Indian Boy Names

Indian names for baby boys are most often rooted in either Hindi, the major language of India, or Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language. The Indian boy names on Nameberry also include a sprinkling of Punjabi and Urdu names. Indian male names that are most familiar in the wider world tend to be the names of celebrities, such as Deepak Chopra, Dev Patel, or Arjun Kapoor. Other popular Indian baby boy names include Ravi, Sanjay, and Vikram. There are many handsome Indian boy names that may be of interest to parents in India and beyond.

Browse our full list of Indian baby boy names here. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
  1. Krishna
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "dark, black"
    • Description:

      Krishna is the name of a supreme Hindu god, and is often found in Hindu families. While it leans masculine, it is also given to girls, and a survey of names back in 2014 revealed the split was around 60:40.
  2. Bodhi
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "awakening, enlightenment"
    • Description:

      Bodhi is a Sanskrit name translated as "enlightenment" or "awakening" which relates to a Buddhist concept, wherein Bodhi is synonymous with the state of nirvana, being freed from hate, greed and ego. The Bodhi tree is a large fig tree under which the founder of Buddhism received enlightenment. Spelling variations include Bodie and Bode.
  3. Rohan
    • Origin:

      Irish, Scottish, Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit,"rowan tree; redhead; sandalwood; ascension"
    • Meaning:

      "rowan tree; redhead; sandalwood; ascension"
    • Description:

      Simultaneously a name of Hindi and Sanskrit origin, a spelling variation of the popular Rowan and an anglicized form of Irish Ruadhán, Rohan is a cross-cultural choice.
  4. Aarav
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "peaceful"
    • Description:

      Aarav is derived from the Sanskrit root "rav," which is related to peace and music. Aarav is also associated with the concept of wisdom. It has traditionally been a common name among Hindus, who intentionally select names to inspire particular values in their children.
  5. Arjan
    • Origin:

      Dutch, Punjabi, Albanian
    • Meaning:

      "from Hadria; gaining; golden life"
    • Description:

      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 a variation of Adrien, pronounces the 'j' like a 'y', while the Albanian pronunciation has three syllables and is a variant of Arian. A multicultural choice, Arjan is in the Top 1000 in England and Wales.
  6. Taj
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "crown"
    • Description:

      Taj is a cool-sounding name reflecting the magnificence of the seventeenth-century Indian Taj Mahal, chosen by Aerosmith's Steven Tyler for his son.
  7. Ravi
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "sun; conferring"
    • Description:

      A title of the Hindu sun god, made cross-culturally famous by sitar player Ravi Shankar.
  8. Kiran
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "ray of light"
    • Description:

      Though it sounds like a modern invention, Kiran is a traditional Hindu name from India; chosen for her son by actress Kelli Williams. Author Kiran Desai is a woman and this name, which bears a resemblance to both the Irish (male) Kieran and the fifties favorite Karen, certainly works as well for a girl.
  9. Pepper
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "berry"
    • Description:

      There's a football player called Pepper (born Thomas and given the childhood nickname for sprinkling pepper on his cereal) Johnson -- but the name has yet to make waves for boys. Given to around 5 boys each year, the musical link to The Beatle's album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club might appeal to some.
  10. Siddharth
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "one who has accomplished a goal"
    • Description:

      Siddhartha Gautama was one of the real names of Buddha, making this an impressive and weighty name among the Buddhist community.
  11. Vihaan
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "dawn"
    • Description:

      Vihaan comes from a Sanskrit word denoting the dawn, but has the symbolic meaning of the beginning of a new age, making Vihaan a wonderful choice for the first baby in a family's next generation.
  12. Reyansh
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "ray of light"
    • Description:

      This unusual Indian name, which refers to one of the names of Lord Vishnu, has been one of the fastest-growing boys' names of the last decade. It first managed to climb into the US Top 1000 in 2014. The nickname Rey Americanizes it.
  13. Arjun
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "bright, shining, white"
    • Description:

      Popular in India and among Indo-Americans, this name of the hero of a famous Hindu epic has an extremely pleasing sound.
  14. Ram
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Sanskrit, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "archer; pleasing; exalted"
    • Description:

      One of the most familiar, and assertive, names found throughout the Middle East and India, Ram has an assertive and solid air about it. Derived from a number of different origins, in English speaking countries, it may also be considered a word name, associated with a horned male sheep — or a form of computer memory.
  15. Amit
    • Origin:

      Hebrew; Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "friend; infinite"
    • Description:

      Simple and worldly, popular and carrying two positive meanings in two diverse cultures. A winner prime for wider use.
  16. Rishi
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "sage"
    • Description:

      A number of stylish Indian names are making their way to the US mainstream, including wise Rishi. In Hindu mythology, the Rishis are sages and seers; in modern times, Rishi Rich is a popular British-born musician and record producer and Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister of the UK in 2022.
  17. Sahil
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "guide, leader"
    • Description:

      A name that could set an Indian boy on a path to leadership.
  18. Vikram
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "valorous"
    • Description:

      Another traditional Indian name, best known here via novelist Vikram Seth.
  19. Balin
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "mighty sword"
    • Description:

      Unusual Asian option, and also the name of the Dwarf Lord from Lord of the Rings.
  20. Sarad
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "born in autumn"
    • Description:

      A pleasant seasonal name.

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