Shyama
/ˈʃjɑːmə/noun
A Sanskrit-derived name and epithet meaning dark, black, or dark-blue, especially associated with Krishna or Kali.
Did you know?Śyāma is an epithet of Krishna, whose dark-blue complexion represents the vast, mysterious infinity of the cosmos rather than simple evil.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
śyāma
“Dark, black, dusky, or dark-blue”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Śyāma
“A name or epithet for a dark-complexioned deity, especially Krishna; also used for Kali”
Medieval Indian languages
Braj/Hindi
Śyām
“A devotional name for Krishna”
19th–20th Century
English
Shyama
“An English-transliterated South Asian personal name and divine epithet”
Modern English
English
Shyama
“A personal name, especially in reference to Krishna or the goddess Kali”