Madhu

Madhu (Sanskrit: ) is a word used in several Indo-Aryan languages meaning "honey" or "sweet". It is ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European "*médʰu", whence English "mead".
Metaphorical use.
"Madhu" has been used for millennia since the Rigveda (1700–1100 BCE) in a similar metaphorical sense as "wine" is in English, e.g. "the wine of truth", and employed in that manner in Hindu religious literature. For example, the "Brihadaranyaka Upanishad", believed to have been composed in the first millennium BCE, contains a chapter called the "Madhu Brahmana", and "the secret essence of the Vedas themselves, was called the "Madhu-vidya" or 'honey doctrine'".
Various opinions.
There are different opinions surrounding the word "Madhu". Some scholars date metaphorical usage of "madhu" to a time very close to the initial composition of the Vedas. Soma, the shared sacred drink of the Indo-Iranians (known as "haoma" in Avestan), is often metaphorically referred to as "madhu" in the Vedas. However, "the Avesta, which is quite close to the Veda with regard to the terminology of Soma, does not know the equation 'Soma' = 'madhu'."
In Rigveda 8.48.1 and Rigveda 8.48.3, in the book of soma, soma is clearly addressed and explained as madhu.
Usage in names.
The derivative form "Madhur" is used as a Hindu first-name for males and "Madhu" is a first-name common among males, although both names can occur for either gender. "Madhuri" is a common feminine variant of "Madhur". The word "madhur" is a combination of "madhu" (honey/sweet) and "-r/-ra" (like or similar). Several other names are based on the root "madhu", such as "Madhukar", "Madhusudhan", "Madhulika" and "Madhubala".