Mumba is a feminine Marathi name from the Hindu tradition, derived from the Sanskrit elements महा (mahā) meaning "great" and अंबा (ambā) meaning "mother", thus signifying "great mother". It serves as a Marathi epithet for the mother goddess Mahadevi, the supreme goddess in Hinduism who embodies all other goddesses.
Mahadevi, meaning "great goddess" from Sanskrit mahā and devī, is worshipped as the divine mother and is considered the source of all female divine power. In regional forms like Mumba, the goddess takes on a localized identity. Mumba is also known as Mumbadevi, the patron goddess of Mumbai, India's largest city. According to popular tradition, Mumbadevi was originally a deity of the Koli fishing community. The saint Ramananda Swami is said to have later linked her to the Panchayatana worship of classical Hinduism. The name of the city Mumbai itself is believed to derive from "Mumbadevi"—the names "Mumba" and "Bombay" (the colonial-era Portuguese name) share this root.
As a given name, Mumba is rare but carries a strong protective and maternal connotation. While Mahadevi is a pan-Indian concept, Mumba reflects a distinctly Marathi and coastal tradition, particularly among the communities of Maharashtra. The name embodies the nurturing and powerful aspects of the divine feminine.