By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 9 pages
of 9
Sanskrit, Old English, "possessed of horses; ash friend"
"possessed of horses; ash friend"
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…
Choctaw, English, Spanish, Hindi, or Kiswahili
"leaping waters; town; spear strength; mountain peak"
Tula is a multicultural name, linked to the names Tallulah, Gertrude, and Tullia, a mountain range in Antarctica, and to the Greek Toula, used for the heroine of the hit film My Big Fat Greek Wedding…
Hindi
"nebula, mist"
More unusual alternative to Tiara.
"basil"
Tulsi is more than a simple nature name: The holy basil plant is sacred in the Hindu religion, used to honor the god Vishnu and representative of his consort, the goddess Tulsi. The Tulsi plant is…
Kazakh, Persian, and Hindi
"pomegranate flower"
Anara is a name that strikes a perfect balance between simple and unusual. It's easy to understand and pronounce for a Westerner, and yet it's highly distinctive, used for only 24 girls in the US in…
Hindi, Hebrew
"queen; she is singing"
Rani, alternatively spelled Ranee, is the female equivalent of Raja in Hindi. In many Indo-Aryan languages it can mean "queen" or "lady". The Hebrew version is used for both genders in modern Israel.…
Hindi, Punjabi
"teacher and leader"
Gurnawab combines the element guru , meaning "teacher" or "spiritual guide", with Nawab , a royal title used in South Asian states, indicating a leader. A literal meaning of the name would be…
"religious service"
Unlike Pamela and Melanie, Mela feels fresh and unusual.
"ether"
This Hindi name for the fifth element, related to the male Akash which means "open sky," was used by Anne Rice in her Vampire Chronicles .
Hindi, Sanskrit
"treasure"
This jewel of a name is relatively common among Gen X and Millennial Indian women. Model Nidhi Sunil is a notable bearer.
"protector"
Name of one of the three main Hindu gods.
"pearl"
Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza is popularizing this one.
"little goddess"
Nine little goddesses got this lovely name in the US in 2021, making it a usable yet unusual entry in the popular mythological category. Devika is a diminutive of Devi, the head goddess of Hindu…
"natural"
Soft and rhythmic.
"life and death"
Shivani sounds fresh and powerful.
Hindi, name of a God
This name derives from the name Varuna, who in the Hindi faith was the god of water. Varun is, therefore, somewhat analogous to Neptune or Poseidon.
"fair, white"
Gauri the Brilliant is one of the many names for the Hindu goddess Parvati.
"story"
Derived from the Sanskrit kathana meaning "narration" or "telling", this Hindi name has a touch of whimsy and an earthy sound. Translating to "story" in English, it is related to fairytales and…
"beautiful eyes"
Hip-swayingly evocative.
"new, novel"
Sleek, and fresh, Navin is a Hindi name that could fit in with the currently popular in/an/en/on-ending boys' names.
