Anjan

Anjan is a modern masculine given name derived from the Sanskrit word añjana (अञ्जन), referring to a type of kohl or collyrium—a black powder historically used as eyeliner in South Asia. The name has multiple religious and mythological connections across Hindu traditions, notably as the root of Anjana, who—in the epic Ramayana—is the mother of the monkey-god Hanuman. While Anjana is the feminine form with a long final vowel, Anjan represents the shorter masculine variant, which has become a popular choice across the Indian subcontinent.

Geographic and cultural spread

Anjan is primarily used in Bengali, Nepali, and Hindi speaking regions. The name crossed the Hindu heartland through legends and migration, reaching Nepal where it remains a common given name. Its appeal lies in its religious resonance—linking a child to the epic figures and stories—and its simple phonetic structure that works well across several languages.

Notable bearers

The name has been carried by diverse figures in the arts, sports, politics, and academia. Notable personalities include:

• Anjan Bista (born 1998), Nepalese footballer
• Anjan Chakravartty, American philosopher
• Anjan Chatterjee (born 1960), Indian hotelier
• Anjan Chatterjee (neuroscientist) (born 1958), Indian-American neurologist
• Anjan Choudhury (1944–2007), Bengali filmmaker
• Anjan Das (1949–2014), Bengali film director
• Anjan Dutt (born 1953), Bengali singer‐composer and film director
• Aanjjan Srivastav (born 1948), Indian actor
• Anjan Sundaram (born 1983), Indian-American journalist
• Anjan Kumar Yadav (born 1961), Indian politician

In addition to these, the Ramayana connection means Anjan shares a mythological link with Hanuman and other figures in the same epic cycle (linked through Anjana).

Variants and usage etymology

Anjan is considered the expanded modern masculine form of Anjana. While Anjana is predominantly feminine, Anjan offers a gender-specific option for boys. The Sanskrit root añjana also underlies related words in modern Indian languages: the cosmetic 'kajal' shares the essential meaning, and the ancient region Anjaneri (a hill thought to be the birthplace of Hanuman) further strengthens the name's sacred geography. The name has sometimes been transcribed with a double 'a' (Aanjan) or written in modified romanization.^variants
Distribution: According to geographic trends, Anjan appears most often in West Bengal (India) and Nepal, but it is also dispersed among Indian diaspora communities worldwide.