Indian names have a similar pattern to Western names. The given name comes first and the family name follows. Sometimes there is a middle name, which is usually the father's name.
Let's take Mahatma Gandhi's name as an example: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Mohandas is the first name, Karamchand is his father's name, and Gandhi is the family name (surname).
CONTENT PREVIEW
- Indian Surnames and Their Castes
- Indian First Names
- Indian Nicknames
- How to Address an Indian Person
- The Most Popular Indian Names and Their Meanings
Indian Surnames and Their Castes
Many Indian surnames are related to the caste system. People in Indian society are divided into four castes according to their occupation, namely Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra.
- The Brahmin, whose task is to master and impart knowledge and administer sacrifices, have the highest rank.
- The role of the Kshatriyas (ranked second) is to hold the throne, to serve as soldiers, and to defend society.
- The Vaisya, whose task is to run commerce and agriculture, are the third class.
- The task of the Sudras is to serve the above three types of people. Artisans and craftsmen belong to this category, and they have the lowest social status.
Some surnames used by each caste are exclusive and caste-role-related, and therefore they indicate the family's caste status. For example, surnames used by the Brahmin are generally related to the Vedas, the Hindu classics, the major gods, or words denoting dignity.
The family names of the Kshatriya are generally related to weapons or words of authority and valor.
The surnames of the Vaisya are often associated with trade and wealth. People of Sudra caste can only use words such as carpenter and shoemaker as surnames to indicate their status.
Here are some common surnames used by the four castes:
- Brahmin: Sharma, Trivedi, Vyas, and Pandit
- Kshatriya: Thakker, Rajput, Singh, Thakor, and Verma
- Vaisya: Gupta, Modi, Seth, Gandhi, Shah, Ghaggar, and Goal
- Sudra: Ambedkar, Solanki, Chamar, Nayi, and Lohar
There are also many surnames unrelated to caste like Kumar. In most cases in India, surnames also indicate the family's religion. For example, "Singh" is mostly a Sikh surname. If someone's surname is Khan, then s/he's probably a Muslim.
Many Indian women change their surnames to their husbands' when they get married.
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Indian First Names
In India, a first name (given name) is the name people use at work, or the one they use when introducing themselves to strangers (informally). Indians' given names are chosen to have positive and good meanings.
Many parents, especially of Hindu families, choose a name based on the constellations (Nakshatra) and consult astrologers to help with choosing the right name for their baby.
Some Indians have a middle name, which is usually his/her father's name.
If someone is against the caste system, it is very likely that they will drop their surname and use their middle name as their new surname.
You may see some Indian (Tamil) names with initials. This is common in South India. In this case, the first letter of the initials is usually the first letter of his/her birth place, the second letter the person's father's name's initial, and this is followed by the surname.
The Name Ceremony
In India, typically there is a name ceremony on the tenth day, eleventh day, hundredth day, or first birthday of a baby.
The baby's naming ceremony (Namakarana) in a Hindu family is performed in front of a sacred fire in a temple or by inviting a priest to their home.
In the ceremony, the father writes the baby's name with a gold staff and prays to the gods to bless the new baby. The newborn is then cradled by the grandmother, who whisper the baby's name in the infant's ear.
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| Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling Rylan Coache, Feb 2024 | Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024 | Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! Tricia, Feb 2024 | Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. Ashley White, Feb 2024 | Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect.Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. Virginia, Feb 2024 | Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in phu*ket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024 | What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. Rachel, Feb 2024 | Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! Sandy, Jan 2024 | Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip Carol Yeung, Jan 2024 | Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024 | Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. David M. Kang, Jan 2024 | Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024 | Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024 | Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. Taylor Jones, Jan 2024 | Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. Tia, Dec 2023 | We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! Karen Rocque, Dec 2023 | Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023 | Accommodations by Asia highlights have
Accommodations by Asia highlights have been terrific so far. The Khmer Residence in Siem Reap as well as Eastin Grand hotel in Bangkok. Both had excellent pools and breakfasts.Tours in Siem Reap were particularly well given with an amazing mix of culture, history and humor throughout (Mr Poly). Tours in Bangkok by Mr Banks were informative and well organized with samples of Thai fruit and treats throughout. Chris Williams, Nov 2023 | Seeing Bangkok with ease
In Bangkok, our tour guide, Ying, was wonderful. She navigated all the sights with ease, gave us interesting tidbits on Thai culture and history, helped us pick the right food at all the restaurants, and was just a pleasure to be around. We had a great time, and it was so nice to not have to worry about any of the details. Diane Elkins, Nov 2023 | Thailand- October 2023!
The team in Thailand was also great. Shout out to our tour guides (Monchai in Bangkok, Indy in Chang Mai and Sonia in phu*ket) they were the best!! It was 6 of us and they make us all feel right at home! Kudos! Mori P, Nov 2023 |
Indian Nicknames
Parents also give cute nicknames to their kids. Close friends and family often continue to use the nickname even when he/she is an adult.
Besides cute kid names, nicknames could simply be a short form of a given name, like Akki, which is short for Aksh*t.
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How to Address an Indian Person
In India, you would usually call a man by his surname and a woman by her given name. This is because many women change their surnames to their husbands'. So, it is clearer to call her by given name (especially when both husband and wife are present).
Polite expressions in English can also be used in India, such as "Mr." or "Mrs.". Another local popular polite expression is to add "Ji" behind the name which shows the respect, like "Tomji" or "Amyji".
There is also a special taboo in India. The wife cannot call her husband by his name, which is considered disrespectful. Wives usually use Babuji (meaning 'father of the baby') or 'you', instead of using their husband's name.
This is because, in traditional Indian society, the status of the husband is higher than the wife's. Indian women are told to respect their husbands from a very young age.
But now in some big cities in India, some highly educated women are breaking this "rule".
The Most Popular Indian Names and Their Meanings
Here are some of the most popular and beautiful Indian names for girls and boys.
The names, whether for girls or boys, mainly focus on common themes such as beauty, divinity, and nature, and some relate to religious beliefs/practice.
50 Popular Indian Female/Girl Names
| Girls' Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Anaka | Sweet-faced |
| Aija | Melody; happy |
| Amberlie | Amber |
| Bhumika | Earth, base |
| Durga | Invincible one |
| Hasina | Good or beautiful |
| Pooja | Prayer, worship |
| Shantae | Stone |
| Niranjana | Night of the full moon |
| Apsara | Celestial maiden |
| Bhavika | Righteous, pious |
| Niesha | Alive and well |
| Kaeya | Monsoon flower |
| Kanisha | Glowing eyes |
| Shalini | Modest |
| Abhaya | Has no fear |
| Chella | Liking for all; meadow on a ledge |
| Anjuli | Blessing |
| Eshana | Wish, desire |
| Harsh*ta | Always happy |
| Rachana | Creation |
| Anusha | God has favored me |
| Veena | Lute |
| Shanti | Peace |
| Azha | Sunrise; goat; star |
| Chandani | Star; moonlight |
| Laboni | Grace |
| Jarita | Mythical bird |
| Hansika | Swan |
| Yanisha | One with high hopes |
| Neha | Loving; affectionate |
| Lata | Beautiful vine |
| Devi | Goddess |
| Sona | Gold; wisdom; beautiful |
| Divya | Divine brilliance |
| Charu | Radiant, graceful |
| Reva | Rain |
| Naya | Renewal; fresh |
| Shaan | peaceful; pride |
| Ambar | Sky |
| Nila | Blue |
| Ishani | Desire; Goddess Durga, Parvati |
| Sitara | Starlight |
| Amar | Immortal one; Eternal |
| Jaya | Victorious |
| Dayamai | Kind; merciful |
| Heena | Sensuous; beautiful woman |
| Sumana | Flower; good-hearted |
| Eesha | Powerful |
| Bhakti | Faithfulness |
20 Less-Common but Brilliant Indian Girl/Female Names
| Girls' Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aarushi | First ray of the sun |
| Advaita | Union of matter and soul, Non-duality, Unique |
| Bhama | Light |
| Chavi | Reflection |
| Ganika | Jasmine flower |
| Ishya | Spring |
| Kalpi | Imagined |
| Nainika | pupil of the eye |
| Sagareka | The waves in the ocean |
| Tapasi | Ascetic |
| Tarana | Daytime; meaning bring a sense of warmth and hope |
| Talika | Nightingale |
| Sila | Reunite |
| Safa | Innocent and pure |
| Sadguna | Good virtues |
| Zoya | Love and care |
| Anitha | Grace |
| >Harini | Deer |
| Sanu | Young |
| Kaira | Peaceful; unique |
50 Popular Indian Boy/Male Names
| Boys' Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aadrik | The sun rising between the mountains |
| Aakash | Sky |
| Aarav | Wisdom |
| Abhay | Brave |
| Adhyan | One who is rising |
| Ajay | Triumphant kings |
| Chetan | Intelligence; vigor; spirit of life |
| Diya | Light, glow |
| Daksh | Precious son |
| Darshil | One who is good-looking, attractive, and sober |
| Eklavya | loyal and brave student of Dronacharya in the Mahabharata epic |
| Gautam | Wisest; another name for Lord Buddha |
| Hari | The one who removes evil; another name for Lord Krishna |
| Harsh | Joy; excitement; happiness |
| Ishank | Peak of the mighty Himalayas |
| Ivaan | Glorious and gracious gift of God |
| Jai | Victory |
| Jeet | One who overcomes all his problems |
| Kairav | White lotus |
| Kavyansh | Wisdom and intelligence |
| Lalit | Handsome, charming, and graceful |
| Manvik | A kind-hearted individual |
| Mohan | One who can mesmerize people around him by his style, charm, and looks |
| Naitik | A good-natured individual with great morals |
| Nikit | One who is honest and has divine wisdom |
| Nirved | A gift from the gods |
| Pratyush | A person who is bright and radiant like the sun |
| Rajiv | Successful |
| Ranveer | Winner; one who is a hero of the battle |
| Rajat | Courageous |
| Sathvik | Calm and virtuous |
| Shaurya | Bravery and power |
| Sumedh | Intelligent and clever |
| Tanay | A son |
| Tarak | Star |
| Vatsal | Adorable and affectionate |
| Vinay | Humble and modest |
| Viraj | Resplendent |
| Yashvir | Brave and glorious |
| Tipu | Tiger |
| Banjeet | Mighty, victorious |
| Adhiraj | King |
| Din | Humble |
| Anshu | Ray of sun |
| Nalin | Lotus |
| Ruan | Sandalwood; red; raising; ascending, tall |
| Johar | Gem |
| Chander | Moon |
| Sajan | Loved one |
| Praneel | Lord Shiva; kind; benign; auspicious |
20 Best Indian Boys/Male Names that are Less-Common
| Boys' Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Madhavaditya | Of the springtime |
| Purav | Singing or chanting voice that comes from the East at sunrise |
| Miransh | Small part of the ocean |
| Vishesh | Something/someone special |
| Nishad | Seventh note on the Indian musical scale |
| Omkar | Sacred syllable of Hindus |
| Rakshan | Protector; Preserver; 928th name of Lord Vishnu. |
| Prathmesh | The best of the best among all gods |
| Prateek | The first word in a sentence |
| Anshul | One who is bright, radiant, and glows like a sunbeam |
| Anvit | One who leads/guides others |
| Himanshu | Moon |
| Ksh*tij | The point where the earth and the sky meet |
| Nikunj | Sweet-smelling fragrance |
| Prabhas | Brilliant or lustrous |
| Riddhiman | One who has good fortune |
| Vyom | Sky |
| Ehsaan | An act of compassion |
| Divit | Someone immortal or reaching the sky |
| Bhavin | Winner |
10 Unisex Indian Names
| Name | Meaning |
| Chaila | Handsome and charming |
| Harsha | Joy; delight |
| Kadal | Ocean |
| Deva | Celestial spirit |
| Chandlan | Beautiful and everlasting moon |
| Ishana | Rich; prosperous |
| Daruka | Pine tree |
| Druva | Pole Star |
| Joarder | Powerful |
| Harjot | God light |
Touring India with Us
Taking a trip to India is a great way to delve into and start learning about India's unique language(s), values, and customs. See our popular India tours:
- 7-Day Golden Triangle India Tour
- 9-Day India Golden Triangle with Tiger Safari
- 11-Day India Highlights and Goa Honeymoon Trip
- 14-Day Classic Rajasthan Tour
We offer a customized travel service. All our tours can be adjusted. Just contact us to tell us your needs.
