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Most people who travel for business or settle in other countries may want to maintain cultural connections with their origin country and culture. It is perhaps why Indian NRIs are increasingly choosing Indian-American names for their babies that may seem Western but have Indian roots. It can be challenging to find an appropriate name that blends both cultures and languages in terms of spelling and pronunciation. We’ve put together a list of some names, along with their meanings, to assist you in choosing beautiful Indian names that can go well in America as well.
Arnav Roy, a life coach, shares his experience as an Asian American child. He says, “I can remember one of my friends whose parents were American, literally saying I really can’t say your name. Is there an easier name to call you? That’s kind of where the nickname Arnie came from. Today, that’s why I go by Arnie or Arnav.
“I remember one year I was in class with one of my good friends named Henry. During roll call, the teacher goes, Hong Yi, and I was like, what the heck, who is that? And my friend Henry raised his hand. I didn’t even know his actual name was Hong Yi until that moment (i).”
Western Sounding Indian Girl Names
1. Aanya
The name has a Hindu origin, and means “gracious,” “indestructible,” or “limitless.” This western-sounding Indian name is also another name for Goddess Durga.
2. Aarvi
This easy-to-pronounce name comes from Sanskrit and means “peace,” or “calmness.”
3. Adhya
This means “first creator,” or “Goddess Durga” in Sanskrit. The name also means “great power,” or “unparalleled.”
4. Ahaana
This easy to pronounce western-sounding Indian name means “dawn,” “ray of light,” or “the first ray of sunlight.”
5. Alisha
The name is considered to have Sanskrit and Spanish origins. It means “protected by God” or “the noble kind.”
6. Anisa
It means “friendly,” “affable,” or “genial.” The name is the feminine form of the Arabic name Anis.
7. Anita
The name has a Sanskrit origin and means “leader,” “simple,” or “gracious.”
Did you know?8. Avani
It means “good Earth,” and comes from Sanskrit. The name is also used in Western countries.
9. Bela
The Sanskrit meaning of this Indian name is “creeper” or “jasmine flower.” Bela also sounds similar to a popular western name Belle, which means “beautiful” in French.
10. Bina
Bina is a variation of the Sanskrit word “vina,” the name for a musical instrument. Bina also means “far-sighted,” “melodious”, or “perceptive.”
11. Daya
It means “compassionate,” “kindness,” or “mercy” in Hindi. Daya is also a diminutive of the Western name Diana, which means “heavenly,” or “divine.”
12. Dhara
It is derived from the Sanskrit word “dara,” which means “constant flow,” “one who holds,” “ Earth,” or “one who sustains.”
13. Diya
This easy-to-pronounce, Western-sounding name is derived from the Sanskrit word “diya,” which means “divine lamp,” or “heavenly light.”
14. Esha
It means “desire,” or “wish” in Sanskrit. The name is popular in English-speaking countries, as well.
15. Ela
This western sounding Indian name has multiple meanings, namely “the Earth,” “cardamom tree,” “moonlight,” or “merriness.”
16. Elora
The name originated from the cave temples of India. The name is similar to a Hebrew name that means “God is my light,” or “shield of victory.”
17. Gayatri
It means “singer,” “sacred verse,” or “hymn.” It also refers to “the mother of the Vedas: a Goddess.” The name comes from Sanskrit.
18. Geena
The name likely comes from Sanskrit and means “silvery” or “silver-like.” Geena is also a variant of Gina, which is a diminutive of the name Regina, which means “queen” in Latin.
19. Gia
It is a common English name with Indian origin and means “beautiful,” “love,” or “God is gracious.” For those seeking short Indian girl names that can also fit seamlessly into Western contexts, Gia is a perfect choice.
20. Inaya
It comes from Urdu and Arabic, and means “care,” “affection,” “concern,” or “a gift from God.”
21. Ishani
It means “ruler,” or “a possessor” in Sanskrit. It is also another name of Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva.
22. Jaya
It is derived from the Sanskrit word “jay” meaning “victory.” The name is also an epithet of Goddess Durga.
23. Jiya
This means “life,” “sweetheart” or “luck.” It is a fascinating Hindi name that you may choose for your little girl when abroad.
24. Kavya
It is a poetic name that comes from Sanskrit, and means “poem,” “poetess,” or “words of wisdom.”
25. Leela
It comes from the Sanskrit word “lila,” which means “divine play,” or “divine creation of God.” The name also means “joy,” “beauty,” or “grace.”
26. Leena
It means “engrossed,” “attentive,” or “absorbed” in Sanskrit. Leena is also one of the many names of Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of fortune, riches, and good luck.
27. Lily
It is the name of a flower and represents a symbol of purity and perfection. The variants of the name are Lilian and Lilith.
28. Marisa
This is derived from the Latin “maris” meaning “of the sea.” The name is popular among Portuguese, and thus commonly used in parts of Western India.
29. Maya
It comes from the Sanskrit word “maya,” meaning “illusion,” or “dream.” The name is also used as an epithet for Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of wealth. Maya is also used to refer to the various powers of Lord Vishnu.
Trivia30. Megha
It means “clouds” in Sanskrit. It is used to refer to “rain” in many other Indian languages.
31. Meena
The name comes from Sanskrit and means “precious blue stone,” or “jewel.” The name also means “fish” and likely refers to the Matsya or fish incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
32. Mira
It means “ocean,” “limit,” or “boundary in Sanskrit. Mira was also the name of Mirabai, a poet-saint who composed songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
33. Monica
It is a popular name across the word. In the Indian context, it is likely derived from the Sanskrit word “monik,” meaning “advise,” or “the wise one,” or from the Sanskrit word “maanik,” meaning “Ruby,” or “precious stone.”
34. Naina
Naina, which means “eyes” in Sanskrit, is a beautiful and easy-to-pronounce choice among Indian baby girl names. This name can be a great option if you want your baby to hold authority and power.
35. Navya
This Indian name with a Sanskrit origin means “young” or “praiseworthy.” It also means “novel.”
36. Neha
It means “love,” or “affection” in Sanskrit. This is a small and sweet name with a deep meaning.
37. Nina
Nina means “darling,” “beautiful,” or “little girl.” It is used by people of multiple faiths.
38. Piya
It originates from the Sanskrit word “priya,’ which means “beloved” or “the close one.” It is a beautiful Indian name that is easy on the tongue.
39. Prisha
The name Prisha is of Sanskrit origin and means “God’s gift.” The name is common in several western countries, as well.
40. Reena
It comes from the Sanskrit word “reen,” meaning “melted,” “dissolved,” or “amalgamated.” The word also means “rebirth” or “gem.”
41. Riya
It is an Indian name from Sanskrit with multiple meanings, namely “gem,” “singer,” graceful,” or “rich.” The name is also used to refer to Goddess Lakshmi.
42. Salena
It likely comes from Sanskrit and means “moon.” The name is popular in several other countries and cultures.
43. Sanjana
The name comes from Sanskrit and has multiple meanings, namely “to join,” “to unite,” “to create,” or “soft and gentle.”
44. Sejal
This Indian origin name means “depth in character” or “pure river water.” It has a simple spelling with a beautiful meaning.
45. Siya
The name comes from Hindi and refers to Goddess Sita. Other meanings are “beautiful woman,” or “white moonlight.” This is one of the cutest girl names you can give to your baby born abroad.
46. Sonia
Sonia means “wise” or “golden,” and is popular in western countries as it is easy to voice.
47. Tara
It means “star” in Sanskrit and Hindi. Another meaning of the name is “pupil of the eye.” The name if often used to refer someone who is precious to the eye, thus making it an apt name for your daughter.
48. Uma
Uma means “splendor” or “tranquility” in Sanskrit and Hindi. It is also an alternative name of the Goddess Parvati, wife of Shiva.
49. Varsha
It is the Sanskrit word for “rain.” It can be an ideal name for a child born during the pleasant rainy season.
50. Veena
It is a name for a lute-like Indian musical instrument. The name is also associated with Goddess Saraswati, who is mostly portrayed carrying a veena.
Western Sounding Indian Boy Names
51. Aaditya
This means “belonging to Aditi,” and is a name for the eight Hindu gods who were the children of Goddess Aditi. It is also another name for “Sun” in Sanskrit.
52. Aran
It is a popular name used in different cultures and countries. It means “righteous,” “enlightened,” or “exalted.”
53. Arun
It comes from Sanskrit and means “reddish glow of the morning sky,” or “dawn.” It also refers to God Arun, who is the charioteer of the Sun God.
54. Arya
It is an Indo-Iranian name that means “noble” or “honorable.” The name is also used to refer to Goddess Parvati. A popular bearer of the name is the character Arya Stark from the television series, “Game of Thrones.”
55. Ashish
It is the Sanskrit word for “blessings” or “benediction.” It makes an ideal name for your precious baby boy, born abroad.
56. Ashwin
It comes from Sanskrit and means “a cavalier.” Ashwin is also the name of a month in the Hindu calendar and the name of a Hindu God.
57. Ayaan
It comes from the Sanskrit word “ayaan,” meaning “arrival.” The name also means “strong,” “unmovable,” “the right path,” or “precession.”
58. Daman
It comes from the Sanskrit word “daman,” which means “self-controlled,” “ruler,” or “conqueror.”
59. Daanish
This Indian baby boy name comes from Sanskrit and means “knowledge,” “wisdom,” “intelligence,” or “one blessed with richness.”
60. Darsh
It is a name for Lord Krishna, and means “the day of the new moon.” The name is associated with modesty, good looks, and heroic traits.
61. Darun
It means “hard” or “tough,” and is of Indian origin. This is popular among Indians, both living in India and abroad.
62. Dhruv
This is one of the popular Indian-American boy names meaning “the pole star,” “firm,” or “immovable.” It is associated with Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, and Lord Vishnu.
63. Hari
Hari has multiple meanings, namely “green,” “light,” or “moon.” The name also refers to God Shiva, Brahma, Krishna, Indra, and Vishnu. The name is also similar to the common English name Harry.
64. Hans
It comes from the Sanskrit word “hansak,” meaning “swan.” The name is also found in other languages, like German, Hebrew, Scandinavian and Danish, where it means “God is gracious.”
65. Jagan
It means “one who is self-confident,” “universe,” or “world,” in multiple Indian languages. The name is also used to refer to Lord Vishnu.
66. Jai
It comes from Sanskrit, and means “victorious” or “conqueror.” The name is also used to refer to the Sun God.
67. Kala
It comes from Sanskrit and means “art,” “talent,” or “creativity.” The name is short and thus easy to pronounce.
68. Kamal
It means “lotus” in Hindi. It also means “rose-colored,” “pale-red,” or “perfection.” The name is also used to refer to Lord Brahma.
69. Kanan
It comes from the Sanskrit word “kanana,” which means “garden” or “forest.” The name is popular in several Indian states.
70. Kirin
It means “poet” or “orator” in Sanskrit. If you are looking for a short artistic name for your baby boy, this could be your choice.
Trivia71. Milan
Milan means “coming together,” or “union,” and is one of the popular names for boys among Indians. Milan reflecting a cultural value of connection and togetherness, is an ideal option for those seeking meaningful Indian baby boy names.
72. Naveen
It means “pleasant,” “beautiful,” or “always new” in Sanskrit. One of the popular bearers of the name is Prince Naveen, a character in Disney’s “Princess and the Frog” animated film.
73. Neel
It means “blue” in Hindi. It refers to Lord Shiva and also means “passionate,” or “champion.” Neel has a similar pronunciation to the English name Neil.
74. Niam
It is an exotic name, which means “contribution of God” or “law or given by God.” It is one of the popular names in multiple countries.
75. Nikhil
It means “whole” or “entire” in Sanskrit. It is quite popular among Indians, and it is used regularly among Indian-Americans in the United States. For those interested in Sanskrit baby names, Nikhil is a meaningful choice that reflects both cultural heritage and significance.
76. Nirav
It means “quiet” or “calm” in Sanskrit. This Indian name is easy on the western tongue, and is one of the lovely names for boys.
77. Pranav
It is the Sanskrit word for the sacred Hindu syllable “Om.” The name is also an epithet for Lord Vishnu. It is a fascinating name you may use for your loving boy child.
78. Prem
It means “love” and “affection” in Sanskrit. This is a perfect choice to symbolize your love for your son.
79. Rahul
It was the name of the son of Gautam Buddha. The name means “competent,” “efficient,” or “conqueror of all miseries.” In Buddhism, the name means “relationship” or “bond.”
80. Raj
It is diminutive of the Hindi and Sanskrit name, Rajan, which means “king” or “ruler.”
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81. Rajesh
The name comes from Sanskrit and means “ruler of Kings,” “Lord of Kings,” or the “supreme ruler.”
82. Ram
The word likely originates from the Sanskrit word “ramate,” which means “calm,” “tranquil,” “heartening,” or “delightful.” When it comes to Hindu baby boy names, Ram is significant as it is also the name of a popular God in Hindu mythology.
83. Ravi
It means “Sun” in Sanskrit. The name also means “pleasing,” “satisfied,” “skilled,” or “benevolent.”
84. Rohan
This means “ascending” in Sanskrit, and has a striking resemblance to the Irish name Rowan.
85. Sahil
It means “seashore,” “beach,” “bank,” or “guide” in Hindi. It is a simple name that is easy-to-pronounce.
86. Samar
The name comes from Sanskrit and means “confluence” or “with the company of God.” This is an easy-to-pronounce Indian boy name.
87. Sameer
It is a Muslim boy name, meaning “beneficiary” or “companion for a talk” in Arabic. The Sanskrit meaning of the name is “wind” or “air.”
88. Sanjay
It means “victorious” or “triumphant” in Sanskrit. This name is quite popular among Indians settled abroad.
89. Sunil
It means “beautiful dark blue” in Sanskrit. The name refers to blue sapphire and is also an epithet of Lord Krishna.
90. Taran
It is an alternative form of the Sanskrit name, Tarun, meaning “young” or “youth.” Taran is widely found as both given name and surname among Indians.
91. Tarak
This name originates from Sanskrit and means “star” or “protector.” It is also commonly used among Indian citizens living in the U.S.
92. Tej
It comes from Sanskrit and means “light,” “radiant,” “sharp,” and “brilliant.” The name is popular across India.
93. Timir
Timir is a Hindu boy name, which comes from Sanskrit and means “dark,” or “rust-like color.”
94. Toshan
It comes from a Sanskrit word “toshana,” which means “satisfying,” “gratifying,” or “pleasing.”
95. Vedant
It is a Sanskrit name and means “the one who knows all the Vedas” or “the knower of ultimate truth.” This name is popular in several parts of India, as well as among Indians abroad.
96. Veer
It means “one who is brave” in Sanskrit, and is also another name for Lord Mahavir.
97. Vihaan
It means “morning” or “dawn,” and holds a Sanskrit origin.
98. Vinod
It means “happy,” “full of joy,” “humor,” or “pleasing” in Sanskrit. The name is simple and easy-to-pronounce.
99. Wali
It has Urdu and Arabic origin, and comes from the root word, “wasi,” which means “guardian,” “protector,” or “Lord” in Arabic. The name means “fold” or “wave” in Sanskrit. Wali is used as a first and last name.
100. Yash
It means “glory,” “fame,” “honor,” or “success” in Sanskrit. It is a popular name among non-resident Indians. From actors to film producers, this name has been borne by many notable figures, making it a standout choice among Indian celebrity baby names.
Discover More Names
When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some tips for non-Indian-American parents choosing an Indian-inspired baby name?
When choosing an Indian-inspired baby name, it is best to first research the cultural significance, religious associations, meanings, spellings, and pronunciations of the name. Additionally, it is best to seek the help of Indian-American people to understand the cultural appropriateness of the name, and to determine its association with your own familial and religious heritage.
2. How can Indian-American parents ensure their child’s name is properly pronounced and spelled in American culture?
Indian-American parents can take several steps such as choosing an easy spelling, teaching pronunciations of the name to people around the child, politely addressing issues of mispronunciation or misspelled words, ensuring the child’s understanding of the name and its significance, and empowering the child with cultural knowledge to ensure that their child’s name is properly pronounced and spelled in American culture
3. How do Indian-American names differ from traditional Indian names?
Indian-American names are different from traditional Indian names due to cultural assimilation, preferences in pronunciation, and the influence of the Western naming culture. Indian-American names have been modernized. Many Indian names are considered long and difficult to pronounce, so they are shortened to make it easy for English speakers.
4. What factors influence the naming of Indian-American children?
The factors influencing the naming of Indian-American children include personal preferences, cultural background, family names, religious context, gender norms, and global influence.
5. How do Indian-American names reflect the cultural identity of their bearers?
Indian-American names can reflect the bearer’s cultural identity through their Indian origins, especially in languages like Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Bengali, or Punjabi. It can also reflect the cultural significance of the name, whether in myths or historical figures. The language and sound of the name can also be a distinct feature of identity.
6. How have Indian-American names been represented in popular culture and media?
Characters with Indian-American names have been featured in films, shows, books, news, social media, and more, reflecting the increasing influence of the community. A few examples are Raj from Big Bang Theory, Devi Vishwakumar from Never Have I Ever, and characters from Outsourced.
7. What are some popular Indian-American names and their meanings?
Indian-American names tend to sound more western and are easy to pronounce. These multicultural names are trendy and not just popular among the NRIs. Even Indians love opting such names for their babies for their beautiful meanings and fresh touch. Most of these names have a significant historical origin representing the country’s heritage. So if you are looking for names that sound fancy and are easy to call, our list will help you get acquainted with the options available for your little one.
Infographic: Indo-Western Indian God And Goddesses’ Names
Like most parents, if you wish to give your baby a modern yet traditional name, you may consider an Indian name with a Western sound. Here is an infographic with a few popular names inspired by Hindu gods and goddesses to give your little one a unique and trendy western-sounding Indian name. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Names that blend tradition and style represent a fusion of cultures, combining the best aspects of both.
- These Western-sounding Indian names are usually chosen by NRIs or Indian-American parents to connect their child with their heritage.
- Their easy pronunciation, memorability, and stylish appeal contribute to their popularity.
- Names such as Aarvi, Geena, Aran and Hans, are among the various options we have offered.
Discover the perfect name for your baby boy! Explore our list of top 80 American baby boy names from A to Z. Find the perfect name for your little one!
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Growing Up Asian American: What It was Like Growing up Indian Americanhttps://gratefulliving4.medium.com/growing-up-asian-american-what-it-was-like-growing-up-indian-american-7b4f8018c324
References
- Popular Baby Names (ssa.gov)
https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/popularnames.cgi
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