The name Gautam (also transliterated as Gautama or Gauthama and a vrddhi patronymic of Gotama) is one of the ancient Indian names and is derived from the Sanskrit roots "gÅ(गः)" and "tama (तम)". "Tama" means "darkness" and "gÅ" means inter alia "bright light". ... The name Gautam is a masculine name.
Means "the best ox" from Sanskrit गो (go) meaning "ox, cow" and तम (tama) meaning "best". In Hindu texts this is the name of one of the Saptarshis, or seven sages.
