7 Baby Girl Names that mean ‘Devotion’ (Bhakti)

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On December 17, 2025

Bhakti and naming: a short note

Bhakti — devotion, loving surrender to the divine — is a central concept across many Hindu traditions. It appears in classical texts such as the Bhagavad Gītā and the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, and it has been the subject of centuries of poetry and practice by Alvars, Nayanars, and the medieval sants (Meera, Tulsī, Tukārām, Kabīr, and others). Different schools emphasize different aspects — personal love for a named deity in Vaiṣṇava paths, surrender and ritual devotion in Śaiva and Śākta contexts, or devotion as a means to liberation in Smārta and Advaita commentaries — but the core idea of dedicated love or offering remains common.

Below are seven girl names rooted in words for devotion, worship, surrender or heartfelt feeling (bhāva). Each entry gives the Sanskrit root (where helpful), a plain-English gloss, pronunciation hints, regional or devotional notes, and common variants. These names are broadly acceptable across traditions; families may want to check local linguistic forms, family customs, and personal taste before deciding.

Seven names that mean (or closely signify) “devotion”

1. Bhakti

Root & meaning: Sanskrit bhakti — “devotion,” “loving devotion,” “attachment to the divine.”
Pronunciation: BHAK-ti (two syllables; the first syllable stressed).
Context: A direct and widely understood word for devotion used across Bhāgavata and Gītā traditions and by many bhakti poets. It is a popular modern given name and is immediately recognizable for its spiritual meaning.
Variants & notes: Sometimes used as a compound (Bhakti-priya, Bhakti-lata). Unambiguously devotional and generally neutral among sects.

2. Śraddhā / Shraddha

Root & meaning: Sanskrit śraddhā — “faith,” “trust,” often rendered as a steady devotion or heartfelt belief.
Pronunciation: SHRAD-dha (two or three syllables depending on regional accent; “shr” as in “shruti”).
Context: The Bhagavad Gītā and later ethical texts discuss different kinds of śraddhā (faith) as foundational to practice; commentators treat it as devotion that inclines one toward right action. Widely used as a feminine name in India.
Variants & notes: Shraddha is common in Marathi, Hindi, Bengali and other languages. It connotes steadiness of devotion as much as emotional intensity.

3. Aradhana

Root & meaning: From Sanskrit ārādhana — “worship,” “adoration,” the act of offering reverence.
Pronunciation: A-RA-dha-na (four syllables; soft “dh”).
Context: Aradhana is the technical term for ritual worship in temples and household practice and for devotional commemoration (for example, anniversary worship). As a name it evokes active worship rather than passive feeling.
Variants & notes: Aradhana is used across languages and has a formal, lyrical feel.

4. Nivedita / Niveditha

Root & meaning: From nivedita (feminine) — “one who has been offered,” “one who offers herself,” “dedicated,” “surrendered.”
Pronunciation: Ni-VE-di-ta (four syllables; stress on the second syllable).
Context: Nivedita carries the sense of self-offering or consecration, a classical theme in devotional surrender. Historically it was adopted as a spiritual name by some modern figures, so it carries both traditional and modern associations.
Variants & notes: Nivedita / Niveditha spellings reflect regional orthography; the meaning is clear and devotional across traditions.

5. Anuragini

Root & meaning: Feminine form of anurāga — “deep love,” “devotional attachment” or “tender love” for the beloved (often used of the divine lover).
Pronunciation: A-nu-RA-gi-ni (four to five syllables; “ra” lightly rolled depending on region).
Context: Classic bhakti poetry uses anurāga to describe the mood of intense love and longing for God. Anuragini evokes the inner sentiment (rasa) of devotion rather than ritual acts.
Variants & notes: Less common as a modern given name, but rich in literary resonance for families drawn to poetic bhakti.

6. Bhāvika / Bhāvini

Root & meaning: From bhāva — “feeling,” “mood,” often the devotional mood; bhāvika / bhāvini — “one possessing feeling,” “emotional/devotional.”
Pronunciation: BHAA-vi-ka / BHAA-vi-ni (three syllables; long “aa” sound represents sustained emotion).
Context: In bhakti aesthetics, different bhāvas (moods) are cultivated—compassion, devotion, friendship. Bhāvika suggests a person who naturally carries a devotional temperament.
Variants & notes: Bhavika (popular in Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi) and Bhavini (used in Sanskritized forms) are both accessible and sweet-sounding.

7. Pūjā / Pooja

Root & meaning: Sanskrit pūjā — “worship,” “homage,” the ritual act of offering respect to a deity or person.
Pronunciation: POO-ja (two syllables; often anglicized “Pooja” in spelling).
Context: As a name, Pūjā evokes ritual devotion and respect. It is one of the most common feminine names in India, used across regions and communities and immediately understood as devotional.
Variants & notes: Spelled Pooja, Puja or Pūjā; extremely widespread and culturally neutral in the sense of being familiar to nearly everyone.

Practical tips for choosing a devotional name

Think about nuance: Some names (Bhakti, Pooja, Aradhana) emphasize acts of worship; others (Anuragini, Bhavika, Shraddha) emphasize inner states. Choose what you want the name to express.
Check pronunciation and script: A name may be spelled or pronounced differently across Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Marathi and other languages. Try saying it aloud in your household languages.
Consider family and regional customs: Some families prefer Sanskritized names, others prefer vernacular forms. Consult elders if that matters for ritual or lineage reasons.
Respect plural meanings: Many Sanskrit roots carry layered meanings—“faith,” “love,” “offering”—so it’s fine to appreciate the depth rather than insist on single-word parity.

Devotional names connect a child to a long living tradition of worship, poetry and practice. They can be simple and direct (Bhakti, Pooja) or more literary (Anuragini, Nivedita). Whichever you pick, the primary consideration is that the name feel resonant and respectful to your family’s spiritual and cultural outlook.