India

Girl Names
1

So I’ve always loved the name [name]India[/name], but my inlaws, who, to say the least, are not cultured and very close-minded. I was talking about my love for the name [name]India[/name] and my mother-in-law says, “Well we’re white, you’re white. Why would you name her [name]India[/name]?” UGH. [name]Do[/name] you see what I have to put up with?! Anyways, both me and DH like it but the in-laws don’t. Our other name is [name]Margaret[/name] nn [name]Maggie[/name] but we’ve been getting comments that its a bit boring. We also like [name]Catherine[/name] but don’t want a [name]Will[/name] and [name]Kate[/name] (our sons name is [name]Will[/name]). Middle name would be [name]Corinne[/name] after my mom, unless I can get talked into using it as a first. Other idea was [name]Cora[/name] after my mom. What do you berries think? [name]India[/name] [name]Corinne[/name], [name]Margaret[/name] [name]Corinne[/name], [name]Corrine[/name], or [name]Cora[/name]?

Thanks berries!

2

I think [name]India[/name] [name]Corinne[/name] is gorgeous!

3

Well, your in-laws are kind of right. There’s a lot of controversy surrounding the name [name]India[/name] being used by a caucasian person. Maybe you should research it. I’m sure there are other threads dedicated to this on here. I found this one India - Should it be used? and this one maybe, Words you like but are inappropriate for names? For ex: Malaria

4

[name]India[/name] isn’t my cup of tea. It is a tad controversial imo, and there are some aspects and some negative associations I don’t like about the country. It seems to leave me with a bad impression of the name in general.

I do think [name]Margaret[/name] and [name]Corinne[/name] are lovely, and I love [name]Cora[/name] as a nn for [name]Corinne[/name]. I don’t think I could chose between those two.

I think I would do [name]Corinne[/name] [name]Margaret[/name], nn [name]Cora[/name].

5

I don’t personally care for [name]India[/name] as a name. From your list, I think [name]Corrine[/name] is the best. If you still love [name]India[/name], how about [name]Indiana[/name] or [name]Indigo[/name]?

6

I’m pretty meh about [name]India[/name]. I don’t overthink it if I hear it on someone else, but I do think it has the potential to offend/annoy some people. It does have a beautiful sound though!

I think [name]Margaret[/name] makes a ton of sense with [name]Will[/name], and I love the nickname [name]Maggie[/name]! [name]Margo[/name] is also a favorite, and is potentially a bit spunkier. You might consider [name]Margery[/name] if you want something slightly more unexpected, and I think you could still use [name]Maggie[/name] as a nickname.

7

I never knew it was controversial :() whoops. But it’s not my style anyways. I would say that I like it for someone else’s kid but I guess you may not want to give your kid a name people will think is inappropriate? Idk. I like [name]Cora[/name] [name]Margaret[/name]! If you like [name]Indie[/name] as nn you can go [name]Indigo[/name]

8

The colonial, imperialistic elements of a white kid named [name]India[/name] wouldn’t make me think the parents were more “cultured” than someone who found it a bit odd or, frankly, in poor taste.

[name]Even[/name] if your [name]MIL[/name] isn’t up on style generally, this might be one of those “even stopped clocks are right twice a day” situations.

[name]Cora[/name] is pretty. You might also like [name]Coralie[/name]?

[name]Corinne[/name] is a nice middle name as the 2nd syllable emphasis makes it flow well with a lot of firsts, without being as expected as something predictable like [name]Marie[/name].

If what you like about [name]India[/name] is the upscale British sound, you might like something like [name]Imogen[/name]?

9

I agree with this. [name]India[/name] has a pretty sound, but its history of usage as a first name makes me wary of using it.

I love [name]Corinne[/name]. I vote [name]Corinne[/name] with a possible nn [name]Cora[/name].

10

I agree with your inlaws on some degree.

If you don’t have any ties to [name]India[/name], it shouldn’t be used as a name for your child. It’s…I can’t recall the word, but something along the lines of insulting by degrading or something like that.

I don’t agree with using names of countries on children who have no ties to it. [name]India[/name] is a country with a rich history, and a lot of controversies.

11

For me, it’s not about not having ties to the country, it’s about colonialism. [name]India[/name] started gaining popularity in the [name]West[/name] as a name during the British [name]Raj[/name]. It was considered posh for upper-class families with economic ties to [name]India[/name] to name their daughters after the country. The British ruled purely for economic interest, and their occupation was marred by violence and racism. As beautiful as the name sounds, that’s a very uncomfortable history to be associated with- to me, it’s just as bad as [name]Cohen[/name].

12

I, too, agree with your in-laws. The British colonialism in [name]India[/name] gives it a very racist and imperialistic feel on a white child, sorry.

13

I don’t like to get all post-colonial on people, but I have to agree that India is a poor choice in today’s world. It is a lovely sounding name, but maybe honor your MILs instincts, if not her poor taste, and steer clear! I lived in India and my husband is from India, and most people there would be confused (though not really insulted, I think, but they might be!) by a little girl named India. They would mostly just think, “Why?”

I know a girl named Indra, which is a male Hindu god, and another girl named Siva, also a male god, and my husband just found that weird when he heard them. Just weird! But also a little stupid on the part of the parents. “Don’t you at least look up the meaning or history of the name?” That was basically my husband’s response. We have not met an India yet, but it would definitely surprise him! And most Indians, while proud to be from India, are well aware that the name “India” is a relic of the British and nothing to do with them or their languages except as a rough approximation of Indus and Hindu. Most Indian cities and states, since Independence, have dropped their Anglo spellings and reverted to local spellings and names as well Bombay>Mumbai Calcutta>Kolkatta Madras>Chennai Bangalore>Bengaluru

Also, there is a lovely Indian name, Indira, which was the name of the first - though highly controversial - female Prime Minister of India, that sounds very similar. It means “beauty, splendor” and is a classic Sanskrit name.

Also, I have to recommend as an alternative for Margaret, which I do love, a favorite name and my grandmother’s middle name, Marguerite! She could still be Maggie, but she’d have a lovely French daisy of a name.

Another random piece of advice! My sister and BIL never told anyone in the family, or even friends, their name ideas when picking names. I recommend that! She said very plainly that it was the parents’ choice and we would all have to love whatever they picked. I am glad they did because it let the choice truly be theirs as it should be! In Hindu culture, they wait till about the third month to name the kid and never speak the name before the naming ceremony. It’s to keep evil spirits away! Your MIL might be one, so watch out! :slight_smile:

14

[name]India[/name] is pretty, but I like [name]Margaret[/name] [name]Corrine[/name] better. I don’t think [name]Margaret[/name] is boring - she’ll almost certainly be the only one in her class (among the sea of [name]Sophia[/name]'s, [name]Olivia[/name]'s etc…) and [name]Maggie[/name] is just the cutest!