Lalitambika (ललिताम्बिका, IAST: Lalitāmbikā) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu girl-name meaning “The playful, gracious Divine Mother”. Lalitā (graceful, playful, from the root laḷ, to play or sport) + ambikā (dear mother, from ambā) together form a name of supreme tenderness, naming the Goddess as the sportive and loving mother of all.

Meaning, etymology & significance

Lalitā in Sanskrit carries the sense of ease, grace, and spontaneous divine play (līlā), while ambikā is an affectionate diminutive of ambā (mother), conveying deep intimacy and warmth. Together they portray the Goddess not only as the transcendent sovereign of the cosmos but as the loving, accessible mother who delights in the welfare of her children. This final name of the Sahasranāma holds special significance as a closing seal, gathering all thousand names into the tender image of the playful mother.

Lalitāmbikā is widely used as a devotional and personal name across South India, especially in Tamil Nadu and Kerala where the Lalitā Sahasranāma is regularly recited. Pronunciation: la-li-TĀM-bi-kā; common short forms include Lalita, Ambika, and Lalitā.

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Scriptural source

Lalitambika appears in the Lalitha Sahasranama, among the sacred names of Lalitha.

Astrology — nakshatra, rashi & numerology

By the standard Vedic correspondence between a name’s first syllable and the lunar mansion, Lalitambika aligns with the Ashwini nakshatra, under the Mesha rashi (Moon sign). Its Chaldean name-number is 5.