Chandini as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Chandini

What is the meaning of the name Chandini ?

The baby name Chandini is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /tʃɑːnˈdiːni/ (chahn-DEE-nee).

Chandini is Hindi, Sanskrit in Origin.

Chandini is a feminine given name from the Indian subcontinent, deriving from Sanskrit chandra (moon) with the feminine suffix -ini, yielding chandrini “moonlit, moon-like.” Through Prakrit and later Hindi-Urdu, it becomes chandni, the common noun for “moonlight.” As a name, Chandini evokes cool radiance, serenity, and nocturnal beauty.

Usage spans Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Nepali, and Dravidian-language contexts, with notable poetic presence in medieval Indo-Persian and bhakti literature where chandni raat (moonlit night) symbolizes longing and grace. Adoption as a modern given name rose in the mid–late 20th century and was further popularized by Bollywood’s hit film Chandni (1989), sustaining its appeal in India and the diaspora. Variants and spellings include Chandni (most common), Chandani (Nepali/Sinhalese), Chandhini (Tamil/Malayalam transliteration), and less commonly Chandinee. Related names drawing on the same lunar root are Chandra (unisex), Chandrika (“moonlight”), and Chandravati (“moon-like”).