Hindi Names

Sounds like and is often confused with Asia, though it has an air of retro cool via the seminal Steely Dan album. Or, pronounced eye-ah, it can be an alternate spelling of the international favorite Aya.

Kalindi is a lovely, rhythmic name refers to one of the seven sacred rivers of India.

The graceful Indian Suria or Surya may remind Americans more of little Miss Suri Cruise than of the pantheon of Hindi gods and goddesses.

A beautiful Urdu name with a musical sound and a lovely celestial meaning. Sitara got a boost in 2022, potentially from the award-winning 2020 short film "Sitara: Let Girls Dream", bringing awareness to the issue of child marriage.

Extremely meaningful in the Buddhist culture, where a lotus symbolizes the victory of the spirit over the senses.

Surname of a noted modern Urdu poet.

Another traditional Indian name, best known here via novelist Vikram Seth.

A popular name in India, several famous Indian women carry this sweet sounding name.

A Hindi name with a wonderful meaning.

Panna is a name with many allusions — in addition to those above, a serene and sacred city in India and the Italian word for cream. Panna might make a fresh alternative to Anna or Hannah.

Unlike Pamela and Melanie, Mela feels fresh and unusual.

Soft and rhythmic.

Accessible, aromatic Indian name.

This Indian name with a Slavic sound definitely has potential.

Might be a little too close to bandita.

Hip-swayingly evocative.

Kerani is a lovely Indo-Pakistani name that could be seen as the Karen of the multicultural future.

Feminine form of Cian, a name from Irish legend.

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

This popular Muslim name would more easily translate to English-speaking cultures in its Bahar form.