Sanskrit Names for Girls

Jena is a succinct name with a number of different roots, making it a versatile choice. On one hand, it might be used as a diminutive for the 70s favorite Jennifer, a name of Cornish origin that was hugely popular in a number of countries in the latter half of the 20th century. Jena might feel sleeker and more contemporary to some than the long form.

In Buddhism, Dharma embodies the basic principles of cosmic existence--making it a fitting name for the hippyish character on the sitcom Dharma and Greg, whose middle name was Freedom.

This Hindu goddess name is very popular in India. The goddess of love, fertility and devotion, representing female force, Parvati is the wife of Shiva and the mother of Ganesh. There is a Harry Potter character named Parvati Patil, a twin sister of Padma..

Evokes picture-postcard image of colorful Indonesia. Bali Barret is a Paris fashion insider who oversees women's style for Hermes. Bali rhymes with tally or galley.

In India, Bala is a unisex name, but is likely to be perceived as more feminine in the West. In its feminine form, Bala is associated with the daughter of the red goddess, Lalitha Parameshwari.

Raga is musical, yes, but that 'rag' syllable worries us.

This Hindu goddess name has a powerful heritage plus lively sound with a devilish edge. If you're enchanted by goddess names but want to set your little girl apart from all the Lunas and Athenas in the playground, consider Devi.

Lots of charm.

If there are too many Savannahs in your neighborhood, you might consider this. Pavana is a Hindu goddess of the wind.

Soft and alluring, much like the similarly named cloth, but might have political implications.

A simple, international name extremely popular in India. The word, meaning "song", also appears in the name of the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu sacred text. Geeta is a spelling variant.

Lolita without the naughty implications.

Anoma is name occasionally seen in Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. Its meaning is unknown but likely related to the word meaning "illustrious". It is a name that could easily work in English-speaking countries.

For devoted New Agers only: yoga practitioners know this as the center of spiritual energy in the body.

Feminine form of Amit that's simple and lyrical and close in spirit to a familiar term for friendship.

Ranie is a gentle feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may be a variant spelling of Rainie or Rainey, connecting it to rain and suggesting a fresh, natural quality. Alternatively, it could be a diminutive of Lorraine or a feminine form of Rani, which means 'queen' in Sanskrit and various South Asian languages. In Hebrew contexts, it might relate to 'ran' meaning 'singing' or 'joyful.' Though uncommon in mainstream usage, Ranie has appeared occasionally throughout the 20th century. The name carries a sweet, unpretentious charm with its soft sounds and simple spelling. Its brevity makes it contemporary-feeling while its various potential etymologies give it cross-cultural appeal. Ranie works well for parents seeking a distinctive yet accessible name with a gentle, pleasant sound.

A popular name in India, several famous Indian women carry this sweet sounding name.

Wise, with vivacity.

A mandala is the magic circle of Buddhism and Hinduism, a powerful spiritual symbol used in art to represent the universe. It's also an important symbol in Jungian theory. As a first name, Mandala feels both natural and original, always a positive combination, but parents considering it should make themselves away of its deeper meaning.