Indian Boy Names

Deepak

Sanskrit

"lamp, light"

Spiritual author Deepak Chopra made this familiar, if not particularly accessible, outside the Indian community.

Deodar

Sanskrit

"divine wood"

Name of the "god tree," a tall cedar native to India that also grows in California and England. Not a prime baby name candidate.

Ganesh

Sanskrit

"god of the multitude"

The name of the elephant-headed Hindu god of wisdom is rarely heard outside India.

Kumar

Sanskrit

"a boy, a son"

Worldly name often heard in India, familiar here via the film Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.

Naren

Sanskrit

"superior man"

Might translate, thanks to Darren connection.

Pepper

English, Sanskrit

"berry"

More popularly used for girls, this peppy word name has been worn by football player Pepper Johnson (born Thomas and given the childhood nickname for sprinkling pepper on his cereal) and appears in…

Rajiv

Sanskrit

"striped"

Known here via the son of Indira Gandhi, who himself became prime minister of India.

Ranjit

Sanskrit

"charmed, beguiled"

Intriguing import.

Sanjaya

Sanskrit

"triumphant"

This variation of the popular Indian name Sanjay was borne by a popular-against-all-odds American Idol contestant.

Vasant

Sanskrit

"spring"

A name commonly used in India; Vasant Panchami is a Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess of learning.

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…

Ganesha

Hindi

"fortunate"

The name of the Hindu elephant-headed god of success and wisdom, son of Shiva and Parvati.

Jaia

Hindi, Sanskrit

"victory"

Likely a variation of the Hindi name Jaya, Jaia is used as a unisex name in the south of India but more exclusively as feminine in the north. Ultimately derived from Sanskrit, the name means…

Jaya

Hindi, Sanskrit

"victory"

While Jay and Jai are more popular for boys, Jaya is considered a unisex name in both the south of India and Malaysia, while in Nepal and Indonesia, it leans masculine. Derived from a Sanskrit…

Nischay

Hindi

"determination"

Derived from the Hindi word for "determination", Nischay is a name that combines gentle sounds, with a strong meaning. Associated with certainty and strength, it also appears as Nishchay and…

Rovan

Hindi

"rowan"

Possibly a Hindi variation of the woodsy favorite, Rowan, to reflect the Hindi translation of the tree name, rovaan . It appeared in the England and Wales Top 1000 in a recent year.

Nemi

Hindi, Hebrew

"rim of a wheel; comforted by God"

Nemi is a short, sweet unisex name, with a whole range of origins, though for boys, it is most notably used as either a short form of Biblical Nehemiah, or as the birth name of King Dasharatha who…

Ashwini

Variation of Ashwin, Sanskrit

"possessed of horses"

A unisex name of Sanskrit origin, this name — along with its other forms, Ashwin and Ashwina — are used in many languages across the Indian subcontinent. It is associated with the Ashvins, the twin…

Chaitanya

Bengali, Telugu, Sanskrit

"consciousness, intellect, soul, spirit"

Chaitanya is a philosophical concept in Hinduism, relating to awareness and intelligence, along with energy and zeal. Also called "pure consciousness", it requires an understanding of the mind and…

Neeraj

Hindi, Sanskrit

"waterlily, lotus flower"

Also spelled as Niraj and used across India, Neeraj comes from the Sanskrit word for "waterlily" or "lotus flower" though it may sometimes be interpreted as "water-born". Related names include the…