What names would you suggest to someone who loves the name [name_f]India[/name_f] but is uncomfortable with the possible negative connotations? (I’m not really looking for other Ind- names, just names that are similar stylistically or in sound.)
Hm, not exactly sure what you want, so some ideas:
[name_f]Luella[/name_f], [name_f]Violetta[/name_f], [name_f]Odelia[/name_f], [name_f]Willa[/name_f], [name_f]Saskia[/name_f], [name_f]Cassia[/name_f], [name_f]Talia[/name_f], [name_f]Georgia[/name_f], [name_f]Alaska[/name_f], [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], [name_u]Hillary[/name_u], [name_u]June[/name_u], [name_f]Diane[/name_f], [name_f]Isla[/name_f].
[name_f]India[/name_f] sounds strong, and foreign, a tricky combination… Sorry, I’m having a tough time with this one!
I know girls called [name_f]India[/name_f] with sisters called -
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosie[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Aoife[/name_f]
Quite a mixed bag, they tend to just be old/well-known, and trendy names used by young middle-class parents (generally speaking, of course).
What about [name_f]Saffron[/name_f]? It’s such a guilty pleasure name of mine.
I feel the same way about that name! My favorite alternative is [name_f]Indira[/name_f] because it sounds very nearly the same, but it comes with its own very strong connotations. I’m not sure if you’ll like these, but here are some other names I like. They’re not all the same style, but I can imagine someone who likes [name_f]India[/name_f] being drawn to any of these for different reasons:
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Aveline[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
Lazuli
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f]
[name_f]Jade[/name_f] or [name_f]Giada[/name_f]
[name_f]Willow[/name_f]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f]
[name_f]Azure[/name_f]
[name_f]Leila[/name_f]
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]
[name_f]Anais[/name_f]
[name_f]Verity[/name_f]
[name_f]Annika[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f]
[name_f]Magnolia[/name_f]
[name_f]Dasia[/name_f]
[name_f]Saga[/name_f]
[name_f]Romilly[/name_f]
[name_f]Jessenia[/name_f] or [name_f]Yesenia[/name_f]
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f]
[name_f]Cora[/name_f]
[name_f]Aziza[/name_f]
[name_u]Seren[/name_u]
[name_f]Reverie[/name_f]
[name_f]Renata[/name_f]
[name_f]Sabina[/name_f]
Maybe something else with international appeal, like [name_f]Nadia[/name_f] or [name_f]Sonia[/name_f]?
[name_f]Nahara[/name_f]- An exotic gem that sounds extremely feminine.
Indiago- Obviosly very similar to [name_f]India[/name_f]. But with very different assosications.
[name_f]Saffron[/name_f]- You could be mad about [name_f]Saffron[/name_f]?
[name_f]Astera[/name_f]- Persian for [name_f]Star[/name_f]. It has a nice feminine but strong flair it.
Ilima- Hawaiian for [name_f]Flower[/name_f].
[name_f]Indira[/name_f]- [name_m]Both[/name_m] a goddess of wealth, and the name of a prime minister. A lot of great associations with the name!
Good luck and congratulations!
[name_f]Lucinda[/name_f] would be my choice.
I’ve known girls named [name_f]India[/name_f] and [name_f]Asia[/name_f] (among other place names)… perhaps I’m just ignorant but I wasn’t aware it was a cause of offense.
Suggestions (forgive repeats):
[name_f]Cassia[/name_f]
[name_f]Thalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Iliana[/name_f]
[name_f]Jasmine[/name_f]/ [name_f]Jessamine[/name_f]
[name_f]Jemima[/name_f]
[name_f]Tessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] (Triddy)
[name_f]Mara[/name_f]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f]
[name_f]Valeria[/name_f]
[name_f]Marisol[/name_f]
[name_f]Sonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Felecia[/name_f]
[name_f]Carolina[/name_f]
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]
[name_f]Dixie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_u]Indiana[/name_u]
[name_f]Sadie[/name_f]
[name_u]Romy[/name_u]
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Frances[/name_f]
[name_f]Edie[/name_f]/[name_f]Edith[/name_f]
ps I love [name_f]Saffron[/name_f]
As a mom to an [name_f]India[/name_f], I just wanted to give you my experience. [name_f]India[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f] was my great grandmother and it was very important for us to honor her. My entire extended family was thrilled when we used the name and now our little [name_f]India[/name_f] has all of [name_f]India[/name_f] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]'s family heirlooms. I do get questioned about the name sometimes, “Oh, like the country?” I just explain it is a legit name and point out [name_f]India[/name_f] [name_m]Wilkes[/name_m] in Gone With the Wind. I also tell them it’s a family name. Most of the time, I don’t need to do the explanation and people have a very positive reaction to it. I know there is controversy over it on NB but personally, I’ve never experienced it. I do live in an area with an [name_f]Indian[/name_f] population. Also, my mother in law is good friends with a woman from [name_f]India[/name_f] and she loves the name and is always buying our daughter traditional [name_f]Indian[/name_f] outfits. Now, obviously she is only one person, but I just wanted to say, not everyone is offended by the name. I don’t regret using the name at all. It makes me so happy to be carrying on my lovely great grandmothers name and spirit. Also, with [name_u]Chris[/name_u] Hemswirth using the name recently, and the artist [name_f]Indie[/name_f] [name_u]Arie[/name_u], I feel the name isn’t too unusual for people.
You could always use the name [name_f]Indira[/name_f]. However, there would be people saying [name_f]Indira[/name_f] Ghandi was a somewhat controversial figure. You could also consider: [name_f]Athena[/name_f], [name_f]Talia[/name_f], [name_f]Violetta[/name_f], [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f], [name_f]Esme[/name_f], [name_f]Christabel[/name_f], [name_f]Renata[/name_f], [name_f]Corinne[/name_f], [name_u]Simone[/name_u], [name_f]Elena[/name_f], [name_f]Gemma[/name_f], [name_f]Daphne[/name_f], [name_f]Amira[/name_f], [name_f]Juliana[/name_f], [name_f]Marina[/name_f], [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f], [name_f]Miranda[/name_f], [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f], [name_f]Rowena[/name_f], [name_f]Hope[/name_f], [name_f]Camilla[/name_f], [name_f]Delphine[/name_f], [name_f]Cecily[/name_f], [name_f]Charisma[/name_f], or [name_f]Antonia[/name_f].
I think anything evocative of pungent spices/ herbs, a red/ orange/ yellow palette, ancient lands/ legends, has a regal quality, is mysterious/ lyrical and is sensuous/ exotic/ warm, enchanting, has a nature/ hippy feel, an [name_u]Eden[/name_u]-like tropical landscape (i.e. centers on summer, the beach, relaxation/ mediation/ holistic health etc)…even Victorian…is comparable to [name_f]India[/name_f].
i.e. comparative names to [name_f]India[/name_f] are:
[name_f]Saffron[/name_f]
[name_f]Sapphire[/name_f]
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u]
[name_f]Emerald[/name_f]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f]
[name_f]Zenovia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cleo/name_f
Hibiscus
Frangipani
[name_f]Henna[/name_f]
Rosehip
[name_u]Clove[/name_u]
[name_f]Anise[/name_f]
[name_f]Honey[/name_f]
[name_f]Marigold[/name_f]
[name_f]Autumn[/name_f]
[name_u]Burgundy[/name_u]
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f]
[name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
[name_f]Sienna[/name_f]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Cinnamon[/name_f]
Myrrh
Incense
[name_f]Cascade[/name_f]
[name_u]Eden[/name_u]
[name_f]Melissa[/name_f]
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f]
[name_f]Ambrosia[/name_f]
[name_f]Antonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Anne[/name_f]
[name_f]Poet[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_f]Opaline[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Amethyst[/name_f]
Marquisette
Harlequin
Pear
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f]
[name_f]Garland[/name_f]
[name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Summer[/name_f]
[name_u]Rain[/name_u]
[name_u]Skye[/name_u]
Sunrise
[name_f]Rebecca[/name_f]
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f]
[name_u]Blue[/name_u] [name_u]Bird[/name_u]
[name_u]Blue[/name_u] [name_f]Belle[/name_f]
[name_f]Jewel[/name_f]
[name_f]Freesia[/name_f]
[name_f]Bree[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_u]Sorrel[/name_u]
[name_u]Sage[/name_u]
Rosewood
[name_u]Ivory[/name_u]
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]/ [name_f]Eva[/name_f]/ [name_f]Ava[/name_f]/ [name_u]Avery[/name_u]
[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]
[name_f]Pandora[/name_f]
[name_f]Almond[/name_f]
[name_f]Mimosa[/name_f]
Apricot
Amaretto
Absinthe
[name_f]Ginger[/name_f]
[name_f]Grace[/name_f]
Sunflower
[name_m]Bodhi[/name_m]
[name_f]Geranium[/name_f]
Calendula
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f]
Heliotrope
[name_f]Orchid[/name_f]
Virginia
Evangeline
[name_f]Jasmine[/name_f]
[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f]
Marseilles
Luxor
[name_f]Esmeralda[/name_f]
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]
Nutmeg
[name_f]Amber[/name_f]
[name_f]Babette[/name_f]
[name_f]Luna[/name_f]
[name_u]Berry[/name_u]
[name_f]Coral[/name_f]
[name_f]Pearl[/name_f]
Moonstone
Dandelion
Violet
Apple
Georgette/ Georgina
Henrietta
Allegra
Isobel
In particular, I think [name_f]Sienna[/name_f], [name_f]Zara[/name_f], [name_f]Saffron[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u], [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], [name_f]Luna[/name_f] and [name_f]Summer[/name_f] are seven names that have that similar [name_f]India[/name_f] “feel”.
Cheers 
I think spunky when I think of [name_f]India[/name_f]-I love it!
[name_f]Maya[/name_f]
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
[name_u]Paris[/name_u]
[name_u]Ember[/name_u]
[name_f]Poppy[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Lola[/name_f]
[name_f]Heidi[/name_f]
[name_f]Winnie[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] ([name_f]Hattie[/name_f])
[name_f]Tova[/name_f]
[name_u]Hadley[/name_u]
[name_f]Mira[/name_f]
[name_f]Mela[/name_f]
[name_f]Faye[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Thea[/name_f]
[name_f]Ebony[/name_f]
[name_f]Milla[/name_f]
[name_f]Mia[/name_f]
I really like the suggestion of [name_f]Maya[/name_f]!
[name_f]Antonia[/name_f]
[name_f]Dianthe[/name_f] / [name_f]Diantha[/name_f]
[name_f]Iolia[/name_f]
[name_f]Ina[/name_f] / Inna
[name_f]Idina[/name_f]
[name_f]Delia[/name_f]
[name_f]Anthea[/name_f]
[name_f]Idony[/name_f] / [name_f]Idonea[/name_f]
Thanks, ladies! This has been a great help.
[name_f]Jada[/name_f]
[name_f]Jade[/name_f]
[name_u]Jay[/name_u] (blue jay)
[name_f]Willow[/name_f]
[name_f]Meadow[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
[name_f]Sienna[/name_f]
[name_u]Sierra[/name_u]
[name_f]Atlanta[/name_f]
[name_u]Cheyenne[/name_u]/[name_f]Cheyanne[/name_f]
[name_u]Cairo[/name_u]
[name_f]Alexandria[/name_f]
[name_f]Cypress[/name_f]
[name_f]Kalani[/name_f]
[name_f]Dawn[/name_f]
[name_f]Natalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Ebony[/name_f]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f]
[name_u]Oakley[/name_u]
Oaklyn
[name_f]Vera[/name_f]
[name_f]Viera[/name_f]
[name_f]Ivana[/name_f]
[name_f]Inga[/name_f]
I was going to say [name_f]Nadia[/name_f] @geeknamezyo [name_f]Inka[/name_f]?