Jodha
/ˈdʒoʊ.də/noun
A South Asian personal name, famously associated with Jodha Bai, the traditionally named Rajput consort of Mughal emperor Akbar.
Did you know?The historical woman popularly called Jodha Bai may not actually have been named Jodha; historians note that the name became widely attached to her through later tradition and popular culture.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*yewdh-
“To fight or engage in combat; the reconstructed ancestral root behind Sanskrit terms for battle.”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
yुध् (yudh)
“To fight, wage war, or engage in battle.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
yoddhā
“A fighter or warrior; literally, one who fights.”
Medieval Indo-Aryan
Prakrit/Hindi
jodha / jodhā
“A warrior or heroic fighter; the form was used as a personal name and title in North Indian tradition.”
16th Century
Rajasthani/Hindi
Jodha
“A personal name associated in later tradition with the Rajput woman linked to Akbar’s court.”
Modern English
English
Jodha
“A South Asian personal name and historical-cultural label, especially familiar from films, television, and popular retellings of Mughal history.”