Unique Baby Girl Names Hindu 2014

Indian baby smiling

Praveenkumar Palanichamy / Getty Images

Indian baby names stem from ancient mythology, religious text, tradition, and the amalgamation of so many cultures and religions that live together in the sub-continent.

With over 19,500 languages and dialects spoken in India, baby names can vary from region to region, giving rise to a plethora of interesting baby names. Most Indian names are in Hindi or Urdu that have roots in Indo-Aryan languages like Sanskrit, along with influences of Persian and Arabic.

Many names like Pooja, Rohit, Anjali, and Jai are timeless, and they never grow old. Additionally, other options climb the popularity charts as parents look for new and unique names for their babies. Ultimately, there are so many wonderful Indian baby names to choose from whether you are looking for an old classic, an evergreen name, a name with a beautiful meaning, or one with a modern twist.

Popular Indian Baby Names for Girls

Here are some of the popular and unique Indian baby names for girls, along with their meanings, origins, and other interesting information.

Anika

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindu, Scandinavian, African, Arabic, Hebrew, Dutch, Maori
Meaning: Graceful, brilliance, sweet face, another name for Goddess Durga
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Anikha, Aneeka, Annika
Famous Namesakes: Actress, dancer, and model from Bangladesh Anika Kabir Shakh, American actress and singer Anika Noni Rose.
Peak Popularity: Anika reached peak popularity between 2003 and 2006 in the US and continues to be a popular name in India.

Fun Fact: Dahlia 'Annika' is a plant that bears pink flowers.

Arya

Origin: Sanskrit, Persian
Meaning: Noble, respectable, honorable, another name for Goddess Parvati
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Aarya, Aria, Aryaa, Ariya
Famous Namesakes: Indian singer Aarya Ambekar, Indian actress Arya Satheesh
Peak Popularity: Arya, which is quite popular in India, is an increasingly popular name in the U.S. It went from ranking 942 in 2010 to 92 in 2019.

Fun Fact: Arya Stark is a fictional character in the TV series "Game of Thrones."

Bhavini

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Emotional, beautiful woman, caring, another name for Goddess Parvati
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Bhavani, Bhawini
Famous Namesakes: Indian actress Bhavini Purohit, Indian actress and YouTuber Bhavini Soni
Peak Popularity: Bhavini is a unique name in the U.S. with peak popularity in 1982. It is a popular name in India.

Chaaya

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
Meaning: Shade, shadow, reflection
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Chaya, Chhaya
Famous Namesakes: Indian actress Chaya Singh, cosmetic entrepreneur Chaya "Helena" Rubinstein, composer Chaya Czernowin
Peak Popularity: Chaya ranks in the U.S. Top 1,000. In 2020, it was 676 on the list.

Fun Fact: Chaya is the common name of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, a leafy perennial shrub also known as "tree spinach."

Diya

Origin: Sanskrit, Arabic
Meaning: Lamp, glow, light, radiant, deserving of gifts
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Dhiya, Dia
Famous Namesakes: Indian Actress Diya Mirza
Peak Popularity: Diya is one of the top 10 favorite choices for baby girls in India. It is unique to the U.S. with only 300 babies a year named Diya, but growing in popularity.

Fun Fact: A diya is a type of oil lamp used in the Indian subcontinent.

Eesha

Origin: Sanskrit, Arabic
Meaning: Desire, attractive, supreme, divine, way of life, Goddess Parvati
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Esha, Eshah, Eisha, Isha
Famous Namesakes: Indian actress and model Isha Koppikhar
Peak Popularity: Eesha remains quite a popular name for girls in India and reached peak popularity in 2010 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Isha Kriya is a powerful meditation practice developed by the spiritual master, author, and yogi, Sadhguru.

Freya

Origin: Hindi, Norse, Arabic, Persian
Meaning: Beloved, noble, Goddess of love
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Farra, Fara, Veera, Vera, Freeya, Friya
Famous Namesakes: English actress Freya Allan, former deputy prime minister of Belgium Freya Van den Bossche
Peak Popularity: Freya is a popular name for girls n the U.S., peaking at No. 179 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In Norse mythology, Freya is the goddess of fertility.

Gauravi

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
Meaning: Polite, courteous, honor, pride, respect
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Gaurvi
Famous Namesakes: Princess Gauravi Kumari of Jaipur
Peak Popularity: Gauravi is a rare name in India. There is no popularity data for this name with the U.S. Social Security Administration.

Fun Fact: Gauravi is one of the main characters on the popular Hindi web series "Baarish."

Harshali

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
Meaning: Happiness, one who is happy
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Harshaali, Harshalee, Harsha
Famous Namesakes: Indian child star and model Harshaali Malhotra, Indian author Harshali Singh
Peak Popularity:Harshali is quite a popular name in India, but rare in the United States.

Ishani

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Close to God, desire, Goddess Parvati, consort of Lord Shiva
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Ishaani, Ishana
Famous Namesakes: Indian TV actress Ishani Sharma, social activist, entrepreneur, and Miss Nepal World 2013 Ishani Shrestha
Peak Popularity: Ishani reached peak popularity in 2014 and is still trending. It is quite a popular name in India.

Fun Fact: Ishani is one of the principal characters in Disney's 2013 animated movie "Planes."

Jiya

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
Meaning: Heart, spirit, soul, life, sweetheart, luck
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Jeeya, Jia
Famous Namesakes: Nepalese actress and model Jiya K.C.
Peak Popularity: Jiya is a quite popular name in India. It reached peak popularity in 2008 in the U.S. and has dropped little in popularity since then.

Fun Fact: Jiya is one of the main characters on the TV show, "Timeless."

Karishma

Origin: Sanskrit, ancient Greek
Meaning: Miracle, gift, grace, favor
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Karyshma
Famous Namesakes: Indian actress Karishma Kapoor
Peak Popularity: Karishma was most popular between 1990 and 2000 with peak popularity in 1995. It is not ranked in the Top 1,000 names in the U.S., but is a fairly common name in India.

Lavanya

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Grace, beauty, charming
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Laavanya
Famous Namesakes: Indian environmental and climate change lawyer and author Lavanya Rajamani, Carnatic musician Lavanya Sundararaman
Peak Popularity: Lavanya is a unique name and is trending at the moment. It reached peak popularity in 2004 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Lavanya Yojanam is one of the six principles of the creation of art first mentioned in the "Kamasutra."

Manasi

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Deep intellect, spiritual adoration, with a sound mind
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Maanasi, Maansi, Mansi
Famous Namesakes: Indian film and television actress Manasi Joshi Roy, Indian singer-songwriter Manasi Scott, women's rights activist and author Manasi Pradhan
Peak Popularity: Mansi reached peak popularity between 2001 and 2002 in the U.S. It is a popular name in India and trending this year.

Fun Fact: The Mansi people are indigenous people living within a region of Russia. Manasi is also a dialect of the Chiquitano language spoken in regions of Bolivia.

Nishi

Origin: Sanskrit, Japanese
Meaning: Night, invigorating, exciting
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Nishy
Famous Namesakes: American actress from "The Originals" Nishi Munshi, Japanese philosopher Nishi Amane
Peak Popularity: Nishi reached peak popularity in 2008 in the U.S. and is becoming a popular name in India.

Fun Fact: Nishi means 'west' in Japanese.

Prachi

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: East, first rays of the sun, morning
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Praachi, Prachee
Famous Namesakes: Indian actress Prachi Desai, Indian model Prachi Mishra
Peak Popularity: Prachi is an extremely popular name in India. It reached its peak popularity in the U.S. in 2007 and is trending now.

Fun Fact: Prachi is a chisel used to make arrows by The Aché, indigenous people of Paraguay.

Riya

Origin: Sanskrit, Greek, Hebrew, Spanish
Meaning: Singer, graceful, Goddess Lakshmi
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Ria, Reeya, Ryia, Riyah, Rhea
Famous Namesakes: Indian actress and model Riya Sen, Filipina actress Ria Atayde, YouTuber Riya Malik
Peak Popularity: In recent years, the name has gained popularity and is trending in India. It spent time in the U.S. top 1,000, but fell off the list after 2017. Its derivation, Rhea ranked No. 628 in 2020,

Saanvi

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: One who will be followed, Goddess Lakshmi
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Sanvee, Shanvi
Famous Namesakes: Indian film actress Saanvi Dhiman, Indian television actress Saanvi Talwar
Peak Popularity: Saanvi debuted in the U.S. top 1,000 in 2011, when it reached a peak of No. 847 on the list.

Fun Fact: Saanvi Bahl is a character on the TV show "Manifest."

Saira

Origin: Arabic, Urdu, Hebrew
Meaning: Traveler or wanderer, princess, poet
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Sara, Sarah
Famous Namesakes: Indian film actress Saira Banu, Canadian model Saira Mohan
Peak Popularity: Saira is a common name in India. In the U.S., it was most popular between 2000 and 2010.

Fun Fact: Saira Amarela (Yellow Saira) or the Tangara Cayana is a type of South American species of bird.

Tanishi

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi,
Meaning: Pure, Goddess Durga
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Tanisha
Famous Namesakes: Japanese comedian Tanishi Matsubara
Peak Popularity: Tanishi is a trending name in India. It is a fairly uncommon name in the U.S. with peak popularity in 2013.

Fun Fact: Tanishi means 'snail' in Japanese.

Tara

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu, Gaelic, Irish, English
Meaning: Star, someone special, shining, radiant, the light of the soul, name of Hindu Goddess
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Taraa
Famous Namesakes: Indian activist Tara Singh, Indian actress Tara Sharma, American actress Tara Reid, Canadian-Australian author Tara Moss
Peak Popularity: Tara was a mainstay in the U.S. top 100 throughout the 1970s and '80s, reaching peak popularity in 1977 at No. 35. It fell out of the top 1,000 in 2018.

Fun Fact: The Hill of Tara is an ancient ceremonial and burial site in Ireland.

Urmi

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: a wave, ocean, becoming manifest, speed
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Urmie, Urmika, Urmimala, Oormi
Famous Namesakes: Indian screenwriter and documentary filmmaker Urmi Juvekar, Dutch-Surinamese film actress Urmie Plein
Peak Popularity: It is a unique name in the U.S. with peak popularity in 2002. In India, too, it is a rare name, but it is becoming popular.

Fun Fact: Urmi is a river in Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. Urmi is also the name of a village in Estonia.

Vedika

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Full of knowledge, one who has knowledge of the Vedas, a celestial being, consciousness, a sacred altar
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Vedhika, Vedica
Famous Namesakes: Indian film actress Vedhika Kumar, Indian-American physicist Vedika Khemani
Peak Popularity: Vedika is a unique name for babies in India. It is also a unique name in the U.S. with peak popularity in 2006.

Fun Fact: Vedika is an architectural structure defined in the ancient text, "Vastushastra" (the science of architecture).

Yashi

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi, Japanese
Meaning: Famous, successful, victorious, glorious
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Yashee, Yaashi, Yashika
Famous Namesakes: TikTok star, YouTuber, actress, and model Yashi Tank; writer, poet, and mental health advocate Yashi Brown
Peak Popularity: Yashi is a unique and trending name in India, though it has not broken into the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Holly Yashi is a popular brand of unique designer handcrafted jewelry from California.

Zoya

Origin: Urdu, Persian, Russian, Ukrainian, Greek
Meaning: Life, rejoicing, alive, loving, love, radiant
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Joya, Zoe, Zoyah, Zoeya
Famous Namesakes: Indian film director and screenwriter Zoya Akhtar, Soviet war hero Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya
Peak Popularity: Zoya is a popular name in India. In the United States, it breached the top 1,000 list in 2020, at 919.

Fun Fact: The title of Danielle Steel's popular 1988 novel is "Zoya."

Popular Indian Baby Names For Boys

Here are some of the popular and unique Indian baby names for boys along with their meanings, origins, and other interesting information.

Aahan

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
Meaning: Dawn sunrise, first ray of light,
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Ahaan, Aahaan, Ahan
Famous Namesakes: Indian model and film actor Ahaan Pandey
Peak Popularity: Aahan is one of the popular names trending since last year in India and it peaked in popularity in the U.S. in 2018 and still going up on the popularity charts.

Fun Fact: "Ahaan" is India's first Hindi feature film to have a person with Down Syndrome play the leading role.

Aarav

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Peaceful, wisdom, calming sound
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Arav
Famous Namesakes: Indian actor and model Aarav Chowdhary
Peak Popularity: Aarav is one of the most popular names in India. Aarav entered the Top 1,000 names in 2008 in the U.S. and is climbing in popularity since.

Fun Fact: Aarav is an original and playable character who appears in the video game, "The Walking Dead: Road to Survival."

Bhavesh

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Lord of emotions, Lord of existence, another name for Lord Shiva
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Bhawesh, Bhavish
Famous Namesakes: Indian actor Bhavesh Balchandani, Indian entrepreneur Bhavesh Bhatia
Peak Popularity: Bhavesh peaked in popularity between 1980 and 1990. In the past few years, it is trending again in the U.S. and India.

Fun Fact: "Bhavesh Joshi Superhero" is a 2018 Indian Hindi-language vigilante action film.

Chetan

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
Meaning: Spirt of life, vigor, intelligence
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Chethan, Chetana, Chaitanya
Famous Namesakes: Indian author and columnist Chetan Bhagat, Indian test-match cricketer Chetan Chauhan
Peak Popularity: Chetan peaked in popularity between 1980 and 1990. It is a common name in Indian and Nepal. In the past few years, it is trending again in the U.S. and India.

Fun Fact: India's first film in a 3D format was "Chotta Chetan" (little Chetan) made in 1998.

Devansh

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
Meaning: Part of God,
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Devaansh, Dewansh, Devanshu
Famous Namesakes: Indian actor and director Devansh Doshi
Peak Popularity: Devansh reached peak popularity in 2017 in the U.S. It is a unique name both in India and the U.S.

Eshaan

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu
Meaning: Desire, wish, Lord Shiva, northeast direction
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Eshan, Ishan
Famous Namesakes: English comedian, writer, and actor Eshaan Akbar; American film, TV, and stage actor Eshan Bay
Peak Popularity: Eshaan is getting steadily popular in the U.S. since the late 1990s and it is a fairly popular name in India trending in 2020.

Fun Fact: Eshan is the name of a fictional planet in "Star Wars."

Farhan

Origin: Persian
Meaning: Joyful, happy
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Faran, Farhaan
Famous Namesakes: Indian film actor and director Farhan Akhtar, South African international cricketer Farhaan Behardien
Peak Popularity: Farhan is a popular name in India. Farhan was most popular between 1980 and 1990 and reach its peak in 1985 in the U.S.

Gautam

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: The bright one in the darkness, full of life, wise, the enlightened one
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Gotama
Famous Namesakes: Indian industrialist Gautam Vijaypat Singhania, Indian international cricketer Gautam Gambhir
Peak Popularity: It is quite a common name in India. Gautam was most popular between 1980 and 1990 in the U.S. and is currently gaining popularity again.

Fun Fact: Gautam Buddha was a spiritual teacher who founded Buddhism.

Hitesh

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
Meaning: One who thinks well of everyone, Lord of goodness, well-wisher
Alternative Spelling & Variations:Hitish
Famous Namesakes: Icelandic songwriter, producer, and composer Hitesh Ceon, Kenyan international cricketer Hitesh Modi
Peak Popularity: It is a common name in India gaining popularity again in 2020. The name peaked in popularity in 1983, and in recent years it has become trendy again in the U.S.

Ishank

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Peak of the Himalayas, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Eshank
Famous Namesakes: Indian cricketer Ishank Jaggi
Peak Popularity: Ishank is a unique name in the U.S. and it is currently trending in India with peak popularity in 2021.

Jatin

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Another name for Lord Shiva, disciplined, one with matted hair, the auspicious one
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Jathin
Famous Namesakes: Bollywood music composer Jatin Pandit, contemporary artist Jatin Das, Indian actor Jatin Kanakia
Peak Popularity: It is ranked among the most popular names in India. Jatin was popular between 1980 and 1990 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Bagha Jatin (Tiger Jatin) was the name given to Indian freedom fighter Jatindranath Mukherjee.

Kunal

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Lotus, one who sees beauty in everything
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Kunaal
Famous Namesakes: British actor Kunal Nayyar from the Big Bang Theory, Indian actor Kunal Kapoor
Peak Popularity: Kunal is a popular name in India and is trending in 2021. Kunal was most popular in the 1990s in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Kuṇāla is the name of a Himalayan bird, the 'Painted Snipes'.

Lokesh

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
Meaning: God, Lord of the world
Famous Namesakes: Prominent Vedic period scholar Lokesh Chandra, Indian film director Lokesh Kanagaraj
Peak Popularity: Lokesh is quite a popular name in India but is uncommon in the U.S. with peak popularity in 2004.

Fun Fact: Lokesh Gamer is one of the most popular Indian "Free Fire" YouTuber and gamer.

Milan

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi, Old Slavic, Italian, German
Meaning: Union, to meet, joining together, grace, favor
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Milaan, Meelan
Famous Namesakes: Czech professional ice hockey Milan Michálek, British violinist and pianist Neil Milan
Peak Popularity: It is one of the popular names in India. In 2020, Milan was ranked the 429th most popular name in the U.S. and has trending for the past few years.

Fun Fact: Milan is a city in Italy.

Nishant

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Dawn, early morning, the Moon, end of the night
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Nishanath, Nishanth
Famous Namesakes: Indian actor Nishant Singh Malkhani, British stand-up comedian Nishant Kumar
Peak Popularity: Nishant is a common Indian name with peak popularity in the 1990s. In the U.S., it reached peak popularity in 1983.

Fun Fact: Nishant is a 1975 Hindi drama film.

Onkar

Origin: Hindi, Gurmukhi
Meaning: God is only one, the sacred symbol Om
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Omkar
Famous Namesakes: British Labor Party politician Onkar Sahota, Canadian philosopher Onkar Ghate
Peak Popularity: Onkar was most popular between 2000 and 2010 in the U.S. It is a unique name in India.

Fun Fact: Ek Onkar is an important symbol in Sikhism found on Sikh temples around the world.

Prayan

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
Meaning: Supreme Intelligence, to march
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Prayaan
Peak Popularity: In India, the name is trending in 2021. There is no popularity data for the name in the U.S.

Fun Fact: "Prayaan" is a multi-genre musical band from south India.

Rohan

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi, Irish
Meaning: Ascending, blossoming, one who takes the higher path, Lord Vishnu
Alternative Spelling & Variations:Rowan
Famous Namesakes: Indian professional tennis player Rohan Bopanna, Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis, Jamaican entrepreneur Rohan Marley
Peak Popularity: Rohan is a fairly common name in India and has dropped in popularity since 2018. It is the 797th most popular name in the U.S. as of 2020, and reached peak popularity in 2004.

Fun Fact: Rohan is a fictitious kingdom of horsemen, the Rohirrim, in J. R. R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings".

Reyansh

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Part of the sun, ray of light, first ray of sunlight, Lord Vishnu
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Reyaansh, Riyansh
Famous Namesakes: Indian TV actor and model Reyaansh Chadda,
Peak Popularity: It is an uncommon Indian name that climbed into the U.S. Top 1,000 in 2014.

Shayan

Origin: Hindi, Persian, Native American Indian
Meaning: Courteous, intelligent, worthy of good things, to sleep
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Shayaan,
Famous Namesakes: Indian actor and model Shayan Munshi, International multi-award-winning entrepreneur and musician Shayan Italia
Peak Popularity: Shayan reached peak popularity in 2014 and is climbing the ranks again since 2019.

Fun Fact: Shayan is a jazz ensemble band from Australia.

Shivin

Origin: Hindi
Meaning: Another name for Lord Shiva, one who maintains life and death
Alternative Spelling & Variations:Shiven
Famous Namesakes: Indian television actor Shivin Narang
Peak Popularity: Shivin reached peak popularity in the U.S. in 2016, but is still a unique name. It is not a common name in India.

Tanay

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Son
Famous Namesakes: Indian child actor Tanay Chheda, Indian author Tanay Pant
Peak Popularity: Tanay reached peak popularity in 2007. Since 2016 the name has been trending and has maintained its rank.

Fun Fact: Tanay is the name of a place in Philippines.

Urvish

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: King, Lord of the Earth
Alternative Spelling & Variations:Urvesh
Peak Popularity: Urvish is a familiar name in India and the U.S. However, the name is not ranked in the popularity charts.

Vivaan

Origin: Sanskrit, Hindi
Meaning: Full of life, Lord Krishna, a woven chair
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Vivan, Vivhaan
Famous Namesakes: Indian film actor Vivaan Shah
Peak Popularity: In India, it is a very popular name. Vivaan made it into the Top 1,000 names in the U.S. in 2014 and stood at No. 876 as of 2019.

Yuvaan

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Youthful, forever young, Lord Shiva
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Yuvan
Famous Namesakes: Indian singer and composer Yuvan Shankar Raja
Peak Popularity: Yuvaan gained peak popularity in 2018 in the U.S. and is continuing to trend.

Fun Fact: Yuvan is a concept in the ancient Indian text "Vastushastra" (the science of architecture) which refers to a type of stone structure.

Zain

Origin: Arabic, Hebrew
Meaning: Beauty and grace, friend, beloved, God is gracious
Alternative Spelling & Variations: Zayn, Zein, Zainab, Zayin
Famous Namesakes: Indian TV actor Zain Imam, English singer, and songwriter Zain Malik; Indian actor and poet Zain Khan Durrani
Peak Popularity: In 2020, Zain was the 573rd most popular name in the U.S. for baby boys and is trending again. It is an uncommon name in India but is trending since 2020.

Fun Fact: Zain is a village in Iran.

Thanks for your feedback!

Unique Baby Girl Names Hindu 2014

Source: https://www.verywellfamily.com/50-indian-baby-names-and-meanings-5113463