Indian Names
Across 10 pages
of 10
Pan
Greek
"all or shepherd"
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…
Paramesh
Hindi
"greatest"
Though meaningful in its own culture, would make a challenging crossover.
Pradeep
Hindi
"light, lantern"
One of the more familiar Hindu choices, with built-in depth and a suggestion of enlightenment.
Pranav
Hindi
"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.
Rajah
Arabic and Sanskrit
"hope; ruler"
Indian princely title, more exciting than Prince or Duke, that is also a widely-used name for both genders. In the US, the names Rajah and Raja are uncommon: Ten baby boys were named Rajah last year…
Ravi
Hindi
"sun; conferring"
A title of the Hindu sun god, made cross-culturally famous by sitar player Ravi Shankar.
Sahaj
Hindi
"natural"
Soft and rhythmic.
Sahil
Hindi
"guide, leader"
A name that could set an Indian boy on a path to leadership.
Sajan
Hindi
"beloved"
An attractive and worldly name for a cherished baby son.
Sarad
Hindi
"born in autumn"
A pleasant seasonal name.
Shandar
Hindi
"proud, fabulous"
A Hindi name with a wonderful meaning.
Varan
Hindi
"water god"
Unusual and simple: a winning combination. But it was the name of a fifteen-thousand-ton monster in a midcentury "Godzilla" movie.
Varun
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.
Vikram
Hindi
"valorous"
Another traditional Indian name, best known here via novelist Vikram Seth.
Vishnu
Hindi
"protector"
Name of one of the three main Hindu gods.
Akasha
Hindi
"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 .
Kerala
Indian place name
Kerala, the name of the most beautiful and touristed state of India, has recently debuted on the U.S. extended popularity list as a first name for girls . And why not? Kerala sounds lovely and…
Tulsi
Hindi
"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…
Susmita
Hindi
"beautiful smile"
Susmita, also spelled Sushmita which more accurately reflects its pronunciation, is an Indian or Bengali name widely unknown in the Western World but with definite potential.
Anara
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…