100 Western-Sounding Indian Names That Are Easy To Pronounce

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Western-sounding Indian Baby Names

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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.

The Indian population in the US is one of the fastest growing Asian American groups. Studies have shown that Indians in the US have a strong sense of community and home (1). Creating an identity that will resonate with Indian culture, while also fitting in the American context is a balancing act. These names will remind you of home while still making you comfortable in a different country. They are selected on the basis of how easy they are to pronounce, which makes them easy to integrate into a different culture.

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).”

In This Article

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.

Tips For Choosing A Multicultural Name

Names are a critical part of a person’s identity. While they must be rooted in the original culture, they must also seamlessly integrate in the new one. Keep these tips in mind while selecting Indian-American names for your baby.

1. Keep them phonically accessible

Some names such as Arya and Vihaan are simple to pronounce. They hold high significance among Indians while also easy for people of the US to pronounce. This makes it easy for children to assimilate easily.

2. Consider future ramifications

Remember that the name you choose will be used for the child in school and professional settings later in their life, too, Choosing simple names can reduce mispronunciations and misunderstandings.

3. Honor both cultures

While your home culture is your tradition, your residence is your place of growth. Hence, it is important to keep both cultures in mind while choosing a name for your baby. The name you choose can honor ancient traditions while also welcoming new ones.

These simple tips can help you select names that honor both your familial traditions and allow your child to integrate in a new culture without hassles.

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. Goddess Durga is frequently worshipped in her fierce form (2). The name also means “great power,” or “unparalleled.” In Hinduism, she represents the feminine energy counterpart of her husband, Lord Shiva.

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.”

protip_icon Did you know?
The name Anita is the Spanish diminutive of Ana and is popular in Europe and North America.

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, an Indian-American name for girls

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.” Diya is also the Hindi vocabulary word for a lamp. Hence, it is more common among Hindi-speaking Indian-Americans. Incidentally, Diya featured among the top 1000 names in the US for several years in the mid 2000s and in 2010-11 (3).

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.” Gayatri Mantra is a sacred verse that is chanted regularly by Hindus all over the world. Gayatri also refers to a measure of verse in the Vedas consisting of 24 syllables (4). 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. As Gina is a much-loved name in the US, this variant also has the potential to capture hearts (5).

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. This name has been among the top 1000 names in the US for several years, which shows how loved it is (6).

20. Inaya

It comes from Urdu and Arabic, and means “care,” “affection,” “concern,” or “a gift from God.” One of its most common variants is Inayat. In 2022 and 2023, this name ranked among the top 1000 names in the US (7)

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.” In English, Leela could be a diminutive of Leila, which is related to the Persian name Layla and means ‘night.’

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. Lily is one of the most commonly used names in the US. It has found a place among the top 1000 names since 1900 (8).

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. Marisa was among the top 1000 names in the US for several years and has the potential to attain that distinction again in the future (9).

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. In the US, Maya is considered to be one of the most popular names for girls. It often features among the top 100 names (10).

protip_icon Trivia
According to Social Security Administration data, Maya is the 55th most popular name for girls in the US (10).

30. Megha

Megha, clouds and rain

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. Interestingly, Mira is also a Scandinavian name for girls and is also used as a Japanese name. This multicultural name has found popularity and has been among the top 1000 names in the US for several years (11).

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.” As an English name, Monica means ‘unique’ or ‘alone.’ Monica found considerable success both on- and off-screen with several celebrities such as Monica Bellucci and Monica Seles sporting it. The Friends character Monica Geller also contributed to the name’s rising popularity. Monica has been among the top 1000 names in the US since 1900 and has often even appeared among the top 50 names (12).

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. Naina is simple to pronounce and may be spelled as Nayna, too. This name became quite well-known all over the world after the protagonist in the Bollywood movie Kal Ho Na Ho flaunted it in 2003,

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. This name is quite popular in the US and has ranked among the top 500 names consistently since 1900 (13).

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. It is easy for English-speaking people to pronounce as it is quite similar to Selina or Celina.

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. Sonia was a highly popular name in the US for several years, often standing among the top 1000, and has the potential to achieve that status again (14).

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. Actor Uma Thurman brought this name into the spotlight in the West.

49. Varsha

It is the Sanskrit word for “rain.” It can be an ideal name for a child born during the pleasant rainy season. Varsha can also be used as a middle name in the US, where it is a culture to give the baby a middle name. In her blog named Spilling the Chai, writer Hima Ranjana speaks about how she got her name. “On September 24th, 1997, I was born in the midst of an uncharacteristically early snowfall. My parents named me accordingly — Hima Varsha, or snow shower in Sanskrit.” she says (ii).

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

Aaditya, a popular Indian-American name for boys

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. A variant of Aaditya is Aditya which featured among the top 1000 names in the US (14).

52. Aran

It is a popular name used in different cultures and countries. It means “righteous,” “enlightened,” or “exalted.” Incidentally, Aran is also a Tamil name for Lord Shiva (15).

53. Arun

It refers to God Arun, who is the charioteer of the Sun God. Arun is quite similar in pronunciation to Aaron, which makes it easy for English speakers to pronounce.

It comes from Sanskrit and means “reddish glow of the morning sky,” or “dawn.” It also

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.” In the last decade, Arya has managed to feature among the top 150 names in the US (16).

55. Ashish

It is the Sanskrit word for “blessings” or “benediction.” It makes an ideal name for your precious baby boy, born abroad. In India, Ashish is used for both Hindus and Muslims. Indian cricketer Ashish Nehra is a well-known figure with this name.

56. Ashwin

It comes from Sanskrit and means “a cavalier.” It also means ‘possessor of horses.’ Ashwin is also the name of a month in the Hindu calendar and the name of twin Hindu gods who are associated with health, medicine, and the sciences (17) They are also considered the gods of sunrise and sunset.

57. Ayaan

It comes from the Sanskrit word “ayaan,” meaning “arrival.” The name also means “strong,” “unmovable,” “the right path,” or “precession.” In recent years, this name has found popularity in the US according to SSA data (18).

58. Daman

It comes from the Sanskrit word “daman,” which means “self-controlled,” “ruler,” or “conqueror.” It is similar in pronunciation to Damon, which endears it to English-speakers

59. Daanish

This Indian baby boy name comes from Sanskrit and means “knowledge,” “wisdom,” “intelligence,” or “one blessed with richness.” It could also have Persian origins, which makes this name loved in several religions.

60. Darsh

It is a name for Lord Krishna, and means “the day of the new moon.” It also means ‘sight’ or ‘seeing.’ 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. This name is usually associated with penance. Severe penance was a regular occurrence among sages in Hindu lore and they underwent difficulties to achieve great things in life (19). Hence, this name conveys the value of hard work.

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. In Hindi, the pole star is known as Dhruv Tara and is one of the most important navigational tools as it sits above the Earth’s north pole (20).

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.” While the Indian name rhymes with the words puns or nuns, the Scandinavian name rhymes with pans and vans.

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. Jai is often considered a variant of Jay, which is also an English name that is used as a diminutive of James or Jack.

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. The Indian actor Kamal Haasan has made this name popular all over the world. This name is used by Muslims as well and it means ‘perfection’ in Arabic.

69. Kanan

Kanan, Indian-American unisex name

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.

protip_icon Trivia
Kirin is a mythological creature in China that is part dragon and part horse, which is also equivalent to unicorn in the west.

71. 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. In the US, Milan is used as a unisex name with great popularity in both genders (21).

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. It is close in pronunciation to Liam and hence, is easy to pronounce.

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. According to SSA data, this name was quite popular in the US and has the potential to attain that status again (22).

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. In the Vishnu Sahasranama or the 1000 names of Vishnu, Pranav is the 409th name (23). It was also a popular name in the US for several years (24).

78. Prem

It means “love” and “affection” in Sanskrit. This is a perfect choice to symbolize your love for your son. As Prem was the screen name of the actor Salman Khan in several movies, it became rather popular among moviegoers both in India and abroad.

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.” Rahul was one of the top 1000 names in the US for several years according to SSA (25).

80. Raj

It is diminutive of the Hindi and Sanskrit name, Rajan, which means “king” or “ruler.”

Indian American names

Image: Created with Dall·E

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.” This name was popularized by the sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, who attained international fame by spreading Indian classical music worldwide. In the books and series named A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, Ravi Singh is one of the major protagonists.

84. Rohan

This means “ascending” in Sanskrit, and has a striking resemblance to the Irish name Rowan. In recent years, Rohan has become quite popular in the US according to SSA data (26). The Lord of the Rings lovers will also love this name.

85. Sahil

It means “seashore,” “beach,” “bank,” or “guide” in Hindi. It is a simple name that is easy-to-pronounce. Incidentally, Sahil is also used as a boy’s name among Muslims. It has Arabic origins and is used in several languages including Urdu and Azerbaijani.

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. It is also an Arabic name and commonly used among Indian Muslims.

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.” Also spelled as Samir, this name is common among Indian-Americans. Samir ranked among the top 1000 names in the US for several years (27).

88. Sanjay

It means “victorious” or “triumphant” in Sanskrit. This name is quite popular among Indians settled abroad. Sanjay is the modern form of Sanjaya, which is a prominent name appearing in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. In recent years, the Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali brought this name into international prominence.

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

Tarak, a popular Indian-American name

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. Recently, this name featured among the top 1000 names in the US and has the potential to grow more (28).

97. Vihaan

It means “morning” or “dawn,” and holds a Sanskrit origin. Both in the US and India, this name has found considerable success (29).

98. Vinod

It means “happy,” “full of joy,” “humor,” or “pleasing” in Sanskrit. The name is simple and easy-to-pronounce. The co-founder of Sun Microsystems, Vinod Khosla, brought this name into prominence in the US.

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?

Some popular Indian-American names and their meanings include Arya, meaning ‘noble’; Maya, meaning ‘illusion’; Neel, meaning ‘blue’; and Anika, meaning ‘splendor.’

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.

trendy western sounding Indian names (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

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

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Negotiating Identity Among Second-Generation Indian Americans: A Collaborative Ethnography.
    https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=anthro_hontheses
  2. Devi.
    https://www.worldhistory.org/Devi/
  3. Popularity of name Diya.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  4. Gayatri, Gāyatrī, Gāyatri: 30 definitions.
    https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/gayatri
  5. Popularity of name Gina.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  6. Popularity of name Gia.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  7. Popularity of name Inaya.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  8. Popularity of name Lily.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  9. Popularity of name Marisa.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  10. Popularity of name Maya.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  11. Popularity of name Mira.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  12. Popularity of name Monica.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  13. Popularity of name Nina.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  14. Popularity of name Aditya.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  15. Aran, Araṅ, Araṉ, Araṇ, Aṟaṉ: 5 definitions.
    https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/aran
  16. Popularity of name Arya.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  17. Ashvin, Aśvin: 19 definitions.
    https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/ashvin
  18. Popularity of name Ayaan.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  19. Daruna, Dāruṇa: 31 definitions.
    https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/daruna
  20. What is the North Star and How Do You Find It?
    https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/what-is-the-north-star-and-how-do-you-find-it/
  21. Popularity of name Milan.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  22. Popularity of name Nikhil.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  23. Pranava, Praṇava, Praṇavā: 28 definitions.
    https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pranava
  24. Popularity of name Pranav.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  25. Popularity of name Rahul.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  26. Popularity of name Rohan.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  27. Popularity of name Samir.
    https://www.momjunction.com/baby-names/Samir/
  28. Popularity of name Veer.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
  29. Popularity of name Vihaan.
    https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/

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Shikha is a writer-turned-editor at MomJunction, with over seven years of experience in the field of content. Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing articles that guide couples through their courtship to marriage and parenthood.

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Siddharth Kesiraju
Siddharth KesirajuMA, Certification in Relationship Coaching
Siddharth holds a certification in Relationship Coaching and a masters degree in communication and journalism from the University of Hyderabad. He has around seven years of experience in various fields of writing and editing.

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Ipshita Chakraborty is a creative content writer with an avid interest in human relationships and literature from around the world. She completed her bachelors in English literature at Patna University and masters in English literature at Sharda University.

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