10 baby names that mean ‘devotion’ or ‘worship’

Devotion in Hindu thought — a brief note

In Sanskrit the word bhakti — devotion — names a wide range of religious attitudes: from heartfelt love for a particular deity to disciplined ritual worship (upāsana). Texts such as the Gītā (notably chapters 9 and 12) and the Bhāgavata Purāṇa centre bhakti as a valid spiritual path, while traditions from Śaiva to Vaiṣṇava and Śākta describe devotion with different practices and emphases. Names that mean “devotion” or “worship” therefore carry both linguistic meaning and layered cultural resonances. Below are ten names rooted in that theme, with pronunciation, gender tendencies, etymology, and brief cultural notes to help families choose thoughtfully.

Ten names that mean “devotion” or “worship”

• Bhakti (भक्ति) — “devotion”

  Pronunciation: BHAK-ti. Gender: commonly feminine but used neutrally.

  Root/meaning: From the root bhaj — to share, partake, worship. Directly names the religious attitude of devoted love.

  Cultural note: Central to bhakti traditions across India; popular as a given name since the medieval period. Gītā commentators and medieval saints like Nārada and the Bhakti poets discuss bhakti as both feeling and practice.

• Bhakta (भक्त) — “devotee, worshipper”

  Pronunciation: BHAK-ta. Gender: masculine in form but used for any gender in modern usage (Bhakti for feminine is common).

  Root/meaning: Literally “one who worships” or “one attached.” Often used honorifically (e.g., “Bhakta Prahlada”).

  Cultural note: Appears widely in hagiographies and temple inscriptions to mark the religious identity of a devotee.

• Shraddha (श्रद्धा) — “faith, devoted trust”

  Pronunciation: shrad-dhā. Gender: usually feminine.

  Root/meaning: Connotes belief, reverent trust, and inner commitment. In Pātañjala and Vedānta contexts it is linked to one’s orientation toward spiritual truth.

  Cultural note: A common classical name; reflects a stable, trust-based form of devotion rather than ecstatic love.

• Archana (अर्चना) — “ritual worship, offering”

  Pronunciation: ar-CHA-na. Gender: feminine.

  Root/meaning: From arc — to adore or worship; archana names the ritual act of offering prayers or flowers at a shrine.

  Cultural note: Used across sects for the formal act of worship in temples and homes; the name evokes devotional practice as service.

• Aradhana (आराधना) — “adoration, the act of worship”

  Pronunciation: ā-RA-dha-na. Gender: feminine.

  Root/meaning: From āradh — to worship or venerate. Emphasises sustained reverence or prayer.

  Cultural note: Often used poetically and in devotional song as a term for prolonged worship; popular as a personal name in many Indian languages.

• Aradhya (आराध्य) — “one who is to be worshipped / worthy of worship”

  Pronunciation: ā-RADH-ya. Gender: unisex (used for girls and boys).

  Root/meaning: Literally “worthy of worship”; can be read as one who inspires devotion or is the object of devotion.

  Cultural note: Suitable for families who want a name that points to sacred worthiness rather than the act of worship alone.

• Anurag (अनुराग) — “affectionate love, devotion”

  Pronunciation: a-nu-RAG. Gender: commonly masculine but used more widely today.

  Root/meaning: Anu (towards) + rāga (attachment, passion) — denotes a warm, loving attachment often used in devotional poetry to describe love for the Divine.

  Cultural note: Appears in bhakti literature to describe the devotee’s loving attachment; resonates across Vaiṣṇava and regional bhakti traditions.

• Seva (सेवा) — “service, devotional service”

  Pronunciation: SE-va. Gender: usually feminine as a name, though the noun is neutral.

  Root/meaning: Service rendered to deity or community, often framed as an offering and a form of devotion.

  Cultural note: Many temples and ashrams emphasise seva as a living expression of devotion; as a name it highlights action rather than emotion.

• Pūjā / Puja (पूजा) — “worship, reverence”

  Pronunciation: POO-jā. Gender: feminine when used as a name.

  Root/meaning: The formal devotional rite, offering reverence to a deity, image or guest.

  Cultural note: Commonly used as a female name; evokes the household and temple practice of worship.

• Nivedita (निवेदिता) — “one who is dedicated / offered”

  Pronunciation: ni-VE-di-ta. Gender: feminine.

  Root/meaning: From nivedana — offering, surrender; implies self-surrender or dedication to a deity or cause.

  Cultural note: Used by devotees to express an act of surrender; historically borne by reformers and religious women as an explicit spiritual name.

Choosing a name — practical suggestions

• Discuss pronunciation and local language forms: a name that reads smoothly in your household languages eases daily use.
• Consider grammatical gender and family traditions (some communities prefer Sanskrit masculine or feminine endings).
• Reflect on tone: some names emphasise feeling (e.g., Anurag), others ritual action (e.g., Archana, Pūjā), and others surrender (e.g., Nivedita).
• Be aware of interpretive range: a name like Aradhya can be read as “worthy of worship” or “to be worshipped”—families may want to clarify the intended nuance.
• When choosing a religiously meaningful name, it can be helpful to consult elders or a priest for pronunciation norms and ritual suitability.

Names that speak of devotion carry echoes of scripture, poetry and temple life. They can express an aspiration — for inner faith, for humble service, or for loving relationship with the Divine — while remaining adaptable across India’s many devotional paths.