10 baby girl names that mean ‘goddess’

Picking a name that means “goddess”: context and care

Naming a child after a deity is a long-standing practice across Indian communities. Many names that mean “goddess” or are epithets of the Divine Feminine come with layers of meaning drawn from Sanskrit roots, Vedic hymns, Puranic stories and living temple traditions.

Some quick glossary notes: Devi — goddess; Purana — a genre of narrative religious texts; Śākta — goddess-centered tradition; stotra — a devotional hymn. Interpretations vary across Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Śākta and Smārta communities; where helpful, I note which streams commonly emphasize a name.

10 baby girl names that mean “goddess” (with background)

1. Devi (देवी)

• Meaning: “goddess,” a general honorific for the feminine divine.
• Root & sense: Sanskrit devī, feminine of deva (divine being).
• Usage: Widely used across regions. In ritual and scripture, “Devi” can refer to specific goddesses (Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga) or to the supreme Goddess in Śākta devotion.
• Pronunciation: DAY-vee or DEH-vee.

2. Lakshmi (लक्ष्मी)

• Meaning: “prosperity, fortune, auspiciousness.”
• Associations: Lord Vishnu’s consort in Vaiṣṇava traditions; also appears as the Vedic concept śrī (grace, splendour).
• Texts & festivals: Celebrated in sources from the Purāṇas to the Mahabharata; prominent in Diwali observances where Lakshmi Puja is common.
• Pronunciation: LUCK-shmee or LUKH-shmee.

3. Saraswati (सरस्वती)

• Meaning: “she of the flowing (river or speech),” connected with knowledge and the arts.
• Roots & scriptural note: The name appears in Vedic hymns as a river and as an inspiring force; later Puranic and classical texts elaborate her role as the goddess of learning.
• Festivals: Saraswati Puja / Vasant Panchami is widely observed by students, musicians and teachers.
• Pronunciation: SAH-rah-swa-tee.

4. Parvati (पार्वती)

• Meaning: “daughter of the mountain” (from parvata — mountain).
• Associations: Principal consort of Śiva in Śaiva and Smārta traditions; many regional forms (Gauri, Uma) are aspects of Parvati.
• Texts: Stories of Parvati’s tapasya and marriage to Śiva appear in Purāṇas and epics; she is both domestic and ascetic in different narratives.
• Pronunciation: PAR-vuh-tee.

5. Durga (दुर्गा)

• Meaning: often interpreted as “the inaccessible” or “she who dwells in a fort” (from durg — fort); also read as “remover of difficulties.”
• Religious context: Central to Śākta devotion; the victory of Durga over the buffalo demon Mahisha is celebrated in the Devī Mahātmya (Markandeya Purana) and during Navaratri/Durga Puja.
• Pronunciation: DUR-ga (short u as in “cup”).

6. Kali (काली)

• Meaning: “black” or “time” (from kāla — time/death); a fierce and transformative aspect of the Goddess.
• Scriptural & ritual note: Kali features in Purāṇic and Tantric literature; she is celebrated in Śākta contexts and regional practices, sometimes in fierce forms and sometimes as a protective mother.
• Usage caution: Some families prefer contextual understanding because of Kali’s fierce imagery; discuss family tradition when naming.
• Pronunciation: KAH-lee.

7. Gauri (गौरी)

• Meaning: “fair, radiant” — an epithet of Parvati emphasising benign, domestic aspects.
• Associations: Gauri is the subject of rites and festivals (for example, some regions worship Gauri during the monsoon for marital felicity).
• Pronunciation: GOW-ree (gow as in “cow”).

8. Annapurna (अन्नपूर्णा)

• Meaning: “full of food” or “giver of food” (from anna — food, pūrṇa — full).
• Religious context: Associated with the Goddess who nourishes existence; stories of Annapurna feeding Śiva and the world appear in later Purāṇic lore and temple accounts.
• Pronunciation: un-NAH-poor-nah.

9. Bhavani (भवानी)

• Meaning: “giver of life” (from bhava — existence/being).
• Regional note: Bhavani is an important form of the Goddess in several regional traditions and temples; she figures in both devotional songs and popular observances.
• Pronunciation: bha-VAH-nee.

10. Ishani (ईशानी)

• Meaning: “consort of Īśāna (a name of Śiva)” or “belonging to the lord”; used as an epithet of Parvati and the Goddess.
• Usage: Common in stotras and liturgical lists as a respectful epithet; evokes the Goddess as companion and sovereign.
• Pronunciation: ee-SHAH-nee.

Choosing a name: practical notes

• Families often prefer names tied to their regional language, family deity (kuladevata), or sectarian tradition; what is auspicious in one community may be unusual in another.
• Short forms and pet names are common—Lakshmi → Laxmi/Lakshmi, Saraswati → Sara, Parvati → Paru—but check sound and cultural fit with elders.
• Be mindful of meanings and imagery: some names (Kali, Durga) evoke fierce, powerful aspects; others (Gauri, Saraswati) emphasise gentler or scholarly faces of the Goddess. Different traditions read these aspects differently.

Names that mean “goddess” carry devotional, philosophical and cultural histories. If you seek a name tied to a particular text or temple tradition, consulting family elders, a local priest, or a knowledgeable reader of the community’s scriptures can help honour both meaning and lineage.