But for real this time! [name_f]My[/name_f] friend needs a name list of [name_f]Indian[/name_f] girl names, and of course she asked me, the only namenerd she knows, and I’ve worked myself into a corner…because I don’t have an [name_f]Indian[/name_f] girl names list. She has no specifications, just [name_f]Indian[/name_f]. Could somebody please help me??
Thank you!
~Ami
[name_f]India[/name_f] is vast and multicultural. There are no other considerations your friend has? [name_m]Just[/name_m] names that originate from [name_f]India[/name_f]?
I know, all she said was Indian…my family’s from Mangalore and all I could think of were family names, and I figured she wanted more than the three we’ve all been given
(I think she just wants a list to build on, but since I didn’t have one I thought I’d ask y’all)
(also sorry if this was confusing, it’s late at night and I’m incredibly jetlagged)
A few I like (I am far from knowledgeable about [name_f]Indian[/name_f] names and customs, but I would recommend looking here for a more thorough list):
[name_u]Devi[/name_u]
[name_f]Maya[/name_f] / Mayavati
[name_f]Tara[/name_f]
[name_u]Gauri[/name_u]
Aru / Arundhati
Krithika
[name_f]Yamini[/name_f]
[name_f]Padma[/name_f]
[name_f]Indira[/name_f]
[name_f]Lakshmi[/name_f]
[name_f]Hafsa[/name_f]
[name_u]Rani[/name_u] / [name_f]Rajani[/name_f]
Nalini
Roshani
These are all south Asian names that I have encountered in real life (I work at a school with a large south Asian population):
Aastha
Ahona
Aishwarya
Ambika
Amreena
Anchal / Aanchal
Anjali / Anjuli
Ankita
Ashritha
Deeya
Devika
Dhruti
Ishana
Kiranmala
Kodhai
Krishna
Lalitha
Meera
Neha
Priya
Ranjana
Rajvi
Ruvini
Sahana
Sanjana
Sara
Sarita
Simran
Tanvi
[name_f]Maya[/name_f] or Imaya could be cool and international. [name_f]Mira[/name_f] has a beautiful meaning in three cultures (including the cultures of [name_f]India[/name_f], in Hindi/Sanskrit it means sea) and it is associated with the [name_f]Indian[/name_f] princess [name_f]Mirabai[/name_f], who is quiet famous in [name_f]Indian[/name_f] history. [name_u]Nikita[/name_u] is a classic name for [name_f]Indian[/name_f] girls just like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] could be in [name_f]English[/name_f] speaking countries, and it is simple and spunky enough to say and write.
Some favourites:
[name_f]Kavita[/name_f]
[name_f]Neela[/name_f]
[name_u]Kiran[/name_u]
[name_f]Disha[/name_f]
[name_f]Shreya[/name_f]
[name_f]Divya[/name_f]
[name_f]Sunita[/name_f]
[name_f]Priya[/name_f]
[name_f]Darshini[/name_f]
Shankari
[name_f]Indira[/name_f]
[name_u]Isha[/name_u]
[name_f]Amna[/name_f]
[name_f]Anisha[/name_f]
[name_f]Inaya[/name_f]
Amandil
[name_f]Karishma[/name_f]
[name_f]Nasrin[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilavati[/name_f]
[name_f]Mahi[/name_f]
[name_f]Mira[/name_f]
[name_f]Nandita[/name_f]
here are some names that come from Sanskrit that specifically work well in many [name_u]Southern[/name_u] [name_f]Indian[/name_f] languages (and can be easily pronounced in [name_f]English[/name_f] too):
with the shortest translations possible
[name_u]Aruna[/name_u] - dawn
[name_f]Avani[/name_f] - earth
[name_f]Chandra[/name_f] - moon
[name_f]Gita[/name_f] - flame
[name_f]Jaya[/name_f] - victory
[name_u]Jyoti[/name_u] - flame
[name_f]Karuna[/name_f] - compassion
Kasturi - fragrance
Kirana - ray of light
[name_f]Leela[/name_f] - amusement
Madhuri - sweetness
[name_f]Meera[/name_f] - sea
[name_f]Nithya[/name_f] - eternal
Prithi - pleasure
Purnima - full moon
Rashmi - ray of light
Shanthi - peace
Soumya - astrological meanings
Sunila - deep blue
Sunitha - wise
[name_f]Usha[/name_f] - dawn
[name_f]Varsha[/name_f] - rain
[name_f]Vidya[/name_f] - knowledge
Yamuna - from the name of the holy river
I tried to stay away from anything explicitly religious, but I have a very long list of names related to Hindu deities, myths, and traditions, so let me know if that’s what you’re looking for!
[name_f]My[/name_f] faves are [name_u]Aruna[/name_u], [name_f]Anjali[/name_f], [name_f]Priti[/name_f] & [name_f]Priya[/name_f]
Admittedly I don’t know a ton about names from [name_f]India[/name_f], but I always adored these:
[name_f]Anjali[/name_f]
[name_f]Divya[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilavati[/name_f]
Meera/Mira
[name_f]Priya[/name_f]
I’ve come across [name_u]Jyoti[/name_u] and Anjayya at work and find those fascinating and lovely as well. I’m particularly fond of Anjayya! But [name_f]Lilavati[/name_f] is my favorite name out of [name_f]India[/name_f] period, I love the meaning “amusing, charming, graceful” - she’s so bright and sweet and unexpected, at least here. I would be absolutely delighted to meet a little [name_f]Lilavati[/name_f] one day.
Good luck to your friend!