Hindi given names are largely Sanskrit-derived and often formed by compounding meaningful roots. Common masculine endings include -esh/-ish (Mahesh), -endra/-indra (Devendra), -kant (Shashikant), and -dev/-deo (Suryadeo). Feminine names frequently end in -a, -i, -ita/-ita, -ika, -lata, -mala, or -priya (Kumari is also used as a title or middle name). Productive elements such as Jai-/Jaya- “victory,” Shiv-/Ram-/Hari- (theonyms), and -priya “beloved,” -mani “jewel,” and -mala “garland” appear in many compounds. Themes commonly reference deities and epithets, virtues (Satya, Dhruva), seasons and nature (Tara, Pallavi), and astronomical terms.
Linguistically, Hindi phonology yields widespread transliterations with doubled vowels for long sounds (aa, ee, oo) and digraphs for aspiration (kh, th, dh, bh), with retroflex stops usually written as plain t/d. Naming across the Hindi belt is mixed: Hindu families tend to use Sanskritic forms, while Muslim families use Arabic-Persian-Urdu names (e.g., Amir, Fatima), reflecting historical contact. Modern trends favor short, easily pronounced forms and new blends (Aarav, Vihaan, Kavya, Aanya), as well as fashionable morphemes like -ansh and -ika.
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milan | Slavic: 'gracious, dear'; Sanskrit/Hindi: 'union, meeting'; also associated with the Italian city Milan. | Hindi, Italian, Latin, Sanskrit, Slavic | Boy | 17,468 #1 | |
| Milani | Varies by origin - commonly 'from Milan' (Italian); also rendered in some sources as 'gentle/cheerful' (Hawaiian) or 'union/meeting' (Sanskrit/Hindi). | Hawaiian, Hindi, Italian, Sanskrit | Girl | 8,505 #2 | |
| Kira | Multiple: 'dark-haired' (Irish); 'lady/noble' (Greek/Russian); 'ray/beam of light' (Sanskrit); 'shining/sparkling' (Japanese). | Greek, Hindi, Indian, Irish, Japanese, Persian, Russian, Sanskrit | Girl | 7,641 #3 | |
| Mina | Varies by origin: Persian 'azure/enamel', Sanskrit 'fish', Arabic 'harbor/port', or a diminutive of Wilhelmina meaning 'will/protection'. | Arabic, Germanic, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Sanskrit, Scandinavian | Girl | 5,771 #4 | |
| Ayaan | Blessed, fortunate; often interpreted as 'gift of God' or 'sign/miracle'. | Arabic, Hindi, Somali, Urdu | Boy | 5,659 #5 | |
| Samir | Arabic: 'companion in evening conversation' or 'entertaining companion'; Sanskrit/Hindi: 'breeze' or 'gentle wind'. | Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit | Boy | 4,207 #6 | |
| Anika | Diminutive of Anna meaning 'grace' (Scandinavian); in Sanskrit often interpreted as 'graceful' or 'beautiful'. | Hindi, Sanskrit, Scandinavian | Girl | 3,571 #7 | |
| Sana | Radiance, brilliance; also 'praise' (Arabic/Urdu); various meanings in Japanese depending on kanji; 'word' in Finnish. | Arabic, Finnish, Hindi, Japanese, Persian, Sanskrit, Urdu | Girl | 2,736 #8 | |
| Ishaan | Sun; Lord Shiva; the northeast direction (auspicious quarter) | Hindi, Sanskrit | Boy | 2,443 #9 | |
| Amiya | In Sanskrit/Hindi contexts: "nectar", "delight" or "sweetness"; in Japanese the meaning varies by kanji. | Hindi, Indian, Japanese, Sanskrit | Girl | 2,439 #10 | |
| Leena | Arabic: 'tender, delicate'; Sanskrit: 'devoted, absorbed'; Finnish/Scandinavian (from Helena): 'light, torch'. | Arabic, Finnish, Hindi, Sanskrit, Scandinavian | Girl | 2,142 #11 | |
| Riya | Singer; graceful; melodious | Hindi, Sanskrit | Girl | 2,032 #12 | |
| Amar | Sanskrit/Hindi: "immortal, deathless." Arabic (عمار/Ammār): "long-lived; one who builds or cultivates." | Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit | Boy | 1,985 #13 | |
| Nyra | Varies by origin; commonly rendered as 'beloved/beautiful' (Indian) or linked to Hebrew 'plowed field'; often used as a modern name without a single fixed meaning | Hebrew, Hindi | Girl | 1,777 #14 | |
| Jai | Victory, triumph | Hindi, Sanskrit | Boy | 1,771 #15 | |
| Diya | Lamp; light; flame; illumination | Hindi, Sanskrit | Girl | 1,584 #16 | |
| Viaan | Derived from Vihaan - 'dawn, morning' or 'new beginning' | Hindi, Sanskrit | Boy | 1,185 #17 | |
| Ananya | Without equal | Bengali, Hindi, Sanskrit, Thai | Girl | 1,113 #18 | |
| Sama | Sky, heaven (Arabic); in Persian/Sufi 'listening' or spiritual concert; in Sanskrit/Hindi 'equal' or 'same'. | Arabic, Hindi, Persian, Sanskrit | Girl | 1,075 #19 | |
| Khali | From Arabic Khalil: 'friend, beloved'; in Hindi/Urdu, khālī means 'empty' or 'vacant'. | Arabic, Hindi, Urdu | Unisex | 980 #20 | |
| Jiya | Heart; life; soul; beloved | Hindi, Sanskrit | Girl | 926 #21 | |
| Shreya | Best, superior | Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit | Girl | 909 #22 | |
| Ajay | Unconquered; invincible | Hindi, Sanskrit | Boy | 883 #23 | |
| Rya | Varies by origin - commonly a variant of Riya meaning 'singer' or 'graceful', or a short form of Maria (associated with meanings from Maria/Miryam such as 'bitter' or 'beloved'); Swedish 'rya' refers to a long-pile rug (rare usage). | Hindi, Sanskrit, Scandinavian | Girl | 864 #24 | |
| Siddharth | Accomplished aim | Hindi, Sanskrit | Boy | 859 #25 | |
| Roma | From Rome (the city). | Hindi, Italian, Latin, Romanian, Sanskrit | Girl | 844 #26 | |
| Ria | Varies by origin - Spanish: 'coastal river mouth' (ría); Sanskrit/Hindi: often 'singer', 'graceful' or 'little/ beloved'; also used as a diminutive of Maria. | Dutch, English, Greek, Hindi, Sanskrit, Spanish | Girl | 820 #27 | |
| Sai | In Indian usage: 'divine' or 'holy' (also used as an honorific associated with Sai Baba). In Japanese/Chinese the meaning depends on the characters used (e.g., 'talent', 'color', 'west', 'competition'). | Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Sanskrit | Unisex | 735 #28 | |
| Rana | Arabic/Persian: 'to gaze; elegant, eye-catching, beautiful.' Sanskrit/Hindi: 'warrior/king; battle' (used historically as a title/surname). | Arabic, Hindi, Persian, Sanskrit | Girl | 722 #29 | |
| Ambar | In Sanskrit/Hindi 'Ambar' means 'sky' or 'ether'. In Spanish (Ámbar) it means 'amber' (the fossilized resin) and is related to Arabic/Persian words for amber/ambergris. | Arabic, Hindi, Persian, Sanskrit, Spanish | Unisex | 656 #30 | |
| Kamaya | No single established meaning; may be interpreted via elements like 'maya' (associated with illusion or water in some languages) or 'kama' (desire in Sanskrit), but often used as a modern name without a clear traditional meaning | Hindi | Unisex | 650 #31 | |
| Kamal | Perfection (Arabic); lotus (Sanskrit/Hindi) | Arabic, Hindi, Sanskrit | Boy | 586 #32 | |
| Yash | Fame, glory, success, honor | Hindi, Sanskrit | Boy | 582 #33 | |
| Tanvi | Slender, delicate | Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit | Girl | 566 #34 | |
| Aman | Peace; safety; security; trust | Arabic, Hindi, Persian, Sanskrit | Boy | 554 #35 | |
| Mali | Jasmine; also associated with 'gardener' or the West African country Mali | Hindi, Sanskrit, Thai | Girl | 515 #36 | |
| Vaani | Speech; voice | Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu | Girl | 483 #37 | |
| Nil | Often refers to the Nile (the river) in Turkish/Catalan; from Sanskrit nīla meaning 'blue' in Indian languages. | Catalan, English, Hindi, Sanskrit, Spanish, Turkish | Unisex | 474 #38 | |
| Daya | Compassion, mercy, kindness | Hindi, Sanskrit | Girl | 465 #39 | |
| Asim | Arabic: 'protector, guardian, defender'; Sanskrit/Hindi: 'limitless, boundless' | Arabic, Hindi | Boy | 438 #40 | |
| Assa | Multiple possibilities: Hebrew 'physician, healer'; West African/Arabic forms linked to Aïssata/Aisha ('alive'); similar-sounding Asha (Sanskrit) 'hope, desire'. | Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi | Unisex | 436 #41 | |
| Sayan | Turkish: 'esteemed, respected'; in Sanskrit-derived contexts associated with rest/sleep or evening; also a geographic name (Sayan Mountains). | Hindi, Sanskrit, Turkish | Boy | 431 #42 | |
| Sitara | Star | Hindi, Persian, Urdu | Girl | 422 #43 | |
| Aadi | Beginning; first; original; primeval | Hindi, Sanskrit | Boy | 416 #44 | |
| Dia | Varies by origin - 'day' (Spanish), 'divine/linked to Diana' (Greek), 'light' (Arabic: Ḍiyāʼ), 'God' (Irish), 'gift' (Swahili/Adia) | Arabic, Greek, Hindi, Irish, Sanskrit, Spanish, Swahili | Girl | 413 #45 | |
| Meena | Derived from Sanskrit 'mina' meaning 'fish'; in Persian/Arabic forms can connote 'enamel' or 'azure' | Hindi, Sanskrit | Girl | 405 #46 | |
| Naiya | Varies by origin: in Sanskrit/Hindi it can mean 'boat'; related forms (Naia) connect to the sea or a water-nymph; in modern usage often interpreted as 'new' or 'fresh'. | Basque, English, Greek, Hindi, Sanskrit | Girl | 396 #47 | |
| Karisma | Charm, divine favor; (also) 'miracle' or 'wonder' when linked to Karishma | Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Malay, Sanskrit | Girl | 391 #48 | |
| Simran | Remembrance; meditation | Hindi, Punjabi, Sanskrit | Girl | 389 #49 | |
| Yug | Era, age, epoch | Hindi, Sanskrit | Boy | 364 #50 |
Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Hindi-origin name in our dataset.
