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Hindi Names for Boys

Nameberry
By Nameberry
Updated Tue Jun 09 2020
Hindi names for boys have their roots in the musical Hindi language, which is one of the five most spoken languages in the world. But powerful Hindi baby names remain remarkably underused outside of the South-Asian subcontinent, even though many strong and simple Hindi boy names — like Navin, Ravi and Rohan — feel like they could travel anywhere. From Vikram to Vivaan, we think these Hindi boys' names have a special kind of energy and vibrancy, thanks to their spiky consonant sounds and eye-catching double vowels.

Find our full list of striking boy baby names of Hindi origin here. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
  1. Rohan

    • Origin:

      Irish, Scottish, Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit ,"rowan tree; redhead; sandalwood; ascension"

    • Meaning:

      "rowan tree; redhead; sandalwood; ascension"

    • Description:

      Simultaneously a name of Hindi and Sanskrit origin, a spelling variation of the popular Rowan and an anglicized form of Irish Ruadhán, Rohan is a cross-cultural choice.
  2. Aarav

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "peaceful"

    • Description:

      Aarav is derived from the Sanskrit root "rav," which is related to peace and music. Aarav is also associated with the concept of wisdom. It has traditionally been a common name among Hindus, who intentionally select names to inspire particular values in their children.
  3. Reyansh

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "ray of light"

    • Description:

      This unusual Indian name, which refers to one of the names of Lord Vishnu, has been one of the fastest-growing boys' names of the last decade. It first managed to climb into the US Top 1000 in 2014. The nickname Rey Americanizes it.
  4. Ravi

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "sun; conferring"

    • Description:

      A title of the Hindu sun god, made cross-culturally famous by sitar player Ravi Shankar.
  5. Surya

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "sun god"

    • Description:

      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.
  6. Arjun

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "bright, shining, white"

    • Description:

      Popular in India and among Indo-Americans, this name of the hero of a famous Hindu epic has an extremely pleasing sound.
  7. Dhani

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "rich"

    • Description:

      Dhani is a haunting Hindi name for boys that's a million miles away from the similar-sounding Danny or Donny. One notable namesake is musician Dhani Harrison, look-alike son of Beatle George. He is named after the sixth and seventh notes of the Indian music scale, 'dha' and 'ni'. 'Dhani' is also a raga in north Indian classical music. Another noted bearer is longtime NFL linebacker Dhani Jones.
  8. Neel

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "sapphire blue"

    • Description:

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

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "guide, leader"

    • Description:

      A name that could set an Indian boy on a path to leadership.
  10. Vivaan

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "full of life"

    • Description:

      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.
  11. Aakil

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "intelligent, smart"

    • Description:

      If meaning were destiny, this would start a boy off on the right foot.
  12. Aja

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "goat"

    • Description:

      Retro musical reference to classic Steely Dan rock album, but mostly for girls today.
  13. Siddharth

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "one who has accomplished a goal"

    • Description:

      Siddhartha Gautama was one of the real names of Buddha, making this an impressive and weighty name among the Buddhist community.
  14. Pranav

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "primordial"

    • Description:

      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.
  15. Aleem

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "knowledgeable"

    • Description:

      Surname of a noted modern Urdu poet.
  16. Ishaan

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "the sun"

    • Description:

      Ishaan is the guardian of the Northeast in the Hindu religion.
  17. Varan

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "water god"

    • Description:

      Unusual and simple: a winning combination. But it was the name of a fifteen-thousand-ton monster in a midcentury "Godzilla" movie.
  18. Pan

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "all or shepherd"

    • Description:

      Pan is the Greek god with the legs of a goat and the body of a pipes-playing man known for his mischievousness. Pan is also the god of shepherds, pastures, and fertility. Pan is also a Hindi name meaning leaf or feather.
  19. Sitara

    • Origin:

      Urdu from Persian

    • Meaning:

      "star"

    • Description:

      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 to the issue of child marriage.
  20. Shandar

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "proud, fabulous"

    • Description:

      A Hindi name with a wonderful meaning.