Pooja

What does the baby name “Pooja” mean?

Pooja is a beautiful Sanskrit and Hindi name meaning "worship" or "prayer," rooting a child's identity in the ancient and deeply moving practice of devotion.

Origin of the baby name Pooja

Pooja (also spelled Puja) comes from Sanskrit "pūjā," meaning an act of worship, prayer, or ritual offering made to a deity. In Hindu tradition, puja is the central act of devotion: honoring the divine with offerings of flowers, incense, light, and love. The name thus carries profound spiritual significance, connecting it to one of the oldest and most beautiful religious traditions in the world. It appears in Devanagari script as पूजा.

History of the baby name “Pooja”

Puja as a word and concept has roots stretching back through ancient Sanskrit texts, where it described the core act of Hindu religious devotion and community. As a given name, Pooja became widely used across India and the South Asian diaspora through the 20th century, growing into one of the more recognizable and beloved girl's names in the Hindi-speaking world. It has traveled with South Asian communities to countries across the globe, remaining warmly familiar wherever it goes.

Why parents choose the baby name “Pooja”

Pooja carries a meaning that many parents find profoundly moving: to name a child "devotion" or "prayer" is to welcome her into the world with an act of reverence in itself. It has a graceful, flowing sound that works beautifully across many linguistic contexts, and its spiritual depth gives it a resonance that goes far beyond the merely decorative. For Hindu families especially, it is a name rich with cultural, religious, and deeply personal significance.

Nicknames for the Baby Name “Pooja”

Po, Poy, Poin, Pokin, Poster, Poerino, Poinator

Nicknames from Around the World for the Baby Name “Pooja”

Terms of endearment for a baby name work differently around the world. Some cultures clip the name short, while others add an affectionate ending that can make it longer instead. Here is how the baby name Pooja might sound as a nickname in a few other languages and dialects.

Variations on the baby name “Pooja”

Puja is the most common alternate spelling, used widely across India and internationally. Regional variant forms include Pooja, Poojha, and Pujah. The name is closely related to Poojitha or Pujitha, meaning "one who is worshipped." In the broader family of Sanskrit devotional names, Pooja sits alongside Archana (another word for worship), Vandana (adoration), and Aradhana (devotion), all of which share the same spirit of reverence and love.

Baby names that sound like “Pooja”

Baby sibling names for Pooja

Matched by similar popularity, name length, and ending sound. See baby sibling names with numerology compatible with Pooja →

Baby Middle Names for Pooja

Picked for a different ending sound and rhythm than Pooja, so the two names flow well said together as a pair.

The “Name Game” for “Pooja”