Pūrṇā (पूर्णा, IAST: Pūrṇā) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu girl-name meaning “She who is perfect, whole, and complete”. From the Sanskrit root pṛ (to fill), Pūrṇā means 'the full one' or 'she who is entirely complete,' pointing to Lalitā as the absolute reality in whom no lack, limit, or incompleteness can ever exist.

Meaning, etymology & significance

Pūrṇā is derived from pūrṇa, 'full' or 'complete,' itself from the root pṛ meaning 'to fill.' As a name of Lalitā, it proclaims her as the plenary divine reality—not augmented by creation nor diminished by its dissolution, eternally whole in herself. The Upaniṣadic formula 'pūrṇamadaḥ pūrṇamidaṃ' resonates here, affirming that from fullness only fullness arises.

Pūrṇā is borne as an epithet by Lalitā, Durgā, and various river goddesses in Hindu tradition; it remains a graceful, usable girl's name in many Indian communities. Pronounce with a long ū and the retroflex ṇ before the final ā.

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Scriptural source

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