Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Pooja
GirlSanskrit, Hindi· “worship”
- Meaning
- worship
- Origin
- Sanskrit, Hindi
- Pronunciation
- POO-jah
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- Unranked
- US babies 2025
- 0
- Best rank
- #1,427 (1997)
- Peak year
- 1997
Meaning and origin of Pooja
Pooja is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “worship”.
Pooja is a Sanskrit word meaning worship or reverence, used for the Hindu ritual of honoring a deity with offerings of flowers, light, food, songs and prayers. The same word describes daily household devotions and large festival celebrations. Pooja is a common girls' name in India, especially in the north, and among Indian families in Britain, Canada and the US. It is said POO-jah. Puja is another common spelling. It is easy to say in English, and it keeps the same spelling in Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati families.
Popularity over time
Pooja first appears in US Social Security records in 1976. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,427 in 1997, the same year it reached its highest count of 117 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.
Its national rank moved from #3,954 in 1980, #2,100 in 2000, and #7,149 in 2010. Of the 1,981 US girls named Pooja since records began, 48% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 501 babies. Since 2010, 86 more have been named Pooja.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Joceline, Mekayla, Micheala, Madelaine, and Lilibeth.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Pooja is usually pronounced POO-jah, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with P and ends in “-ja”.
Middle names for Pooja
A few middle names that flow with Pooja: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Pooja
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Lists that include Pooja
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Pooja mean?
Pooja is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “worship”.
What is the origin of the name Pooja?
Pooja has Sanskrit and Hindi roots. Pooja is a Sanskrit word meaning worship or reverence, used for the Hindu ritual of honoring a deity with offerings of flowers, light, food, songs and prayers.
Is Pooja a popular name?
No. Pooja was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.
Is Pooja a boy or girl name?
Pooja is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Pooja?
Pooja is usually pronounced POO-jah. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings