By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 9 pages
of 9
Hindi, Sanskrit
"era, epoch"
Concise in sound but with an expansive meaning, Yug is a Hindi boy name, associated with the Hindu belief that there are four Yugas (or eras) that make up the world. Known as a Yuga Cycle , it takes…
"part of Rudra"
A Hindi boy name, Rudransh combines the element ansh meaning "part of" with the deity name, Rudra, associated with wind, storms, hunting, and medicine, and is sometimes used as an epithet or…
Spanish; Hindi
"the law; lion"
Leya is a simple, attractive multicultural choice, but with some teasing peril. The "Star Wars" princess spelled her name Leia.
Hindi-Sanskrit
"victory"
This name of a Buddhist goddess, a possible alternative to the trendy Maya, was chosen for their daughter by Laura Dern and Ben Harper. Jaya is simple yet unusual, a winning combination, and one of…
Hindi
"strong, brave"
A strong and handsome Indian boy name with a fitting meaning, Aveer derives from the Sanskrit virah and Hindi veer , meaning "brave, valiant, daring, heroic". Other forms of the name include Vir,…
"guide, leader"
A name that could set an Indian boy on a path to leadership.
Urdu from Persian
"star"
A beautiful Urdu name with a musical sound and a lovely celestial meaning. Sitara got a boost in 2022, potentially from the award-winning 2020 short film "Sitara: Let Girls Dream", bringing awareness…
Sanskrit
"one who has accomplished a goal"
Siddhartha Gautama was one of the real names of Buddha, making this an impressive and weighty name among the Buddhist community. Among Hindis, Siddharth is strongly associated with the Brahmin caste.…
"primordial"
Pranav, an Indian name now in the U. S. Top 900, represents Aum, or Om, the most sacred syllable in Hinduism, symbolizing the entire universe.
Japanese place name or Celtic
"happy"
Soft, simple, and far more unusual than Tara or Farrah. As a Japanese place name, it's been used occasionally as a surname and is beginning to be used as a first. Nara is also the name of a Hindu…
"sun god"
Graceful Indian choice that may sound feminine to the Western ear but is in fact the name of a male god. One form of worship of Surya that may be familiar to Westerners is the sun salutation in yoga.
Hindi, Japanese
"shadow; sand, bloom + night, palm tree"
A name of both Japanese and Hindi origin, Saya has a bright, sharp sound, reminiscent of Maia and Kaia. Borne by Olympian BMX racer, Saya Sakakibara, wrestler Saya Kamitani, and by weather presenter,…
Hindi; Arabic
"lotus; perfect, perfection"
Kamal carries two positive associations: one of the ninety-nine qualities of Allah listed in the Quran and the evocative lotus flower. Americans might recognize it as the male equivalent of Kamala,…
"valorous"
Another traditional Indian name, best known here via novelist Vikram Seth.
Korean; Hindi; Turkish; Arabic; Ewe
"this world's beauty or grace; army; to praise; bringing heaven to earth"
Sena is one of those names that is as obscure in the Western World as it is simple and straightforward. Sena exists as a name in a range of languages and cultures and may be pronounced like Senna…
"the earth"
An international take on Dara.
"sapphire blue"
A variation of Nila, a name spread through African by the substantial Indian population there. Also a variant of Neala and Neila.
Spelling variation of Aya or Hindi
"goat"
Sounds like and is often confused with Asia, though it has an air of retro cool via the seminal Steely Dan album. Or, pronounced eye-ah, it can be an alternate spelling of the international favorite…
Indian, Sanskrit, Punjabi, Sikh
"courage, dare"
An Indian boy's name with a strong meaning, Himmat also entered the England and Wales Top 1000 in 2023 and again in 2025. Appearing in a 1996 Hindi spy movie, some of its more recent popularity could…
"blue semiprecious stone, bird"
Interesting multi-cultural option.
