Indian Names (Girls)

Kali

Sanskrit, English

"black one; free man; beauty"

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…

Naya

Spelling variation of Nia

Related to Nia and Naia, Naya was new to the US Top 1000 in 2014 and benefits from the short and simple pronunciation that many parents are seeking in fresh names. It also has obvious similarities to…

Leela

Sanskrit

"play"

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…

Roma

Italian place-name

Never as popular as Florence; today's parents might prefer Venezia, Verona, or Romy. It is also a Hindu name meaning "one with shiny hair" and is another name for the goddess Lakshmi. In Roman…

Priya

Sanskrit

"beloved"

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…

Jaya

Hindi-Sanskrit

"victory"

This name of a Buddhist goddess, a possible alternative to the trendy Maya, was chosen for their daughter by Laura Dern and Ben Harper. Jaya is simple yet unusual, a winning combination, and one of…

Anjali

Sanskrit

"gift"

This Indian name meaning gift or offering feels familiar via sound-alikes Angela or Angelina, and made a brief appearance on the U.S. Top 1000. Anjali is a pretty route to a name that's at once easy…

Shreya

Sanskrit

"fortunate, auspicious"

Shreya is an Indian name with several positive meanings--beautiful, fortunate, auspicious, favorable--and ties to the goddess Lakshmi. Shreya was on the U.S. popularity list from 2002 to 2005.

Devi

Sanskrit

"divine"

This Hindu goddess name has a powerful heritage plus lively sound with a devilish edge. If you're enchanted by goddess names but want to set your little girl apart from all the Lunas and Athenas in…

Meena

Hindi

"blue semiprecious stone, bird"

Interesting multi-cultural option.

Indira

Sanskrit

"beauty"

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…

Rani

Hindi, Hebrew

"queen; she is singing"

Rani, alternatively spelled Ranee, is the female equivalent of Raja in Hindi. In many Indo-Aryan languages it can mean "queen" or "lady". The Hebrew version is used for both genders in modern Israel.…

Devina

Devina is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. Most commonly, it's considered a variant of Davina, the feminine form of David, which comes from Hebrew meaning 'beloved.' Another…

Aishwarya

Sanskrit

"prosperity, wealth"

A popular South Indian name that gained international attention when Aishwarya Rai became Miss World in 1994.

Shakti

Sanskrit

"power"

Shakti is the female equivalent of the god Shiva in Hinduism. A sacred name sometimes used in a secular way.

Lakshmi

Sanskrit

"a lucky omen"

Often heard in India, this is the name of the Hindu goddess of abundance, beauty, and prosperity, the embodiment of grace and charm --lucky omens indeed. The goddess Lakshmi is worshiped daily in…

Ishana

Hindi

"desire"

Pretty Asian option.

Indra

Sanskrit, Latvian

"possessing drops of rain; reed, water witch; estate ruler"

In Hindu tradition, Indra is the warrior god of sky and rain, whose name is often used as element of other names, such as Jaswinder or Rajendra. Its use as a feminine name may come from the Western…

Gita

Sanskrit; Latvian; Czech "song; pearl or strength or exalted one"

"song; pearl or strength or exalted one"

A simple, international name extremely popular in India. The word, meaning "song", also appears in the name of the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu sacred text. Geeta is a spelling variant. Gita has also seen…

Padma

Sanskrit

"lotus"

A name rich in Hindu tradition as the alternate name for the Goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of beauty and charm; currently borne, appropriately, by model-actress-writer Padma Lakshmi.