I tend to just get names stuck in my head, and lately, [name]India[/name] has been stuck there, and I can’t stop thinking about it! So, what do you think of the name [name]India[/name]?
I [name]ADORE[/name] [name]India[/name], particularly with the nn [name]Indie[/name]. I think it sounds beautiful with lovely lilting sounds, but edgy and cool at the same time.
EDIT: Wow, aurra, I read those posts you put up… People got really mad over this, huh? But I do agree with wgcathyhilary’s opinion.
I like it a lot! To me it’s one of those exotic-sounding names that can even work well on a totally non-exotic girl, kind of like [name]Zara[/name] (if that makes sense). The nickname [name]Indie[/name] is cute too. I know a lot of threads on here have been about it being offensive but I totally don’t understand that. I think it’s really underused!
I think it has a great sound, but there is some controversy surrounding its usage as a name. (It has caused some of the largest fights in Nameberry history [name]IMO[/name].) Check out these threads (there are probably a lot more):
Nameberry - Welcome to the Nameberry Forums?
Nameberry - Welcome to the Nameberry Forums?
[name]Indira[/name] and [name]Indigo[/name] have a similar sound but much less controversy.
[name]EDIT[/name]: To sum it up, from what I understand the reason [name]India[/name] is controversial is because it references the British rule of the country, in which hundreds of millions of people were killed.
Yeah, I’d suggest just reading those threads. I wouldn’t want another argument started over it. You weren’t to know that of course 
I know it’s lovely sounding and all, but I’m not a fan of naming your kid after a country, continent, or city. It’s just too much for a person I think. After all, how can 1 person represent a WHOLE country. Maybe as a middle, but I wouldn’t use it as a first name…
Also it’s kind of a very American thing to do, which to me isn’t a very good thing… After all, you don’t see [name]Indian[/name]/Chinese/French/Britich/etc children named [name]America[/name]/[name]Italy[/name]/Japan/etc…
Wow! I am glad I clicked on this thread & the subsequent thread links added!
I am Australian & had no idea of the controversy surrounding the name [name]India[/name]. I was flirting with the idea of using the name for my last pregnancy (although my hubby vetoed it) I absolutely adored the idea of the nickname ‘[name]Indi[/name]’.
It may be absolutely ignorant of me to not to have known about the negative connotation for which I apologise BUT now knowing & reading some of the intense feelings and opinions tied to it is good.
Thanks for the enlightenment!
It has a beautiful sound but too much controversy to saddle a little girl with. Maybe [name]Indiana[/name] or [name]Indigo[/name] instead?
Never, ever on a white girl. I agree with the points made on the threads posted above.
[name]India[/name] is my favorite name for a girl! I also love the nn [name]Indie[/name]. I think of it as glamourous and spunky, with a boho chic vibe. I’m glad it has fallen out of the Top 1000, as I hope to use it in the near future. Asking about [name]India[/name] on this forum can elicit some really strong opinions, so be prepared. All in all, I [name]LOVE[/name] it!
I really like [name]India[/name] (especially since there was a character named [name]India[/name] in Gone with the Wind) but I think it stirs up too much controversy. There are some people who don’t know about the massive number of deaths of Indians under British rule, and then there are some people who do know. And it really offends them. Maybe it doesn’t bother you, but it would bother me.
So if you really love [name]India[/name], I hesitantly say go for it; but go for it with caution.
Not a fan.
I think it would be kind of classless to name a kid something that you’re aware is offensive to an entire ethnic group…
@laddy08 - I’m Australian too and there’s absolutely no controversy over the name [name]India[/name] here! It’s just a cute name. [name]Don[/name]'t be wary about using this name in Australia. Very few people would find the name controversial here.
Agreed. Whether or not it offends the white person who wants to use the name is kinda besides the point, and I’m curious when I read the other threads as to why some people don’t get that. Willful ignorance and half-baked justifications (“Oh I didn’t know it was controversial! But now that I do, I still think it’s pretty and don’t see the big deal, and it’s not like I was directly involved in colonialism, so it doesn’t concern me, and I have [name]Indian[/name] friends who are cool with it, and-”) don’t excuse you from exercising empathy and consideration for other people’s feelings. I don’t understand how those that are aware that [name]India[/name] on a white girl can be so problematic with its colonial/racist undertones could, instead of automatically moving along to another perfectly lovely alternative like [name]Indigo[/name], choose to dig in their heels and stubbornly refuse to cede to the victims of colonialism the right to define what is offensive to them - your viewpoint should not be privileged above theirs for obvious reasons. This isn’t something that happened 1000 years ago; the staggering number of lives lost as a consequence of British colonialism has left lasting scars, and the social, cultural, economic fallout from colonialism is ongoing.
Well, that film has racial issues of its own, which should also give you pause. The name was worn by the sister of a plantation owner and a member of the Southern slave-owning aristocracy, which was, as [name]Tarantino[/name] aptly put it, “an absurd, grotesque parody of European aristocracy” - at this point in time ‘[name]India[/name]’ was being used in [name]Britain[/name] as a name by privileged, upper class families who often had economic ties (read: exploitative relations) to their colony and were charmed by the “exotic” images of spices, teas, etc. the name conjured up. So there’s a lot of racial hierarchy implicit in her choice of name.
I understand there are people who use the name and are completely ignorant of the controversy surrounding it, but when you start willfully disregarding the perspective of those whom the name concerns and actively ignore the history of its usage, insisting on it becomes tasteless, [name]IMO[/name].
STOP. EVERYONE STOP. [name]Pam[/name] and [name]Linda[/name] should close this before it gets out of hand again. We’ve said all of this over and over and over. We don’t need to do it again.
If you want to know about the British/French/Dutch/Portuguese occupation of [name]India[/name] then watch the episode about in ‘[name]Simon[/name] Schama’s: A [name]History[/name] of [name]Britain[/name]’ or even read this History of India - Wikipedia.
Your the same as me! I always get names stuck in my head!
India is gorgeous, she sounds culturally rich and really intriguing. I love how India is obviously associated with the country thus conjuring up images of the Taj Mahal, vibrant colours and a colourful history. I’ve loved India ever since finding out that my old teacher’s child is called India after the place she was born (she was born in Mumbai) and I also thought it was an endearing choice as her husband (the father) is Indian. I love this name, and even though people are getting up in arms about this name and the issue of colonialism of India and how this choice could be considered offensive to others I really don’t think this is the case. My old teacher Mrs Sharma (whose white British) and her husband Mr Sharma (whose Indian) never faced any comments about their daughter’s name expect aww that’s a great choice. But hey what do I know?
Seconded. Please let’s not do this again.
Um? The OP asked for opinions on the name, and obviously the problematic, controversial aspects attached to this specific name should thus be discussed and spelled out. Everyone is being civil.
Is [name]India[/name] used as a given name in the country [name]India[/name]? If not, it shouldn’t be used here (same as [name]Italy[/name], [name]Ireland[/name], [name]Scotland[/name], [name]Britain[/name], etc.).