Girl · Bengali (from sonā, 'gold') · Hindu
Sonali
सोनालीSay it so-NAA-lee
- Meaning
- Gold-coloured, golden; gilded; (figuratively) very bright or happy Biswas, p. 1028
- Say it
- so-NAA-lee
- Written
- सोनाली
- Other spellings
- Sonalee
- First sound
- सो · Kumbh rashi
Sonali
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Sonali meaning
Sonali (सोनाली) is a Hindu girl's name of Bengali origin (from sonā, 'gold'). By its first sound, सो, it is a Kumbh rashi name (Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra) in the North Indian table.
Gold-coloured, golden; gilded; (figuratively) very bright or happy
Sonali (सोनाली) is the Bengali sonāli, "golden". The Samsad Bengali–English Dictionary lists it under sonā, "gold", with the senses "gold-coloured, golden; gilded" and, figuratively, "very bright or happy", as in sonāli chul, "golden hair". The same word sonā, "gold", is shared with Hindi, where Platts' dictionary traces it through Prakrit to Sanskrit suvarṇa, the classical word for gold, literally "of a good colour". Indian name lists give Sonali as "golden", matching the dictionaries. A well-known bearer is the actress Sonali Bendre.
Source: Biswas, Samsad Bengali–English Dictionary (2000), p. 1028 · entry sonāli (under sonā) · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Samsad Bengali–English Dictionary, sonā / sonāli, p. 1028 · Platts, sonā, p. 701
Famous namesakes
- Sonali Bendre, film actress
Fits your syllable
First sound सो
Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra, pada 2 · Kumbh rashi
North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.
Spellings
Sonali · Sonalee