10 baby girl names that mean ‘sweetness’ or ‘honey’

Why choose a name that means “sweetness” or “honey”?

In Sanskrit the word madhu — “honey” or “nectar” — carries layered meanings: literal sweetness, the nectar offered as prasāda in temple rituals, and metaphors for charm, love, and spiritual delight. Across Hindu traditions, sweetness is a desirable quality — offered to deities, used as a metaphor for divine rasa (taste), and invoked in poetry and scripture. Families today often look for names that blend this cultural depth with pleasant sound and modern usability. Below are ten girl names rooted in that semantic field, with brief notes on meaning, linguistic formation, textual usage, pronunciation, and customary nicknames.

List of names meaning “sweetness” or “honey”

• Madhuri (माधुरी) — Pronunciation: MA-dhu-ree. Meaning: sweetness, charm, pleasantness. Root: madhu + -ri (feminine suffix). Notes: Common in modern India and in Hindi/Marathi literary songs; used widely without strong sectarian association. Nicknames: Madhu, Duri.
• Madhavi (माधवी) — Pronunciation: MA-dha-vee. Meaning: sweet, a spring creeper (botanical sense), or one belonging to sweetness. Root: madhu + -vi. Notes: Appears in classical Sanskrit drama and in the Mahābhārata as a name; in some devotional contexts associated with women of poetic or pastoral imagery. Nicknames: Madhavī, Vī.
• Madhu (मधु) — Pronunciation: MA-dhu. Meaning: honey, sweet, nectar. Root: the base word madhu. Notes: Traditionally used for both genders in Sanskrit sources; also an epithet of gods in some texts (e.g., as a name element in Madhava for Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa). For a girl, Madhu is short, classical, and resonates with antiquity. Nicknames: Madhu.
• Madhumita (मधुमिता) — Pronunciation: MA-dhu-mee-ta. Meaning: “one measured by sweetness” or “sweet-faced”; often read as “having a sweet smile/disposition.” Root: madhu + mita (measured/possessing). Notes: Found in modern and medieval poetic usage. Nicknames: Mitu, Mita.
• Madhulika (मधुलिका) — Pronunciation: MA-dhu-lee-ka. Meaning: little honey, a small sweet, or sometimes “nectar-like.” Root: diminutive form of madhu. Notes: Often evokes delicacy and endearment; used in poetry. Nicknames: Madhul, Lika.
• Madhurika (मधुरिका) — Pronunciation: MA-dhu-ri-ka. Meaning: sweet, pleasantly charming; derived from the adjective madhura (sweet). Notes: Literary and lyrical flavour; appears in devotional and moral poetry where sweetness symbolizes spiritual charm. Nicknames: Madhuri, Rika.
• Madhuja (मधुजा) — Pronunciation: MA-dhu-ja. Meaning: “born of honey” or “of honey”; -ja means born of/produced from. Notes: Less common but classical in formation; can imply origin in sweetness or beauty. Nicknames: Ju, Madhu.
• Madhupriya (मधुप्रिया) — Pronunciation: MA-dhu-pree-ya. Meaning: beloved like honey, dear for sweetness; priya — beloved. Notes: Compound name blending affection with sweetness; fits devotional sensibilities since priya appears often in poetical epithets for the beloved or the deity. Nicknames: Priya, Madhu.
• Madhumati (मधुमति) — Pronunciation: MA-dhu-ma-ti. Meaning: sweet-minded, one with a sweet disposition. Root: madhu + mati (mind/understanding). Notes: Found in classical literature and modern usage; suggests temperament more than literal sweetness. Nicknames: Mati, Madhu.
• Madhusmita (मधुस्मिता) — Pronunciation: MA-dhu-smi-ta. Meaning: honey-like smile, sweet smile. Root: madhu + smita (smile). Notes: Poetic and evocative; emphasizes expression of sweetness rather than taste alone. Nicknames: Smita, Madhu.

Short notes on cultural and textual context

• Madhu-based names are deeply literary. Poets in classical Sanskrit, regional literatures and Bhakti poetry use “madhu” and related adjectives to describe both worldly charm and divine sweetness (the experience of rasa in devotion).
• In Vaiṣṇava devotional literature the root madhu sometimes maps onto divine sweetness experienced in relation to Kṛṣṇa or Rādhā; in broader devotional poetry the same imagery is shared across Śaiva, Śākta and Smārta communities. Interpretations vary by genre and region.
• Some forms (for example, Madhavi or Madhumati) appear in Puranic and epic genealogies or in dramatic texts; others (like Madhulika or Madhusmita) are more common in medieval and modern poetry and names lists.

Practical naming tips

• Sound and short forms: test how the chosen name shortens for everyday use (Madhu, Mitu, Priya). Choose one you like both formally and casually.
• Family and ritual: in many communities the Nāmakaraṇa (naming) ceremony is held on the 11th day after birth or on another auspicious muhurta. Practices vary regionally — consult family elders or a priest if you plan a traditional rite.
• Script and spelling: consider how the name will appear in Devanagari and Roman scripts, and whether you prefer a classic form (Madhurī / माधुरी) or a modern spelling (Madhuri).
• Meaning and aspiration: in Hindu naming culture meanings often carry aspirational value (sweetness of speech, temperament, or devotion). Think about whether you want the name’s emphasis to be literal (honey), metaphorical (charm), or devotional (nectar of the divine).

Final note

Choosing a name is both personal and cultural. The ten names above offer a range from short classical forms to lyrical compounds, each rooted in the same Sanskrit field of sweetness and honey. Each carries literary and devotional echoes across India’s traditions — but how a family lives with a name, and the meanings they attach to it, will be the most important part of the story.