name here is a pointer, not a definition. The glosses are ours and are short on purpose. Where a name comes from a scripture or a writer, the source is named beside it. Spellings were checked where we could against Translation Insights and Perspectives (United Bible Societies) and Wiktionary. If your tradition's name is missing or wrong, write to hello@transcendent.com and it will be corrected.
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