Goddess Ganga Names for Baby Girl, with Meanings

Ganga, the holiest river of India, is worshipped as a goddess who came down from heaven to purify the earth. Her names tell how King Bhagiratha brought her down, how Shiva caught her in his hair and how she flows through three worlds. Here are names of Ganga for a baby girl, with names of India's other sacred rivers.

1. Classic Names of Ganga

The sage Jahnu drank the Ganga in anger and released her from his ear, so she is called Jahnavi, his daughter. King Bhagiratha's penance brought her to earth, so she is also Bhagirathi.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Ganga	The sacred river Ganges (गंगा)
Gangadevi	Goddess Ganga (गंगादेवी)
Gangika	Little Ganga (गंगिका)
Jahnavi	Daughter of the sage Jahnu (जाह्नवी)
Janhavi	Jahnavi, the Ganga (जान्हवी)
Jhanvi	Jahnavi, the Ganga (जाह्नवी)
Bhagirathi	Brought down by Bhagiratha (भागीरथी)
Mandakini	The heavenly Ganga (मंदाकिनी)
Alaknanda	The Himalayan river that joins the Bhagirathi to form the Ganga (अलकनंदा)

2. Names from Ganga's Journey

Ganga flows from Vishnu's foot through heaven, earth and the underworld. She rises at Gangotri and meets the Yamuna and the hidden Saraswati at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Gangotri	The source of the Ganga (गंगोत्री)
Vishnupadi	Flowing from Vishnu's foot (विष्णुपदी)
Tripathaga	She who flows through three worlds (त्रिपथगा)
Gangalahari	The waves of the Ganga (गंगालहरी)
Triveni	The meeting of three rivers (त्रिवेणी)
Pavani	The purifier (पावनी)
Paavani	The purifier (पावनी)

3. Names of India's Sacred Rivers

Hindus honour seven great rivers in daily prayer, with Ganga first among them: the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Yamuna	The sacred river of Braj (यमुना)
Saraswati	The river and goddess of learning (सरस्वती)
Narmada	Giver of joy; the river of central India (नर्मदा)
Godavari	The great river of the Deccan (गोदावरी)
Kaveri	The sacred river of the south (कावेरी)
Sindhu	The Indus river (सिंधु)
Tapti	The river Tapti, daughter of the Sun (ताप्ती)

4. Names of Flowing Water

Names drawn from the river's waves, its purity and the lotus that grows in its water.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Tarangini	A river; full of waves (तरंगिणी)
Lahari	A wave (लहरी)
Jharna	A waterfall (झरना)
Sarita	A river (सरिता)
Nadi	A river (नदी)
Jalaja	Born of water, the lotus (जलजा)
Nirmala	Pure, spotless (निर्मला)
Pavitra	Holy, pure (पवित्रा)
Shubhra	White, radiant (शुभ्रा)