Gouri (गौरी, IAST: gaurī) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu girl-name meaning “The fair one; Goddess Parvati”. Vernacular spelling of Gauri — a name of Parvati after she fasted to win Shiva and her complexion turned fair.

Meaning, etymology & significance

Gouri (गौरी) is the Bengali, Marathi and Eastern-Indian transliteration of Gauri — a beloved name of the goddess Parvati. The name means “the fair one” and refers to the Puranic episode in which Parvati, originally dark-complexioned, undertook severe tapasya to win Shiva. So intense was her austerity that her complexion changed and Shiva himself accepted her as Gauri — the fair, golden one.

In the Bengali tradition Gauri is celebrated as the daughter who comes home each Durga Puja. The image of the goddess returning to her parents’ house with her four children — Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, Kartikeya — and being received with rituals of welcome is one of the most beloved domestic celebrations of the year.

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The Hartalika Teej fast, observed by married and unmarried women across northern India, recreates Parvati’s fast for Shiva — and is therefore in essence a Gauri-vrata.

Pronunciation: GOW-ree. The closely related Gauri (Hindi spelling) is the same name; Gouri is the Eastern preference. Pair with bhakti-tradition surnames (Devi, Amma, Mata).

Astrology — nakshatra & rashi

By the standard Vedic correspondence between the first syllable of a name and the lunar mansion (nakshatra), Gouri aligns with the Dhanishta nakshatra, under the Makara rashi (Moon sign).

Similar names

Hindu names with a similar feel or meaning include: Gauri, Parvati, Uma. Each is a distinct choice with its own etymology — explore them on their own pages for fuller context.