Meenakshi is from the Sanskrit mīna (fish) + akṣi (eye) — "fish-eyed" (referring to her distinctive large beautiful eyes). A modern American baby name in the broader South Indian heritage aesthetic. Goddess Meenakshi — the foundational Hindu goddess of Madurai (one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in India); avatar of Parvati and consort of Shiva (known here as Sundareshwarar); the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple of Madurai (built between 12th-17th centuries) is one of the most-celebrated Hindu temples in the world — the temple complex covers 14 acres and features 14 gopurams (towers) carved with 33,000 colorful sculptures; receives over 25,000 visitors daily; shortlisted in the New 7 Wonders of the World finalist list (2007); a UNESCO World Heritage Site candidate; one of the foundational pilgrimage sites of Tamil Hindu civilization. Meenakshi Lekhi (born 1967) — Indian politician; Minister of State for External Affairs of India (2021-2024); spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party. Meenakshi Seshadri (born 1963) — Indian Bollywood actress; Filmfare nomination for Damini (1993). Meenakshi Wadhwa — Indian-American cosmochemist; NASA Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science; Asteroid 14460 Meenakshi (named in her honor 1995). Meenakshi Iyer — modern Indian academic.
Featured throughout Hindu tradition and South Indian architecture.
Meenakshi reduces to nine.