Hindi female names draw primarily from Sanskrit, with additions from Prakrit and, in North India, Persian/Arabic. A common feminine marker is the long ā or ī sound, seen in spellings rendered as -a/-aa or -i/-ee in English. Productive endings include -ita (Ankita), -ika (Anika), -shri/-shree, and -ini/-ani. Many girls’ names reference Hindu goddesses, virtues (for example Aasha “hope”), auspicious qualities, or nature.

Modern usage favors short, easily pronounced forms, pan-Indian Sanskrit names, and nicknames used as official names. Examples from this set include Aaarti, Aasha, Anika, Anju, Ankita, Anu, Anuja, Anchal, Amiya, and Alpna.