This article was originally published on GH US.
I had decided I was going to name my daughter Simran when I was 11 years old. It was a name I never wavered from and love even to this day. Fast-forward 22 years to when my first daughter was born: We named her Naavya. Three years later, we had a second daughter; her name is Saanvi. When I planned on having a daughter named Simran, I clearly forgot that I'd have to take my husband's preferences into account.
If you're struggling the way we were, get inspired by these Indian and Hindu baby girl names. As you go through this list, you may notice these trends emerge: names inspired by Indian cities and Hindu goddesses, along with names ending in -ya. My daughters’ names are Naavya and Saanvi (named after the Hindu goddess, Laxmi), so I obviously am a trendsetter of sorts. If only my husband recognized my greatness.
India is the seventh-largest country in the world, and is filled with over a million people. There are many languages spoken — Hindi, Bengali, Marathi — just to name a few, as well as religions practiced, each with their own customs.
Popular Indian girl names with meanings
If you want to be on the up-and-coming, these are Indian and Hindu names that are on trend right now in India, listed in order of popularity and with their meanings, according to BabyCenter in India.
- Aditi, "mother of the gods"
- Aarya, "respectable and noble; a line of prayer"
- Aadhya, "another name for Goddess Durga"
- Vamika, "another name for Goddess Durga"
- Pari, "ethereal beauty; an apsara"
- Jiya, "radiance; light; sunshine"
- Mehar, "kindness, grace"
- Maya, "dream; illusion; compassion; wisdom; wealth; and prosperity"
- Advika, "unique"
- Aarvi, "peace"
- Kashvi, "luminous; shining"
- Ridhi, "wealthy"
- Ishani, "a name for Goddess Durga; a silk-cotton tree"
- Adhira, "lightning"
- Jahnavi, "River Ganga"
- Saanvi, "a name for Goddess Lakshmi"
- Diya, "light; lamp"
- Vaanya, "a sylvan glade"
- Mini, "small; tiny"
- Tanvi, "one who is slender and delicate"
Indian girl names inspired by places
You can draw inspiration from these Indian cities, rivers and other points of interest.
- Adra
- Ajanta
- Avanti
- Bharati
- Farida
- Godavari
- Jhansi
- Kabini
- Kaveri
- Mayurakshi
- Mirza
- Narmada
- Navi
- Purna
- Ranchi
- Sahara
- Sindhu
- Surya
- Ujjaini
- Vaishali
Indian names inspired by Hindu goddesses
In Hinduism, there is a trinity of goddesses: Laxmi, Saraswati and Durga. And yet, there are more than 300 names for just the three of them. So there’s a high chance a name you pick could very well be named after a goddess.
- Aashvi
- Amala
- Aparna
- Devi
- Dhanyasri
- Indira
- Ilaa
- Kamala
- Kalyani
- Lakshmi
- Lalita
- Meera
- Pragya
- Sarika
- Shakti
- Shyla
- Sita
- Tarini
- Uma
- Vama
Indian baby girl names ending in -ya
Why the sudden proliferation of names ending in -ya? I have no clue — these things tend to go in cycles.
- Aarya
- Aavya
- Adhya
- Agastya
- Alya
- Ananya
- Bhavanya
- Dhairya
- Divya
- Haniya
- Jaya
- Kavya
- Lavanya
- Laya
- Navya
- Kimaya
- Pravya
- Radhya
- Saumya
- Satya
- Shanaya
- Shivanya
- Shreya
- Tiya
- Zoya
Short girl names
For those who like to keep things short and sweet, these names are five letters or fewer.
- Anvi
- Aria
- Ayla
- Dev
- Eesha
- Imara
- Liya
- Mahi
- Mila
- Myra
- Nila
- Om
- Ram
- Ria
- Roja
- Ruhi
- Sri
- Ved
- Vera
- Zara
Long girl names
- Aadhavi
- Anushka
- Chinmayi
- Dhruvika
- Suhasini
- Jasmine
- Kareena
- Mahalakshmi
- Manaswini
- Parinita
- Sarasvati
- Shaurya
- Shaniya
- Shivani
- Shivaya
- Siddhiksha
- Vasundhara
- Vedanshi
- Yashaswini
- Zunaira
More names to consider
Whether they're named after cities, goddesses or something else entirely, your baby will end up with a name they make their own. Here's a list to inspire you.
- Aanya
- Alani
- Amara
- Amulya
- Aniya
- Jivika
- Jiyana
- Khushi
- Kiyana
- Misha
- Nidhi
- Nirvi
- Nisha
- Pritha
- Priya
- Rahi
- Saiya
- Sajani
- Sana
- Siya
- Suri
- Tashi
- Veena
- Ziya
- Zoha
