By Pamela Redmond · Updated November 2026
Across 17 pages
of 17
Hindi, Sanskrit
"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…
Literature, Sanskrit
"fresh, new"
Navani feels reminiscent of Sanskrit Avani, Hawaiian Nalani, Arabic Amani, and many other -ani names in the charts at the moment. It is in fact a literary creation, appearing in Brandon Sanderson's…
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…
Punjabi, Sanskrit
"speech, eloquence, word of the divine"
Baani is a beautiful Punjabi name used in India — an alias of the goddess Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. It was a fast-rising choice in the UK in…
Hindi
"blue semiprecious stone, bird"
Interesting multi-cultural option.
Punjab
"timeless"
With the powerful and enduring meaning of "timeless, beyond death", Akaal was a new addition the the England and Wales charts in 2025. Inspiration likely came from the Indian movie Akaal: The…
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…
Sanskrit
"beauty"
A striking and feminine possibility associated with a modern hero — long-time Indian prime minister, Indira Gandhi. It is also a significant choice within Hinduism, as it is used as an alternative…
"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…
Sanskrit; Hawaiian; French
"earth goddess; strong; bitter"
Mahi is another name for the Hindu earth goddess Bhumi. It also means strong in Hawaiian and might be a medieval French variation of Mary. But most modern Americans would hear it as the name of the…
Finnish, Maori, Hawaiian, Sanskrit, Akan, Hebrew
"greatest; bird; wise; second born; God is with us"
An international name that, while short and simple, sounds strong and distinctive, stylish and sweet all at once. It may appeal to those who want a name that works in multiple languages, while also…
Russian, Sanskrit
"victor; house"
Sharp and spiky with international potential, as a feminine name, Nikita has its roots in Hindi, Marathi, and ultimately Sanskrit. It comes from niketa , meaning "home, habitation", and may also be…
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.…
"lord"
A multi-cultural choice overflowing with charm.
"awakening; enlightenment"
Bodhi relates to the Buddhist concept of enlightenment and has been a hot baby name in recent years, most notably for boys. Sunny yet calm, Bodhi conveys a state of being free from hatred and greed…
Punjabi
"home of the guru"
A Punjabi name that combines the elements nivasa and guru meaning "home, abode" and "spiritual teacher" respectively. Together they form an aspirational and wise feeling name that ranked in the…
