Tulsi (तुलसी) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu girl-name meaning “Sacred basil; consort of Vishnu”. Tulsi is associated with Lord Vishnu, deepening its devotional significance. This guide covers Tulsi’s meaning, origin, pronunciation, deity association, popularity and similar names.

What does Tulsi mean?

Tulsi means Sacred basil; consort of Vishnu in Sanskrit. The name carries a serene devotional resonance — every Hindu name encodes a virtue, a deity or a cosmic principle. Tulsi is associated with Lord Vishnu, deepening its devotional significance.

Origin and Sanskrit script

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

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Tulsi and its deity association

Tulsi is associated with Lord Vishnu. Deity-linked names are lifelong sankalpa — a soft remembrance of the divine each time the child is called.

Pronunciation of Tulsi

Tulsi 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 Tulsi

Tulsi carries the timeless feel of classical Sanskrit and has been used in Hindu families for generations. It is a steadily popular Hindu girl-name with rising recognition in modern Indian and NRI families.

Quick facts about the name Tulsi

  • Gender: Hindu girl-name
  • Sanskrit: तुलसी
  • Meaning: Sacred basil; consort of Vishnu
  • Associated deity: Lord Vishnu
  • Origin: Sanskrit
  • Popularity: 70/100 in 2026

Tulsi in the broader Hindu devotional tradition

Tulsi carries the Tulasi tradition — the sacred basil plant venerated as a form of Lakshmi-Vrinda, worshipped daily in every observant Hindu household with the evening lighting of the Tulasi-deepa. The name is invoked at Tulasi Vivah, the symbolic marriage of Tulasi to Vishnu at the close of Kartik month.

Naming a daughter Tulsi signals a household that maintains the daily Tulasi-puja tradition — a quiet, sustained form of bhakti that continues to bind Hindu families to their devotional roots across the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and India.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Tulsi

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

What does the name Tulsi mean?

Tulsi means Sacred basil in Sanskrit. The name is written तुलसी in Devanagari and is rooted in the classical Sanskrit tradition where every Hindu name encodes a virtue, a deity, or a cosmic principle.

Is Tulsi a Hindu boy or girl name?

Tulsi 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 Tulsi?

Tulsi is associated with Goddess Tulasi. 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.

Tulsi 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 Tulsi in English?

Tulsi 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.

Tanisha · Tanishka · Tanvi · Tanya · Tara · Trisha

More Hindu girl names associated with Goddess Tulasi

Tulasi · Vrinda · Brinda

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