Indian Girl Names 

Whatever its derivation, best known now in the version used by the jazzy singer, Sade. 

Shardae

A floral and spiritually significant name, derived from nalini , a Sanskrit word meaning "lotus", Nalin is associated with divine beauty, enlightenment, and resilience. Used predominantly as a masculine name in India, Sri Lanka, and the US, in Thailand, Cambodia, and Turkey, it's more likely to go to girls.

Nalin

A strong and pretty Indian name, notably borne by the central character of hit movie, Bend It Like Beckham, Jesminder has two possible meanings. On one hand, it may be considered a form of Jasvinder, which blends the element yasas with the Hindu god's name, Indra, lending it the meaning "god's glory" or "lord's glory".
 
Alternatively, it is said to mean "queen of flowers", possibly by taking the god's name to mean "ruler, lord", femininizing it, and then pairing it with the floral jaismin.
 
Also spelled as Jasminder, the name could work across different cultures, owing to its similarity to Jasmine or Yasmin and to the possibility of nickname Jess, as used by Jesminder Bahmra in the football-centric movie.

Jesminder

Zippy and multicultural, Sarika can be considered a pretty nature name, referring to a myna bird in Hindi and Sanskrit and to a blackbird in Khmer (or Cambodian). In these contexts, it would be pronounced as SAHR-ka (Sanskrit) and saw-ree-GAW (Khmer).
 
Alternatively, it can be used as a form of Sarah, notably in Hungary, though the spelling Sárika is typically preferred, but also in Spain, Bosnia, and Croatia. In Hungarian, it is pronounced as SHA-ree-kaw, while in Spanish (and likely in English), it is said as sa-REE-ka, and in Bosnian, it is said as SAH-rih-ka.
 
The Indian actress Sarika Thakur, known mononymously as Sarika, is a notable bearer.

Sarika

Abeeja is an uncommon feminine name with possible roots in several cultures. It may be related to the Sanskrit word 'abja' meaning 'born from water' or 'lotus.' Alternatively, it could be a creative variation of 'abeja,' the Spanish word for 'bee,' symbolizing industriousness and community. The name has a melodic quality with its flowing vowels and soft consonants. While rare in mainstream usage, Abeeja appeals to parents seeking a distinctive name with an exotic feel. Its uniqueness makes it unlikely to be shared with classmates, while its pleasant sound and potential nature-based meanings give it an appealing quality for those looking beyond traditional naming conventions.

Abeeja

Short and snappy with an appealing meaning, Ratna is a Hindi name, derived from a Sanskrit word meaning "jewel" or "treasure". While some English speakers may be put off by the "rat" beginning, in Hindi it would be said more gently, more like rut to rhyme with put.
 
The rapper and singer known professionally as Doja Cat has Ratna as one of her middle names (full name: Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini), while another notable bearer is Ratna Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah, the former Queen of Nepal. There's also Ratna Sari Dewi Sukarno, better known as Dewi Fujin, a TV personality, businesswoman, and socialite, and wife of the first President of Indonesia, and there's the actress Ratna Pathak too.
 
Popular in India and in Indonesia where it is predominantly used on girls, it is considered a unisex name and is given more noticeably to boys in Nepal and Qatar. Other variations include Rathna, Ratan, and Ratnam.

Ratna

Lovely, international, tea-scented possibility undiscovered by baby names.
 
Ceylon may ultimately be derived from the Sanskrit siṃhala, meaning "island of lions" or "abundance of lions."

Ceylon

This variation of Chandra — a Hindi moon goddess — is primarily used in South Africa.

Chandre

A charming Indian color name with mythological connections — Chandika is a form of the Hindu goddess Mahadevi.

Chandi

The Māori transliteration of India has a light and bright sound. Ultimately borrowed from Sanskrit, it could mean "body of trembling water", in reference to the Indus River for which India is named. 
 
Inia is occasionally heard in Scandinavian countries as a diminutive of names containing the 'Ing' element, such as Ingrid. In this case, the meaning would relate to the Germanic mythological goddess, Ing, often interpreted to mean "ancestor".

Inia

Simple, succinct, and water-inspired, Neer is a unisex name of Hindi and Sanskrit origin, translating literally to "water, liquid" in English. While it more popularly appears as Neera (also said to mean "waterlily"), Neer may appeal to those who enjoy one syllable names like Noor.
 In 2025, Neer was chosen by Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra and her husband politician Raghav Chadha for their son, though this may encourage more usage of the name all round. The couple celebrated the name as reflecting limitlessness, divinity, and purity.

Neer

Actress Geena Davis (born Virginia) put her own distinctive stamp on this spelling of Gina, though this form may lend itself to being a short form of Eugenia ("well born") or Georgina and Georgeanna ("farmer"), based on the spelling.
 
Geena may also have its roots in Hindi and Sanskrit, from which it means "to live", though Jeena is the more popular transcription.

Geena

Used as a spelling variation of Gina, a short form of Eugenia, Georgina, Regina, Virginia, and similar, Jeena is also a Hindi name, derived ultimately from Sankrit, with the lively meaning "to live". 


Jeena

This name ultimately comes from the Sanskrit amṛta, literally meaning "immortal", though within Hindu tradition, it is also associated with a drink or nectar that grants eternal life. Other forms of the name include Amrutha and Amrita, and the masculine Amrit.

Amruta

An Hindu deity name that has risen in use for boys in recent years, Rudra is a figure associated with wind, storms, hunting, medicine, and Lord Shiva. While it leans masculine in India, Nepal, the UK, and the US, it is also used for girls, most notably in Bangladesh.
 
Derived from Sanskrit, it means "roaring", "howling", and "crying", though it is occasionally interpreted "frightening and fierce one" too. The name is pronounced as ru-druh, the first syllable with the u sound in full or put.

Rudra

Borne by the consort of Rudra, a Vedic deity associated with wind, storms, hunting, and Shiva, this name literally means "wife of Rudra" or "Rudra's queen", though more figuratively, it means "wife of the roaring, howling one". In contemporary Hinduism, Rudrani is viewed as an epithet or an alternative name for the goddess Parvati, the consort of Shiva. 
 
pronounced as rud-rah-ni, the oo in the first syllable is like the short u sound in full or put.

Rudrani

A stylish sounding choice, which could be a variation of Suhana, a Sanskrit and Hindi name meaning "beautiful" and "pleasant" or of Sahana meaning "to be patient" and "to endure" in Arabic and "to bloom, flower" in Japanese. 

Sehana

A name associated with knowledge, curiosity, and wisdom, Vidia is an alternative spelling of Vidya, a popular name in India, Nepal, and Mauritius, where it is connected to the Hindu goddess Sarasvati. While this spelling is less popular, it is still recognizable. 
 
Occasionally used as a variation of either Ovidia ("shepherd, sheep") or Invidia, the Roman goddess of envy, it was notably used in the Tinker Bell movies, for a mean-spirited and conniving fairy, who learns to be kinder as the series progresses. According to one of the creators, it was the Roman goddess they had in mind when naming her.

Vidia

A rare choice, used occasionally in India, Ritupriya is a compound name, blending the more familiar Priya and Ritu. Ultimately from Sanskrit, it has the lovely meaning of "beloved season, beloved time", which might appeal to parents whose baby is born in their favorite season, or to those who want to celebrate the parenthood as a "season" in their life. 

Ritupriya

A short but sweet name used among Hindi, Marathi, and Bengali speakers, Ritu comes from Sanskrit, and refers to a season or time period. Most literally, it translates to "order or course of things", and is used familiarly as a name (and a word) in India, though it could easily work globally too.
 
A notable bearer is actress Ritu Arya, who has starred in the soap opera Doctors, Humans and The Umbrella Academy

Ritu

Indian names for girls are often rooted in either Hindi, the dominant language of India, or Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language. The Indian names for girls in our database also include a sprinkling of Punjabi and Urdu names. Indian names that are most familiar to English speakers are often the names of female celebrities, such as Priyanka Chopra or Padma Lakshmi. Other popular Indian baby names for girls include Chandra, Kalinda, Savita, and Lalita. There are many gorgeous Indian names for girls that may appeal to parents in India or elsewhere.

Browse our full list of Indian baby girl names here.

Indian names for girls are often rooted in either Hindi, the dominant language of India, or Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language. The Indian names for girls in our database also include a sprinkling of Punjabi and Urdu names. Indian names that are most familiar to English speakers are often the names of female celebrities, such as Priyanka Chopra or Padma Lakshmi.  (Page 10)