උපාලි

Upali

boyPaliBuddhist

Upali is a Buddhist boy name of Pali origin, meaning “Name of a chief disciple of the Buddha”.

MeaningName of a chief disciple of the Buddha
GenderBoy
OriginPali
Written asඋපාලි
Pronunciationoo-PAA-lee
TraditionBuddhist
Used inSri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar

Meaning and origin of Upali

Upali was a barber from the Shakya court who became one of the Buddha's chief disciples. He was the leading expert on the Vinaya, the monastic code, and at the First Buddhist Council after the Buddha's death he recited the rules from memory. His story is often told to show that caste did not matter in the Sangha. The original meaning of the name itself is not clearly known.

Is Upali a Buddhist name?

Upali is honoured in Theravada Buddhism as the foremost keeper of monastic discipline, and the name is chosen in his memory.

How popular is Upali?

A familiar name in Sri Lanka, especially among Sinhalese Buddhists.

Gifts with the name Upali

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Spellings and variants of Upali

Upaali

Names similar to Upali

More Buddhist boy names

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Upali mean?

Upali means 'Name of a chief disciple of the Buddha'. It is of Pali origin.

Is Upali a Buddhist name?

Upali is honoured in Theravada Buddhism as the foremost keeper of monastic discipline, and the name is chosen in his memory.

How do you pronounce Upali?

Upali is pronounced oo-PAA-lee.

Is Upali a boy or girl name?

Upali is usually a boy name.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.