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Awesome Indian Names

frauleinawesome
By frauleinawesome
Updated Thu May 25 2023
Awesome Indian baby names
  1. Maya

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit, English, Hebrew, Estonian

    • Meaning:

      "illusion, magic; mother; water; beloved, bitter, drop of the sea"

    • Description:

      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.
  2. Lila

    • Origin:

      Arabic, Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "night; play"

    • Description:

      Lila is one of the girl names with a double l sound — Lila, Lola, Layla, Leila, Lily et al — that have caught on in a major way., Delicate yet dynamic, Lila has a slightly international flair.
  3. Asha

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit; Swahili

    • Meaning:

      "hope; life"

    • Description:

      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, all baby names Ash-related have been used in the U.S. for both girls and boys, from Ashlyn to Ashby, Ashton to Asher. Despite its separate roots, Asha is part of this group.
  4. Tara

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "rocky hill"

    • Description:

      Despite a rich history in Irish myth preceding its plantation appearance in Gone with the Wind, widespread use in the seventies caused Tara to lose its Irish accent.
  5. Lina

    • Origin:

      Arabic; Latin diminutive

    • Meaning:

      "tender"

    • Description:

      This pretty, succinct Arabic name is also commonly used as a nickname for names like Carolina.
  6. Arya

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit; Modern variation of Aria

    • Meaning:

      "noble; air/song"

    • Description:

      Arya was derived from an Indo-Iranian word meaning "Aryan" or "noble." It is a masculine given name in Iran, Indonesia, Bali, and Sanskrit-speaking regions of India. In Hindu- and English-speaking parts of the world, Arya is more often a feminine name, the latter influenced by the similar Italian name Aria, meaning "air" or "song."
  7. Veda

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "knowledge"

    • Description:

      A name with religious resonance, as the Vedas are the most sacred texts of Hinduism. Outside of that religious context, Veda has the makings of a modern popular name, with its sharp V initial, two syllables, and feminine a ending. This is evidenced by it reentry into the US Top 1000 in 2015, after fifty-five years off the list. Similar names on the rise are Vera and Vada.
  8. Priya

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "beloved"

    • Description:

      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 born in August. Priya is used in Hindu mythology as the name of a daughter of King Daksha—known for fathering 146 daughters.
  9. Kali

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit, English

    • Meaning:

      "black one; free man; beauty"

    • Description:

      Kali is a number of different things: a playful, contemporary twist on the name Callie; the Hindu goddess of destruction; an alternative spelling for Kaylee; a short form of the Arablic Kalila, the Greek Kalista, or the African American Kaliyah; a masculine name in India; and a trendy form of Kali(fornia).
  10. Indira

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "beauty"

    • Description:

      A striking and feminine possibility associated with a modern hero — long-time Indian prime minister, Indira Gandhi. It is also a significant choice within Hinduism, as it is used as an alternative name for Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu and the goddess of luck and prosperity.
  11. Nisha

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "night"

    • Description:

      Simple but sophisticated, Nisha is a pretty Sanskrit choice that hit the popularity charts in England in the late 1990s. The meaning "night" adds a slightly mystical element to name and it is a hugely popular choice in India, used across multiple languages.
  12. Reva

    • Origin:

      Hindi river name; Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "rain"

    • Description:

      Refers to one of the seven sacred rivers of India.
  13. Chandra

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "goddess of the moon"

    • Description:

      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 beliefs.
  14. Meena

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "blue semiprecious stone, bird"

    • Description:

      Interesting multi-cultural option.
  15. Jai

    • Origin:

      Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil

    • Meaning:

      "victory"

    • Description:

      Pronounced like Jay, this short name is popular in South Asia and makes for a great English-South Asian crossover choice, used regularly in the UK and Australia. It can also be an alternate spelling of the English name Jay, either short for a J name or deriving from the name of the bird.
  16. Raj

    • Description:

      Raj is a name of Indian origin that means 'king' or 'royal' in Sanskrit. It has been used throughout South Asia for centuries as both a standalone name and as part of compound names. The name carries connotations of leadership, authority, and dignity. In Western countries, Raj gained recognition through cultural exchanges and immigration, becoming more familiar through Indian characters in films and television. The name is appreciated for its brevity, strong sound, and regal meaning. Raj is particularly popular among Indian diaspora communities who wish to maintain cultural connections while using a name that's relatively easy to pronounce in English-speaking countries.

  17. Leela

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "play"

    • Description:

      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.
  18. Meera

    • Origin:

      Hindi, Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "light, saintly woman; prosperous"

    • Description:

      Meera Bai, also spelled Mirabai, was a great female Hindu mystical poet whose works are popular throughout India. She was a fifteenth-sixteenth century Indian princess who devoted her life to writing paeans of devotion to the god Krishna.

      The story of Meera was the basis of an eponymous Indian historical drama television series in 2009. It's also gotten a boost from HBO's Game of Thrones, in which Meera Reed is a tough, wise character who cares for the disabled seer Bran Stark once he flees Winterfell.

  19. Neela

    • Origin:

      Hindi, Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "sapphire blue"

    • Description:

      A variation of Nila, a name spread through African by the substantial Indian population there. Also a variant of Neala and Neila.
  20. Lalita

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "playful, charming"

    • Description:

      Lolita without the naughty implications.