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Indian Names (Girls)

madmaddie
By madmaddie
Updated Thu May 25 2023
I am half-Indian, so I have met cousins with many of these names. (Or I just like them.)
  1. 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.
  2. Meena

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "blue semiprecious stone, bird"

    • Description:

      Interesting multi-cultural option.
  3. 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).
  4. Roma

    • Origin:

      Italian place-name

    • Description:

      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.

  5. 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.
  6. Anjali

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "gift"

    • Description:

      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 to understand and uncommon.
  7. 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.
  8. Devi

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "divine"

    • Description:

      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 the playground, consider Devi.
  9. Naya

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Nia

    • Description:

      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 popular Mia and Maya.
  10. Rani

    • Origin:

      Hindi, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "queen; she is singing"

    • Description:

      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. Actress Kate Hudson and director Danny Fujikawa named their daughter Rani after Fujikawa's late father, whose name was Ron.
  11. 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.
  12. Padma

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "lotus"

    • Description:

      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.
  13. Parvati

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "the daughter of the mountain"

    • Description:

      This Hindu goddess name is very popular in India. The goddess of love, fertility and devotion, representing female force, Parvati is the wife of Shiva and the mother of Ganesh. There is a Harry Potter character named Parvati Patil, a twin sister of Padma..
  14. Devina

    • Description:

      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 interpretation connects it to divine or divinity, suggesting celestial or godly qualities. In Indian contexts, Devina may relate to 'devi,' meaning 'goddess.' The name carries an elegant, melodic quality across cultures. While never reaching widespread popularity, Devina has maintained steady, low-level usage throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Its cross-cultural appeal makes it accessible to various traditions while remaining distinctive. Parents may choose Devina for its soft sound combined with strong meaning, offering a balance between uniqueness and familiarity.

  15. Shakti

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "power"

    • Description:

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

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "bliss"

    • Description:

      Genuine Indian name some parents turn to as an Amanda alternative; also connected to a network of spiritual communities.
  17. Lakshmi

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "a lucky omen"

    • Description:

      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 Hindu homes, and has festivals held in her honor.
  18. Kalinda

    • Origin:

      Hindi

    • Meaning:

      "sun"

    • Description:

      This lovely, rhythmic Hindu nature name relates to the mythical Kalinda Mountains, from which a sacred river flows.
  19. Indra

    • Origin:

      Sanskrit, Latvian

    • Meaning:

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

    • Description:

      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 world hearing it as feminine (thanks to Alexandra, Indira, or similar), or simply as a shortening of Indrani (meaning "wife of Indra").
  20. Jaya

    • Origin:

      Hindi-Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "victory"

    • Description:

      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 the out-of-the-box goddess names as well as one of the most easily translated Hindi names for girls.