Indian names

A simple name occasionally heard a couple of generations back.

A striking and feminine possibility associated with a modern hero — longtime Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.

A short and sweet Hindi name which has been relatively popular in the UK – peaking at #280 there in 2003.

Kamal carries two positive associations: one of the ninety-nine qualities of Allah listed in the Quran and the evocative lotus flower. Americans might recognize it as the male equivalent of Kamala, as in Vice President Kamala Harris.

A multicultural name that manages to sound soft and strong at the same time, Kamala is also another name for the Hindu goddess Lakshmi.

Although Krishna is popular in India, only this diminutive variation made the US Top 1000 in 2013.

While Leela may be a spelling variation of Lila or Leila, it's also an Indian name in its own right with a playful meaning. And unlike it's more popular Western sisters, Leela does not create pronunciation confusion.

Mala is one of those names that's both simple and exotic, easy to pronounce yet unfamiliar to many English speakers.

Maya, which has an almost mystical image, has been steadily climbing in popularity in the US and the English-speaking world, along with a range of other countries, including France, Germany, Israel, and Brazil. It's ranked in the US Top 100 since the turn of this century, but has never risen to the top of the list, which you may consider a good thing.

Interesting multi-cultural option.