Meaning & History
Manjula is a Hindu and Sanskrit female given name derived from the Sanskrit word mañjula, meaning "pleasing, beautiful." It is also interpreted as "melodious." The name is widely used in India, particularly in Hindi, Malayalam, and Telugu-speaking regions.
Etymology
The name comes from Sanskrit मञ्जुल (mañjula), an adjective meaning "beautiful, charming, or sweet." The name is directly related to Mañjula, an alternate spelling that also appears in historical texts as the name of an Indian astronomer from the 10th century.
Historical and Cultural Context
The name has been borne by several notable figures. In the 10th century, the Indian astronomer Mañjula (also known as Muñjāla) authored the Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta and wrote at length on planetary motions and eclipses. Apart from astronomy, the name appears in Hindu mythology and continues to be popular in modern India and among the Indian diaspora, as seen in Fiji, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom.
Notable Bearers
- Manjula (Kannada actress) (1954–1986), Indian actress
- Manjula Chellur (born 1955), Indian doctor and judge
- Manjula Dayal, Fijian businesswoman
- Manjula Dissanayake (born 1967), Sri Lankan politician
- Manjula Ghattamaneni (born 1970), Indian actress and producer
- Manjula Guruge (born 1981), Emirati cricketer
- Manjula Munasinghe (born 1971), Sri Lankan cricketer
- Manjula Padmanabhan (born 1953), Indian playwright, artist and writer
- Manjula Sood (1945–2025), Indian British politician
- Manjula Vijayakumar (1953–2013), Indian actress
- Manjula Kumara Wijesekara (born 1984), Sri Lankan high jumper
- Sudath Manjula (born 1972), Sri Lankan politician
- Mañjula (astronomer) (fl. 932), Indian astronomer
Fictional Characters
Manjula is also the name of Manjula Nahasapeemapetilon, a character from the animated television series The Simpsons, originally voiced by Jan Hooks.
- Meaning: "pleasing, beautiful"
- Origin: Sanskrit
- Type: First name
- Usage Regions: India (Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu), Fiji, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom