Maitri (मैत्री) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu girl-name meaning “Friendship, loving-kindness”. This guide covers Maitri’s meaning, origin, pronunciation, deity association, popularity and similar names.

What does Maitri mean?

Maitri means Friendship, loving-kindness in Sanskrit. The name carries a serene devotional resonance — every Hindu name encodes a virtue, a deity or a cosmic principle.

Origin and Sanskrit script

Maitri is written मैत्री in Devanagari. The Sanskrit mātṛkā (mother-syllables) preserve the sacred sound — important during the Namakarana Samskara.

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Pronunciation of Maitri

Maitri is pronounced as it is spelled in standard Hindi/Sanskrit and travels well across school registers, government forms and social settings in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia.

Why parents choose Maitri

Despite its Sanskrit roots, Maitri sounds contemporary and is easy to pronounce internationally. It is a steadily popular Hindu girl-name with rising recognition in modern Indian and NRI families.

Quick facts about the name Maitri

  • Gender: Hindu girl-name
  • Sanskrit: मैत्री
  • Meaning: Friendship, loving-kindness
  • Origin: Sanskrit
  • Popularity: 75/100 in 2026

Maitri in the broader Hindu devotional tradition

Maitri carries the Sri-paramparā — the lineage of abundance, auspiciousness and grace embodied in Goddess Lakshmi. The name is recited during Diwali Lakshmi-puja, Varalakshmi Vratam, and Friday-evening Sri-Sukta paths in households across India. The Sanskrit मैत्री preserves the sacred Vedic phonetics that the Sri Sukta itself was composed in.

Hindu families in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia who want a name that signals saubhagya (auspiciousness) without sounding overly traditional reach for Maitri — it travels well across school registers and diaspora social settings while keeping its classical Sri-Lakshmi resonance.

Frequently Asked Questions about Maitri

Quick answers to the most common questions Hindu families ask about the name Maitri.

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What does the name Maitri mean?

Maitri means Friendship in Sanskrit. The name is written मैत्री in Devanagari and is rooted in the classical Sanskrit tradition where every Hindu name encodes a virtue, a deity, or a cosmic principle.

Is Maitri a Hindu boy or girl name?

Maitri is a Hindu girl-name, commonly chosen by Hindu and Indian families in India and the global diaspora — including in the USA, UK, Canada and Australia.

Which deity is associated with Maitri?

Maitri is associated with Goddess Lakshmi. Choosing a deity-linked name is regarded as a lifelong sankalpa (intention) — every time the child's name is called, it becomes a soft remembrance of the divine.

Maitri is a well-loved Hindu girl-name in 2026, especially among diaspora Hindu families who want a Sanskrit-rooted name that travels well internationally.

How do you pronounce Maitri in English?

Maitri is pronounced as it is spelled in standard Hindi/Sanskrit — even-syllabled and naturally rhythmic. It is easy for English speakers and travels well across school registers, government forms and social settings for Hindu families in the diaspora.

Meera · Madhuri · Mahalakshmi · Mahima · Maithili · Mallika

More Hindu girl names associated with Goddess Lakshmi

Aishwarya · Ananya · Deepika · Divya · Amrita · Anjali

Browse the full A–Z directory of Hindu girl names on Hindutone, or jump to the M girl-names listing.