A very common boys' name in South Asia, with a strong meaning. Some are bound to pronounce it AJ, as in Soprano.

Ajay

Arav (sometimes spelled Aarav) is a name popular in India and Pakistan. Jaipur-born actor Arav Choudhary is a well-known Indian personality. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar chose Aarav for his son's name.

Arav

Ari, the short form of Ariel (or any other Ari- beginning name, such as Aristotle) stands up better as a <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys’ name</a> than its progenitor does. It is also short for Aristotle, as in Onassis, and is a prominent character on TV's Entourage -- the uberagent Ari Gold. 
 Among other notable bearers have been Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary for President George W. Bush and Ari Emanuel, powerful talent agent and possible inspiration for Ari Gold.
 Ari Ben Canaan is the main character in the Leon Uris novel Exodus, played by Paul Newman on screen, and Ari is the name of one of the Tenenbaum sons in The Royal Tenenbaums.

This popular Indian name is heard in the US. Bollywood actor Akshay Khanna has a son named Arnav.

Arnav

A cultural crossover with multiple roots. Ashwin is an English surname from the Anglo-Saxon male name Æscwine, meaning "ash tree + friend". It's also a popular Hindi name: in Hindu mythology, the Ashvins or Ashwini are twin Hindu gods of the sunrise and sunset. Either way, it has a soft, strong sound and great nickname potential in Ash or Win

Ashwin

Avi, the short form of many Hebrew names, is often used on its own in Israel. It entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2015.

This name has recently come on the radar via rising actor Dev Patel, who made his mark in Slumdog Millionaire and then in Lion and is also the name of the lead character played by Aziz Ansari in his sitcom Master of None. It could catch on here, at a time when parents are importing other three-letter names like Liv.

Devan

Ishaan is the guardian of the Northeast in the Hindu religion.
 Ishaan: Sapno Ko Awaaz De is a kids' television show on Disney Channel India, starring a teenage boy named Ishaan.

Ishaan

Pronounced like Jay, this short name is popular in South Asia and makes for a great English-South Asian crossover choice, used regularly in the UK and Australia. It can also be an alternate spelling of the English name Jay, either short for a J name or deriving from the name of the bird.

 Famous bearers include Tamil-language actor Jai Sampath, Australian actor Jai Courtney, and American actor and musician Jai Rodriguez.

Though this feels like a modern invention, Jay has been in use for centuries. Early Jays often were named in honor of founding father John Jay, whose surname derived from the jaybird. A popular mid-century choice, Jay was in the Top 100 from 1956 to 1970. In the last couple of decades he was replaced by such more elaborate forms as Jayden, Jaylen, and Jayce. But Jay could make a comeback in tandem with cousins May, Kay, Fay, and Ray.
 In literature, the most prominent Jay wasn't a Jay at all—Gatsby's birth name was James Gatz. In real life, the honor goes to Jay Leno, also born James.
 In India, Jay is used as a modern variant of the Hindi Jaya, which means "victory."

Kabir is the 37th name of God in Islam. Kabir is also the name of an Indian poet and mystic saint. In the US, Kabir is on the rise as a boys' name, favored by Muslim parents.

Kabir

A strong and stylish Sanskrit name with the oh-so-cool nickname Kal built in.

Kalyan

A subtle and attractive name for the child of a poet or poetry-enthusiast.

Kavi

Though it sounds like a modern invention, Kiran is a traditional Hindu name from India; chosen for her son by actress Kelli Williams.  Author Kiran Desai is a woman and this name, which bears a resemblance to both the Irish (male) Kieran and the fifties favorite Karen, certainly works as well for a girl.

Kiran

As Mila rises for girls, so Milan is becoming a more popular option for boys, especially after singer Shakira chose it for her son. After a 55-year hiatus, it reentered the Top 1000 in 2013 and is heading dramatically upward.
 
Milan has been a Top 10 name for boys in The Netherlands and Hungary, as well as making the Top 20 in Belgium. A famous literary namesake is Czech writer Milan Kundera, author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being. In America, it is a solidly unisex name whose usage is no doubt also inspired by the stylish Italian city of the same name.

Milan

If you want people to appreciate this choice, you're going to have to explain how it's not Neil. 

Neel

With Liam at the top of the boys' popularity list, parents might discover the still-rare Niam. This is one of the unknown but plausible <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/boys-names/n">boy names starting with N</a>.

Niam

Nikhil

Prem

One of the most familiar, and assertive, names found throughout the Middle East and India, with a macho soap opera aura in this country. 

Popular Arabic name for boys and sometimes girls too, that's also a term of authority in India.

Rayan

From India, but feels like an Irish surname (and can in fact be a variation of Rowan), so a possible cross-cultural choice. 

Rohan

Ranvir

Rohit

Sameer

Samir has a pleasing sound and lovely meaning. One of those distinctive names that can also fit right in—and you could always call him Sam.

Samir

Sohan is a modern French invention. It may be related to Jean or a variation of the similar name Yohan.

Sohan

Soham

Sunil

Taj is a cool-sounding name reflecting the magnificence of the seventeenth-century Indian Taj Mahal, chosen by Aerosmith's Steven Tyler for his son. 
 The musician known as Taj Mahal was born Henry Saint Clair Fredericks. He claimed that his stage name came to him in dreams about India, Gandhi, and social tolerance.
 Taj has actually made it onto the the U.S. Top 1000 twice--in 1976 and 1998.

A strong, handsome Indian name with cross-cultural appeal.

Tarak

One of the fastest-rising Indian boy names of the past few years, Veer is a straightforward choice with visual appeal and a striking V initial. Sleek and simple, Veer has joined the US Top 1000 boy names for the first time in 2023, given to over 200 baby boys. It has also seen steady usage in the UK since the 2000s and currently ranks in the Top 600.
 "Veer" was the name bestowed on the Indian politician and freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar by his followers, it is the name of a spiritual and aesthetic concept in Indian art and it has been used as the title of several Indian movies. It's also used to describe a move in American football and occasionally, as a diminutive of the feminine Vera or the masculine Vira.

Veer

Vihaan comes from a Sanskrit word denoting the dawn, but has the symbolic meaning of the beginning of a new age, making Vihaan a wonderful choice for the first baby in a family's next generation. 

Vihaan

Another traditional Indian name, best known here via novelist Vikram Seth. 

Vikram

Vivaan is a life-related name from India that has made its way onto the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2014. While unusual, it has a familiar and appealing lively sound and feel. However, be aware that people unfamiliar with the name may misread and mispronounce it as Vivian.

Vivaan

A handsome and energetic Sanskrit name, borne by Indian actor and comedian Vivek, and Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi.

Indian Boy Names