Goddess Durga Names for Baby Girl, with Meanings

Goddess Durga is the warrior form of the Divine Mother, who rides a lion and defeats the buffalo demon Mahishasura. Hindus celebrate her at Navratri and, in Bengal, at Durga Puja. Her names speak of strength, victory and a mother's protection. Here are the most-loved names of Durga for a baby girl, with their meanings, from classic names to modern ones.

1. Classic Names of Goddess Durga

Traditional names of Durga and the Mother goddess, used across India.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Durga	The invincible one, hard to reach (दुर्गा)
Amba	Mother (अंबा)
Ambika	Mother; a name of Durga (अंबिका)
Jagdamba	Mother of the world (जगदंबा)
Bhavani	Giver of life; a name of the goddess (भवानी)
Chandika	The fierce goddess (चंडिका)
Devi	Goddess; the Divine Mother (देवी)

2. Names from the Devi Mahatmya

The Devi Mahatmya, recited at Navratri as the Durga Saptashati, tells of the goddess's battles with the demons Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishumbha. Kaushiki springs from Parvati's body to fight them, and Chamunda is the form that slays the demons Chanda and Munda.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Aparajita	Never defeated (अपराजिता)
Jaya	Victory (जया)
Chandi	The fierce goddess of the Devi Mahatmya (चंडी)
Chamunda	Slayer of the demons Chanda and Munda (चामुंडा)
Kaushiki	She who came from Parvati's body (कौशिकी)
Mahamaya	The great cosmic power (महामाया)

3. Names from Navratri

At Navratri, each of the nine nights honours one of the nine forms of Durga, the Navadurga, from Shailaputri, daughter of the mountain, to Siddhidatri, giver of perfection. These names come from those forms.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Shailaja	Daughter of the mountain; Shailaputri (शैलजा)
Katyayani	Daughter of the sage Katyayana, the sixth form (कात्यायनी)
Gauri	The fair one; Mahagauri, the eighth form (गौरी)
Siddhi	Perfection; Siddhidatri, the ninth form (सिद्धि)

4. Names of Shakti and Her Shrines

Durga is worshipped in many forms and at famous shrines: Kamakhya in Assam, Vaishno Devi in Jammu, and the ten Mahavidyas, which include Kali, Tara, Bhuvaneshwari and Bhairavi. Annapurna, who gives food, is the goddess of Varanasi's kitchens.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Kali	The dark goddess of time (काली)
Tara	The star; one of the ten Mahavidyas (तारा)
Bhuvaneshwari	Goddess of the universe; a Mahavidya (भुवनेश्वरी)
Bhairavi	The fearsome goddess; a Mahavidya (भैरवी)
Kamakhya	The goddess of Kamakhya in Assam (कामाख्या)
Vaishnavi	Of Vishnu; Vaishno Devi of Jammu (वैष्णवी)
Annapurna	Full of food; the goddess who feeds the world (अन्नपूर्णा)

5. Modern Names Inspired by Durga

Newer names linked to the goddess and her power, popular with today's parents.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Aadya	The first; the primordial goddess (आद्या)
Shakti	Power, the energy of the goddess (शक्ति)
Devika	A little goddess (देविका)
Kalyani	The auspicious one (कल्याणी)