Sonam is a given name commonly used in North Indian, Tibetan, Nepalese and Bhutanese cultures. It is a

Tibetan name Subash Lama Tibetan names typically consist of two juxtaposed elements. Family names are rare except among those of aristocratic ancestry and then come before the personal name (but diaspora Tibetans living in societies that expect a surname may a ...

meaning "

merit Merit may refer to: Religion * Merit (Buddhism) * Merit (Christianity) Companies and brands * Merit (cigarette), a brand of cigarettes * Merit Energy Company, an international energy company * Merit Motion Pictures, an independent documentar ...

" (). Separately, it is also a name in various

Indo-Aryan languages The Indo-Aryan languages, or sometimes Indic languages, are a branch of the Indo-Iranian languages in the Indo-European languages, Indo-European language family. As of 2024, there are more than 1.5 billion speakers, primarily concentrated east ...

(Devanagari script: ). People with this name include:

Buddhism

* Sönam Choklang, 2nd Panchen Lama (1438–1505) *

Sonam Gyatso, 3rd Dalai Lama The 3rd Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso (; 1543–1588), was the first in the tulku lineage to be entitled formally as the Dalai Lama. In 1578 Altan Khan presented the spiritual title of Dalai Lama, in honor of Sonam Gyatso's profound teachings conferre ...

(1543–1588), first officially recognized Dalai Lama * Sonam Lhundrup (1456–1531), great abbot of Mustang *

Sonam Rapten Sönam Rapten (''bsod nams rab brtan''; 1595–1658), initially known as Gyalé Chödze and later on as Sönam Chöpel, was born in the Tholung valley in the Central Tibetan province of Ü. He started off as a monk-administrator (''las sne, lené ...

(1595–1658), senior official of the Gelugpa School *

Sonam Rinchen Geshe Sonam Rinchen (1933–2013) was a Tibetan Buddhist scholar, writer, and teacher. He was born in Trehor region of Kham in Eastern Tibet in 1933. He died in Dharamshala, India, on 5 October 2013. In 1945, he joined Dhargyey Monastery and ente ...

(1933–2013), Buddhist Geshe from Kham * Jinpa Sonam (born 1955), Indian Buddhist teacher from Ladakh, director of the Indiana Buddhist center

Entertainers

Sonam (actress) Sonam Khan (born Bakhtawar Khan; 2 September 1972) is an Indian actress who is predominantly known for her work in Hindi as well as Telugu films. A granddaughter of actor Murad, she began her career with the Telugu film ''Samrat'' in 1987. She ...

(born Bakhtavar Khan, 1972), Indian actress *

Sonam Bajwa Sonampreet Bajwa (born 16 August 1989), is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Punjabi films. One of the highest paid actress of Punjabi cinema, Bajwa is a recipient of two PTC Punjabi Film Awards along with nominations for four Filmf ...

(born 1989), Indian actress of Punjabi descent *

Sonam Bisht Sonam Bisht is an Indian beauty pageant and reality show contestant turned television actress. She hails from Dehradun and studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya Hathibarkala. In 2013 she was the first runner-up in the Miss Uttarakhand contest. She took ...

(), Indian actress from Uttarakhand *

Sonam Kapoor Sonam Kapoor Ahuja (; born 9 June 1985) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Sonam Kapoor, several awards, including a National Film Awards, National Film Award and a Filmf ...

(born 1985), Indian film actress and fashion icon * Sonam Kinga (), Bhutanese actor *

Sonam Lamba Sonam Lamba (born 26 February 1997) is an Indian television actress known for her character of Vidya Modi Suryavanshi in ''Saath Nibhaana Saathiya'' on Star Plus. Life and career Birth and early work Lamba was born in Chandigarh and initiall ...

(born 1995), Indian actress from Chandigarh *

Sonam Lhamo Sonam Lhamo (born 1988) is a Bhutanese actress. She is best known for playing one of the leading roles in the 2003 film ''Travellers and Magicians''. Lhamo plays a young hitchhiker Hitchhiking (also known as thumbing, autostop or hitching) ...

(born 1988), Bhutanese actress *

Sonam Mukherjee Sonam Mukherjee (born Mumbai, India) is an Indian actress and fashion model. Mukherjee was a finalist at the I Am She-Miss Universe India beauty pageant in 2010. She made her acting debut in the Hindi film '' ?: A Question Mark'', released in 2 ...

(, Indian actress from Mumbai *

Sonam Tshering Lepcha Sonam Tshering Lepcha (3 January 1928 – 30 July 2020) was an Indian folk musician, composer and lyricist. He was the first among Lepcha people to air his voice on All India Radio and was credited with the revival of Lepcha culture, one of the ...

(1928–2020), Indian folk musician from Sikkim * Soname Yangchen (born 1973), Tibetan singer and songwriter *

Tenzing Sonam Tenzing Sonam (born 16 January 1959) is a Tibetan people, Tibetan film director, writer and essayist based in Dharamshala. He works through his production company, White Crane Films, which he runs with his partner, Ritu Sarin. Biography Sona ...

(born 1959), Tibetan film director

Politics and government

Sonom Sonom (died June 13–14, 1776) was a chieftain of the rGyalrong people in China. He was the lord-lama of Greater Jinchuan.Theobald, Ulrich. ''War Finance and Logistics in Late Imperial China: A Study of the Second Jinchuan Campaign (1771–17 ...

(died 1776), king of the rGyalrong people in China *

Sonam Drakpa Sonam Drakpa (, 1359–1408) was a regent of Central Tibet who ruled in 1381–1385. He belonged to the Phagmodrupa dynasty, the leading regime in Tibet from 1354 to 1435. Tenure as abbot and regent Sonam Drakpa was the son of Rinchen Dorje, a br ...

(1359–1408), regent of Central Tibet *

Sonam Gyatso Lepcha Sonam Gyatso Lepcha is an Indian politician from Sikkim. He is a member of the Sikkim Democratic Front. He was elected to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly from Djongu (Vidhan Sabha constituency), Djongu in the 2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly el ...

(), Indian politician from Sikkim *

Sonam Lama Sonam Lama is an Indian politician and monk in Sikkim. He is a minister in Second Tamang ministry. He was also a minister in First Tamang ministry. Political career Sonam Lama stood as the candidate of Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) from Sang ...

(born ), Indian politician from Sikkim *

Sonam Pelzom Sonam Pelzom (Dzongkha: བསོད་ནམས་དཔལ་འཛོམས) is a Bhutanese politician who has been a member of the National Council of Bhutan The National Council is the upper house of Bhutan's bicameral Parliament, which a ...

(born ), Bhutanese politician *

Sonam Topgay Dorji Sir Raja Sonam Topgay Dorji CIE (; ; 1896–1953), also called Tobgay, was a member of the Dorji family and Bhutanese politician who served between 1917 and 1952 in the Royal Government under the First and Second Kings of Bhutan. During this p ...

(1896–1953), Bhutanese politician *

Sonam Topgyal Sonam Topgyal (, 1940 – 30 December 2012) was Prime Minister (officially Kalön Tripa) of the Central Tibetan Administration (Tibetan government-in-exile A government-in-exile (GiE) is a political group that claims to be the legitimate ...

(1940–2012), Kalön Tripa of the Central Tibetan Administration *

Sonam Tobgye ''Lyonpo'' Sonam Tobgye (born 15 November 1949) is an eminent jurist from Bhutan. He served as Chief Justice of the High Court of Bhutan from 1991 through 2009 and as Chief Justice of the newly created Supreme Court of Bhutan from 2010 through 2 ...

(born 1949), Bhutanese judge *

Sonam Venchungpa Sonam Tshering Venchungpa is an Indian politician. He was elected to the Sikkim Legislative Assembly from Martam-Rumtek (Vidhan Sabha constituency), Martam-Rumtek in the 2019 Sikkim Legislative Assembly election, 2019 by election as a member of t ...

(), Indian politician from Sikkim *

Sonam Wangchuk Colonel Sonam Wangchuk, MVC is an Indian Army veteran, who served with the Assam Regiment and the Ladakh Scouts. He was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, during his successful o ...

(born 1964), Indian Army veteran from Ladakh *

Jalley Sonam Jally Sonam is an Indian trade unionist and politician. As of 2014 he is the president of the All Arunachal Pradesh Workers Union. As of 2012 he served as working president of the Arunachal Pradesh branch of the Indian National Trade Union Congr ...

(), Indian politician and trade unionist from Arunachal Pradesh

Sport

Sonam Bhutia Sonam Bhutia (born 26 January 1994) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Machhindra FC in the Martyr's Memorial A-Division League. Club career Early career Born and brought up in Shotak, Sikkim, Sonam Bhutia is a ...

(born 1994), Indian footballer from Sikkim * Sonam Chuki (born 1963), Bhutanese archer *

Sonam Gyatso (mountaineer) Sonam Gyatso (1923–1968) was an Indian mountaineer. He was the 2nd Indian man, the 17th man in world and first person from Sikkim to summit Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. He was one of the nine summiters of the first succe ...

(1923–1968), Sikkimese mountaineer *

Sonam Tenzin Sonam Tenzin (born 20 October 1986) is a Bhutanese football (soccer), footballer. He plays as Forward (association football), forward for Druk Pol F.C., Druk Pol, having previously played in the Indian 3rd division for Buddhist Blue Stars. He is ...

(born 1986), Bhutanese footballer * Sonam Tobgay (born 1990), Bhutanese cricketer and footballer *

Sonam Wangyal Sonam Wangyal (born 1942) is a former Indian paramilitary personnel and mountaineer who climbed Mount Everest in 1965 at the age 23, making him the youngest summiter. He was one of the nine summiters of the first successful Indian Everest ...

(born 1942), Indian mountaineer from Sikkim known for scaling Mount Everest * Sonam Yoezer (born 1994), Bhutanese footballer

Other

Sonam Dechen Wangchuck Princess Sonam Dechen Wangchuck (, , born 5 August 1981) is a princess of Bhutan. She is the daughter of the Fourth King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck and Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. She is half-sister of the fifth King, Jigme Khesar ...

(born 1981), princess of Bhutan *

Sonam Dolma Brauen Sonam Dolma Brauen (born 1953) is a Tibetan-Swiss contemporary painter and sculptor. Life and career Early life Sonam Dolma was born in Kongpo, Tibet (today Kongpo, Gongbo'gyamda County, Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibetan Autonomous Region, Chi ...

, (born 1953), Tibetan-Swiss painter *

Sonam Lotus Sonam Lotus is the director of the meteorological department, Jammu & Kashmir. Lotus is owing to his precised weather predictions in the valley, he is also known as the "Saint Lotus", "Weatherman", or "Peer Lotus" for his accurate weather pred ...

, Indian meteorologist from Ladakh *

Sonam Wangchuk (engineer) Sonam Wangchuk (born 1 September 1966) is an Indian engineer, innovator and education reformist. He is the founding-director of the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), which was founded in 1988 by a group of studen ...

(born 1966), Indian engineer from Ladakh

References

{{given name Tibetan names