Indian Names
Across 10 pages
of 10
Raga
Sanskrit, musical term
"color or melody"
Raga is musical, yes, but that 'rag' syllable worries us.
Vela
Sanskrit, Latin
"shore, sail"
Vela is one of those rare names that is at once simple, straightforward, authentic, and unusual, at least in the Western World. Besides being an Indian girls' name, Vela is a Southern sky…
Amit
Hebrew; Sanskrit
"friend; infinite"
Simple and worldly, popular and carrying two positive meanings in two diverse cultures. A winner prime for wider use.
Viro
Viro is an uncommon masculine name with multiple possible origins. It may derive from Latin roots, where "vir" means "man" or "hero," suggesting strength and masculinity. Alternatively, it could have…
Priya
Sanskrit
"beloved"
Priya originated in India as a name derived from the Sanskrit word for "beloved." In India, where names are often given based on one's birthday and horoscope, Priya is traditionally given to girls…
Mandala
Sanskrit
"circle"
A mandala is the magic circle of Buddhism and Hinduism, a powerful spiritual symbol used in art to represent the universe. It's also an important symbol in Jungian theory. As a first name, Mandala…
Sansa
Sanskrit
"praise, charm"
Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin is a master namer, and this unusual choice from India is beginning to be heard in nurseries as well as on television. Sansa was perhaps slower to catch on…
Sachin
Sanskrit
"pure"
Common in India, but seldom heard in the US, Sachin is the kind of name that could easily cross cultural boundaries. Another name for the Hindu god Shiva, Sachin means "pure." Several notable Indian…
Anoma
Unknown possibly Sanskrit "illustrious"
"illustrious"
Anoma is name occasionally seen in Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. Its meaning is unknown but likely related to the word meaning "illustrious". It is a name that could easily work in English-speaking…
Shardae
Punjabi
"runaway"
Whatever its derivation, best known now in the version used by the jazzy singer, Sade.
Asha
Sanskrit; Swahili
"hope; life"
Asha is an Indian name that comes from the Sanskrit word for hope or desire, but it is also a Swahili name derived from Aisha, meaning life. Since the ascendance of Ashley through the 1980s and 90s,…
Arjan
Dutch, Punjabi, Albanian
"from Hadria; gaining; golden life"
There's something particularly attractive about names with an interior " j " and Arjan is a prime example. The Punjabi version is pronounced with a conventional j as in jar; the Dutch Arjan, which is…
Aja
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…
Anala
Hindi
"fire"
Indian choice meaning fire in step with American styles.
Ananda
Hindi
"bliss"
Genuine Indian name some parents turn to as an Amanda alternative; also connected to a network of spiritual communities.
Bahaar
Persian, Turkish, Kurdish
"spring"
This popular Muslim name would more easily translate to English-speaking cultures in its Bahar form.
Beeja
Hindi
"the beginning, or, happy"
Rhythmic and enchanting.
Nita
Hindi, Hebrew, and Choctaw
"friendly, to plant, and bear"
One of those slender names, like Lena or Etta, that's used in several cultures and carries a range of meanings. But by being so many things, it doesn't feel decidedly like anything.
Chandra
Hindi
"goddess of the moon"
Chandra is the name of the Hindu moon goddess last groovy when incense and meditation were hot new concepts but a new possibility with the resurgence of astrology and other non-Western spiritual…
Darsha
Hindi
"to see, to perceive, to have vision"
Indian name similar in feel to some of the increasingly popular Russian names.