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Most people who travel for work or settle abroad might still want to retain cultural ties with their homeland and culture. This is probably why there is a growing trend among Indian NRIs to choose a baby name that sounds western yet has Indian roots. Trying to find a name that works in both cultures and languages in terms of spelling and pronunciation could be difficult.
To help you pick the right Indian name that is easy on the western tongue, we have put together a list of Indian-American names, along with their meanings.
Western Sounding Indian Girl Names
1. Aanya
The name has a Hindu origin, and means “gracious,” “indestructible,” or “limitless.” This western-sounding Indian name is also another name for Goddess Durga.
2. Aarvi
This easy-to-pronounce name comes from Sanskrit and means “peace,” or “calmness.”
3. Adhya
This means “first creator,” or “Goddess Durga” in Sanskrit. The name also means “great power,” or “unparalleled.”
4. Ahaana
This easy to pronounce western-sounding Indian name means “dawn,” “ray of light,” or “the first ray of sunlight.”
5. Alisha
The name is considered to have Sanskrit and Spanish origins. It means “protected by God” or “the noble kind.”
6. Anisa
It means “friendly,” “affable,” or “genial.” The name is the feminine form of the Arabic name Anis.
7. Anita
The name has a Sanskrit origin and means “leader,” “simple,” or “gracious.”
8. Avani
It means “good Earth,” and comes from Sanskrit. The name is also used in western countries.
9. Bela
The Sanskrit meaning of this Indian name is “creeper” or “jasmine flower.” Bela also sounds similar to a popular western name Belle, which means “beautiful” in French.
10. Bina
Bina is a variation of the Sanskrit word “vina,” the name for a musical instrument. Bina also means “far-sighted,” “melodious”, or “perceptive.”
11. Daya
It means “compassionate,” “kindness,” or “mercy” in Hindi. Daya is also a diminutive of the name western Diana, which means “heavenly,” or “divine.”
12. Dhara
It is derived from the Sanskrit word “dara,” which means “constant flow,” “one who holds,” “ Earth,” or “one who sustains.”
13. Diya
This easy-to-pronounce, western sounding name is derived from the Sanskrit word “diya,” which means “divine lamp,” or “heavenly light.”
14. Esha
It means “desire,” or “wish” in Sanskrit. The name is popular in English-speaking countries, as well.
15. Ela
This western sounding Indian name has multiple meanings, namely “the Earth,” “cardamom tree,” “moonlight,” or “merriness.”
16. Elora
The name originated from the cave temples of India. The name is similar to a Hebrew name that means “God is my light,” or “shield of victory.”
17. Gayatri
It means “singer,” “sacred verse,” or “hymn.” It also refers to “the mother of the Vedas: a Goddess.” The name comes from Sanskrit.
18. Geena
The name likely comes from Sanskrit and means “silvery” or “silver-like.” Geena is also a variant of Gina, with is diminutive of the name Regina, which means “queen” in Latin.
19. Gia
It is a common English name with Indian origin and means “beautiful,” “love,” or “God is gracious.”
20. Inaya
It comes from Urdu and Arabic, and means “care,” “affection,” “concern,” or “a gift from God.”
21. Ishani
It means “ruler,” or “a possessor” in Sanskrit. It is also another name of Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva.
22. Jaya
It is derived from the Sanskrit word “jay” meaning “victory.” The name is also an epithet of Goddess Durga.
23. Jiya
This means “life,” “sweetheart” or “luck.” It is a fascinating Hindi name that you may choose for your little girl when abroad.
24. Kavya
It is a poetic name that comes from Sanskrit, and means “poem,” “poetess,” or “words of wisdom.”
25. Leela
It comes from the Sanskrit word “lila,” which means “divine play,” or “divine creation of God.” The name also means “joy,” “beauty,” or “grace.”
26. Leena
It means “engrossed,” “attentive,” or “absorbed” in Sanskrit. Leena is also one of the many names of Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of fortune, riches, and good luck.
27. Lily
It is the name of a flower and represents a symbol of purity and perfection. The variants of the name are Lilian and Lilith.
28. Marisa
This is derived from the Latin “maris” meaning “of the sea.” The name is popular among Portuguese, and thus commonly used in parts of Western India.
29. Maya
It comes from the Sanskrit word “maya,” meaning “illusion,” or “dream.” The name is also used as an epithet for Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of wealth. Maya is also used to refer to the various powers of Lord Vishnu.
30. Megha
It means “clouds” in Sanskrit. It is used to refer to “rain” in many other Indian languages.
31. Meena
The name comes from Sanskrit and means “precious blue stone,” or “jewel.” The name also means “fish” and likely refers to the Matsya or fish incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
32. Mira
It means “ocean,” “limit,” or “boundary in Sanskrit. Mira was also the name of Mirabai, a poet-saint who composed songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
33. Monica
It is a popular name across the word. In the Indian context, it is likely derived from the Sanskrit word “monik,” meaning “advise,” or “the wise one,” or from the Sanskrit word “maanik,” meaning “Ruby,” or “precious stone.”
34. Naina
It means “eyes” in Sanskrit. This easy-to-pronounce Indian name can be a good choice if you want your baby to hold authority and power.
35. Navya
This Indian name with a Sanskrit origin means “young” or “praiseworthy.” It also means “novel.”
36. Neha
It means “love,” or “affection” in Sanskrit. This is a small and sweet name with a deep meaning.
37. Nina
Nina means “darling,” “beautiful,” or “little girl.” It is used by people of multiple faiths.
38. Piya
It originates from the Sanskrit word “priya,’ which means “beloved” or “the close one.” It is a beautiful Indian name that is easy on the tongue.
39. Prisha
The name Prisha is of Sanskrit origin and means “God’s gift.” The name is common in several western countries, as well.
40. Reena
It comes from the Sanskrit word “reen,” meaning “melted,” “dissolved,” or “amalgamated.” The word also means “rebirth” or “gem.”
41. Riya
It is an Indian name from Sanskrit with multiple meanings, namely “gem,” “singer,” graceful,” or “rich.” The name is also used to refer to Goddess Lakshmi.
42. Salena
It likely comes from Sanskrit and means “moon.” The name is popular in several other countries and cultures.
43. Sanjana
The name comes from Sanskrit and has multiple meanings, namely “to join,” “to unite,” “to create,” or “soft and gentle.”
44. Sejal
This Indian origin name means “depth in character” or “pure river water.” It has a simple spelling with a beautiful meaning.
45. Siya
The name comes from Hindi and refers to Goddess Sita. Other meanings are “beautiful woman,” or “white moonlight.” This is one of the cutest girl names you can give to your baby born abroad.
46. Sonia
Sonia means “wise” or “golden,” and is popular in western countries as it is easy to voice.
47. Tara
It means “star” in Sanskrit and Hindi. Another meaning of the name is “pupil of the eye.” The name if often used to refer someone who is precious to the eye, thus making it an apt name for your daughter.
48. Uma
Uma means “splendor” or “tranquility” in Sanskrit and Hindi. It is also an alternative name of the Goddess Parvati, wife of Shiva.
49. Varsha
It is the Sanskrit word for “rain.” It can be an ideal name for a child born during the pleasant rainy season.
50. Veena
It is a name for a lute-like Indian musical instrument. The name is also associated with Goddess Saraswati, who is mostly portrayed carrying a veena.
Western Sounding Indian Boy Names
51. Aaditya
This means “belonging to Aditi,” and is a name for the eight Hindu gods who were the children of Goddess Aditi. It is also another name for “Sun” in Sanskrit.
52. Aran
It is a popular name used in different cultures and countries. It means “righteous,” “enlightened,” or “exalted.”
53. Arun
It comes from Sanskrit and means “reddish glow of the morning sky,” or “dawn.” It also refers to God Arun, who is the charioteer of the Sun God.
54. Arya
It is an Indo-Iranian name that means “noble” or “honorable.” The name is also used to refer to Goddess Parvati. A popular bearer of the name is the character Arya Stark from the television series, “Game of Thrones.”
55. Ashish
It is the Sanskrit word for “blessings” or “benediction.” It makes an ideal name for your precious baby boy, born abroad.
56. Ashwin
It comes from Sanskrit and means “a cavalier.” Ashwin is also the name of a month in the Hindu calendar and the name of a Hindu God.
57. Ayaan
It comes from the Sanskrit word “ayaan,” meaning “arrival.” The name also means “strong,” “unmovable,” “the right path,” or “precession.”
58. Daman
It comes from the Sanskrit word “daman,” which means “self-controlled,” “ruler,” or “conqueror.”
59. Daanish
This Indian baby boy name comes from Sanskrit and means “knowledge,” “wisdom,” “intelligence,” or “one blessed with richness.”
60. Darsh
It is a name for Lord Krishna, and means “the day of the new moon.” The name is associated with modesty, good looks, and heroic traits.
61. Darun
It means “hard” or “tough,” and is of Indian origin. This is popular among Indians, both living in India and abroad.
62. Dhruv
This is one of the popular Indian-American boy names meaning “the pole star,” “firm,” or “immovable.” It is associated with Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, and Lord Vishnu.
63. Hari
Hari has multiple meanings, namely “green,” “light,” or “moon.” The name also refers to God Shiva, Brahma, Krishna, Indra, and Vishnu. The name is also similar to the common English name Harry.
64. Hans
It comes from the Sanskrit word “hansak,” meaning “swan.” The name is also found in other languages, like German, Hebrew, Scandinavian and Danish, where it means “God is gracious.”
65. Jagan
It means “one who is self-confident,” “universe,” or “world,” in multiple Indian languages. The name is also used to refer to Lord Vishnu.
66. Jai
It comes from Sanskrit, and means “victorious” or “conqueror.” The name is also used to refer to the Sun God.
67. Kala
It comes from Sanskrit and means “art,” “talent,” or “creativity.” The name is short and thus easy to pronounce.
68. Kamal
It means “lotus” in Hindi. It also means “rose-colored,” “pale-red,” or “perfection.” The name is also used to refer to Lord Brahma.
69. Kanan
It comes from the Sanskrit word “kanana,” which means “garden” or “forest.” The name is popular in several Indian states.
70. Kirin
It means “poet” or “orator” in Sanskrit. If you are looking for a short artistic name for your baby boy, this could be your choice.
71. Milan
Milan means “coming together,” or “union,” and is one of the popular names for boys among Indians.
72. Naveen
It means “pleasant,” “beautiful,” or “always new” in Sanskrit. One of the popular bearers of the name is Prince Naveen, a character in Disney’s “Princess and the Frog” animated film.
73. Neel
It means “blue” in Hindi. It refers to Lord Shiva and also means “passionate,” or “champion.” Neel has a similar pronunciation to the English name Neil.
74. Niam
It is an exotic name, which means “contribution of God” or “law or given by God.” It is one of the popular names in multiple countries.
75. Nikhil
It means “whole” or “entire” in Sanskrit. It is quite popular among Indians, and it is used regularly among Indian-Americans in the United States.
76. Nirav
It means “quiet” or “calm” in Sanskrit. This Indian name is easy on the western tongue, and is one of the lovely names for boys.
77. Pranav
It is the Sanskrit word for the sacred Hindu syllable “Om.” The name is also an epithet for Lord Vishnu. It is a fascinating name you may use for your loving boy child.
78. Prem
It means “love” and “affection” in Sanskrit. This is a perfect choice to symbolize your love for your son.
79. Rahul
It was the name of the son of Gautam Buddha. The name means “competent,” “efficient,” or “conqueror of all miseries.” In Buddhism, the name means “relationship” or “bond.”
80. Raj
It is diminutive of the Hindi and Sanskrit name, Rajan, which means “king” or “ruler.”
81. Rajesh
The name comes from Sanskrit and means “ruler of Kings,” “Lord of Kings,” or the “supreme ruler.”
82. Ram
The word likely originates from the Sanskrit word “ramate,” which means “calm,” “tranquil,” “heartening,” or “delightful.” Ram is also the name of a popular God in Hindu mythology.
83. Ravi
It means “Sun” in Sanskrit. The name also means “pleasing,” “satisfied,” “skilled,” or “benevolent.”
84. Rohan
This means “ascending” in Sanskrit, and has a striking resemblance to the Irish name Rowan.
85. Sahil
It means “seashore,” “beach,” “bank,” or “guide” in Hindi. It is a simple name that is easy-to-pronounce.
86. Samar
The name comes from Sanskrit and means “confluence” or “with the company of God.” This is an easy-to-pronounce Indian boy name.
87. Sameer
It is a Muslim boy name, meaning “beneficiary” or “companion for a talk” in Arabic. The Sanskrit meaning of the name is “wind” or “air.”
88. Sanjay
It means “victorious” or “triumphant” in Sanskrit. This name is quite popular among Indians settled abroad.
89. Sunil
It means “beautiful dark blue” in Sanskrit. The name refers to blue sapphire and is also an epithet of Lord Krishna.
90. Taran
It is an alternative form of the Sanskrit name, Tarun, meaning “young” or “youth.” Taran is widely found as both given name and surname among Indians.
91. Tarak
This name originates from Sanskrit and means “star” or “protector.” It is also commonly used among Indian citizens living in the U.S.
92. Tej
It comes from Sanskrit and means “light,” “radiant,” “sharp,” and “brilliant.” The name is popular across India.
93. Timir
Timir is a Hindu boy name, which comes from Sanskrit and means “dark,” or “rust-like color.”
94. Toshan
It comes from a Sanskrit word “toshana,” which means “satisfying,” “gratifying,” or “pleasing.”
95. Vedant
It is a Sanskrit name and means “the one who knows all the Vedas” or “the knower of ultimate truth.” This name is popular in several parts of India, as well as among Indians abroad.
96. Veer
It means “one who is brave” in Sanskrit, and is also another name for Lord Mahavir.
97. Vihaan
It means “morning” or “dawn,” and holds a Sanskrit origin.
98. Vinod
It means “happy,” “full of joy,” “humor,” or “pleasing” in Sanskrit. The name is simple and easy-to-pronounce.
99. Wali
It has Urdu and Arabic origin, and comes from the root word, “wasi,” which means “guardian,” “protector,” or “Lord” in Arabic. The name means “fold” or “wave” in Sanskrit. Wali is used as a first and last name.
100. Yash
It means “glory,” “fame,” “honor,” or “success” in Sanskrit. It is a popular name among non-resident Indians.
These western-sounding multicultural names are not just popular among the NRIs, but Indian residents, too, prefer them for their easy pronunciation and beautiful meanings. Most of them have a significant history that can make you feel proud of your heritage.