Every named character in the novel Siddhartha has a name with additional meaning in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Janism. Knowing the meaning of these names is completely unnecessary for reading Siddhartha, but I think it's worth sharing for anyone interested in diving a little deeper. The following is the short list of all named characters with their shortest explanations. Below is further explanations that I copied from Wiki. For further information, all the hyperlinks are directed to Wiki.
Vasudeva = Krishna's father
Artha can translates as meaning, sense, goal, purpose or essence. Artha has broader concepts in the scriptures of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. It has multiple meanings, all of which imply "means of life", activities and resources that enable one to be in a state one wants to be in. In Hindu traditions, artha is one of the four goals or objectives of human life. Artha is connected to the three other aspects and goals of human life: Dharma (virtuous, proper, moral life), Kama (pleasure, sensuality, emotional fulfillment) and Moksha (liberation, release, self-actualization). Together, these four mutually non-exclusive aims of life are called Puruṣārtha.
Govinda translates to one who gives pleasure to the land, the cows, and the senses, or protector of cows. Govinda is an epithet of Vishnu and is also used for his avatars such as Krishna. Etymology In the word "Govinda", "Govu" means Indriyas. Govinda therefore means the all-pervading, omnipresent ruler of the sense organs, or Indriyas. "Govu" also means 'Vedas'. Hence Govinda is the supreme being who can be known through the Vedas.
Gotama is the family name of the Buddha in Pali: Siddhattha Gotama (Pali) and Siddhartha Gautama in Sanskrit,
Kamala means lotus flower, like the reference in the poem Siddhartha gives to Kamala. Kamala is also a name for the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, she who leads to one's goal. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, associated with Maya (Illusion).
Kama often refers sexual desire. Traditionally, Kama refers to any sensory enjoyment, emotional attraction and aesthetic pleasure. Additionally, Kama may refer to desires, wishes, or longing.
Svami- Hindi svāmī 'master, lord, prince', used by Hindus as a term of respectful address, < Sanskrit svāmin in same senses, also the idol or temple of a god.
Vasudeva is the father of the Hindu deities Krishna (Vāsudeva, i.e. "son of Vasudeva"). The patronymic Vāsudeva (with a pronounced ā) is a popular name of Krishna, the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. "Vāsudeva" is a vṛddhi, a derivative of the short form "Vasudeva", a linguistic pragmatic in Sanskrit signifying "of, belonging to, descended from".[7] "Vasudeva" as an object of worship in Hinduism usually refers to the son Vāsudeva (Krishna), rather than his father Vasudeva.
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