Many Indian names originate from Sanskrit, the oldest known language in the world, and one of the most elegant. In fact, the word Sanskrit itself means “cultured” or “refined”. It is supposedly the most systematic language in the world, as well. Thus, as a very ancient language, many Sanskrit names have a certain familiarity and context that makes them pleasing to a western ear. Sanskrit names have spiritual qualities associated with them beyond their literal meanings.
Not all Indian names are Sanskrit. India has a large Muslim population, a large Sikh population, and a large Buddhist population, and as is often the case, different religions bring their own naming traditions. India’s diversity and dense population mean that there are quite a variety of names to choose from. Following are those I thought would sound both exotic and interesting to English speakers. I hope you enjoy them. Many come from the excellent website Behind the Name.
Names for Boys
Amar - Sanskrit – “noble”
Anand - Sanskrit – “happiness”
Arjuna - Sanskrit – “white” – In Hindu mythology, Arjuna was the son of the god Indra.
Basheer - Arabic - “one who brings good news”
Chander - Sanskrit – “moon”
Damodar - Sanskrit – “rope around the belly” – This is one of Krishna’s many names, given to him because his foster mother tied him to a large urn.
Dev - Sanskrit – “god”
Dipak - Sanskrit – “little lamp” – One of the names of Kama, the god of love. A famous namesake is Deepak Chopra.
Eijaz - Arabic – “blessings”
Esmail - Hebrew – “God will hear” – The Indian variant of Ishmael.
Fareed - Arabic – “second to nobody”
Ganesh - Sanskrit – “lord of the hordes” – The elephant headed Ganesh is the god of wisdom and good luck. He is the son of Shiva.
Gyan - Hindi – “enlightenment”
Hamid - Arabic – “one who deserves praise”
Ibrahim - Hebrew – “father of a nation” – This is the Arabic form of Abraham.
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