Meenakshi

Also written as Minakshi, this is the name of a fish-eyed goddess, associated with the city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu. A form of the principal Hindu goddess Parvati, Meenakshi is portrayed as holding a lotus flower and a green, rose-ringed parakeet.

For some, the meaning "fish-eyed" may feel off-putting, however in Tamil tradition, the name is said to reflect that she never stops watching her devotees or that she guides people in times of drowning. Alternatively, it could connect to an ancient belief that fish fed their young by looking at them: the goddess might be said to support her followers by glancing at them.

Singer Gavanya Doraiswarmy chose this name as her daughter's middle name in 2026, while notable bearers include actresses Meenaskshi Chaudhary and Meenakshi Seshadri.

Pronounced meen-ahk-shee.

As of November 2026, Meenakshi ranked #3435 for girls in US births in 2025 SSA.