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Lalita
How to Pronounce Lalita
Pronounced luh-LEE-tuh /ləˈliː.tə/High
Meaning: Lalita is a genuine Sanskrit name meaning 'playful', 'charming' or 'graceful'. It is also an epithet of the Hindu goddess, honored as Lalita, and it has long been a traditional given name across India.High
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Lalita is an established Sanskrit name meaning 'playful', 'charming' and 'graceful', qualities long prized in Indian poetry and devotion. It is also a sacred name of the Hindu goddess in her benevolent form, which gives it both an everyday and a spiritual life across South Asia.
In the United States it has always been a heritage name, appearing quietly as Indian immigration grew and never rising above a few dozen girls a year, with a faint high point around 1979. It remains an authentic, meaning-rich choice within Indian-American families rather than a mainstream American name.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Lalita mean?
Lalita is a Sanskrit name meaning 'playful', 'charming' or 'graceful', and a name of the Hindu goddess.
How do you pronounce Lalita?
It's said luh-LEE-tuh /ləˈliː.tə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.
Is Lalita a boy or girl name?
Lalita is used as a girl's name.
How popular is Lalita?
Lalita has always been rare in the US, a traditional Sanskrit name used mainly by Indian-American families.