Hindu naming traditions & popular names
If you’re looking for spiritual inspiration when it comes to naming a new baby then look to Hinduism. Picking a name that corresponds to the exact moment of birth is an important element of the Hindu naming custom…
The exact second that a birth takes place is important according to Hindu astrology since the letters that the name is based on changes according to the star constellation or ‘nakshatra’ that a child is born under. The ancient yogis, who studied astronomy, laid down the astrological principles that are still followed today. They divided the 360 degree zodiac into 12 houses of 30 degrees each and then subdivided each house into 27 nakshatras or star constellations. Each nakshatra was then further subdivided into four quarters called ‘pada’, changing approximately every 13 minutes. That is why twins born even quarter of an hour apart may have different birth nakshatras and therefore different name initials.
The first names most often gain inspiration from the two major Hindu epics, the ‘Mahabharata’ and the ‘Ramayana’, which tell stories of heroes, heroines and deities. Sometimes a name may reflect an aspect from Nature or refer to physical appearance. Most Hindu names are written in the same order as in the West, except in certain parts of South India where, in a name such as S. Raman, the initial refers to the name of the father and what appears to be the surname is, in fact, the personal name of the person.
Some of the popular names for boys and girls
Name | Gender | Meaning |
Aadi | Boy | first, beginning |
Aditya | Boy | the sun |
Ajay | Boy | invincible |
Ajitabh | Boy | one who has conquered the sky |
Alka | Girl | lock of curly hair |
Alok | Boy | cry of victory |
Aman | Boy | immortal |
Amit | Boy | infinite |
Amitabh | Boy | one with boundless splendour |
Amol | Boy | priceless |
Amrita | Girl | nectar |
Anand | Boy | bliss |
Ananya | Girl | matchless |
Anisha | Girl | continuous |
Anjali | Girl | offering |
Annapurna | Girl | god of bread |
Anshul | Boy | radiant |
Anusha | Girl | beautiful morning, a star |
Arjun | Boy | a tree; one of the Pandavas |
Arun | Boy | the red morning sun |
Ashwini | Boy | one of the star constellations |
Avantika | Girl | princess of Ujjain |
Avinash | Boy | indestructible |
Balakrishna | Boy | young Krishna |
Bali | Boy | mighty warrior |
Bhaskar | Boy | Sun |
Bhavesh | Boy | Lord of the world |
Bhuvan | Boy | palace |
Chandra | Boy | Moon |
Chandrika | Girl | moonlight |
Charanjit | Boy | one who has won over the Lord |
Chetan | Boy | life |
Deepak | Boy | lamp |
Devendra | Boy | king of gods |
Dharma | Boy | religious law |
Dhiren | Boy | one who is strong |
Dhruv | Boy | Pole star |
Dilip | Boy | a king |
Divya | Girl | heavenly |
Ekta | Girl | unity |
Gaurav | Boy | honour |
Gayatri | Girl | singer |
Gurudutt | Boy | gift of the guru |
Hari | Boy | God |
Hemant | Boy | name of a season |
Himani | Girl | goddess Parvati |
Hiranya | Boy | wealth |
Ila | Girl | earth |
Indra | Boy | supreme god |
Indrakshi | Girl | the one with beautiful eyes |
Indrani | Girl | wife of Indra |
Ishan | Boy | Sun |
Ishani | Girl | a lady |
Jagmohan | Boy | one who attracts the world |
Jaidev | Boy | god of victory |
Janaki | Girl | Seeta, wife of Rama |
Jaya | Girl | victory |
Juhi | Girl | a flower |
Jyotsna | Girl | moonlight |
Kajal | Girl | black eyeliner |
Kanan | Boy | forest |
Kaushik | Boy | sentiment of love |
Kiran | Girl | ray of light |
Kushala | Girl | safe, happy |
Lakshman | Boy | prosperous, brother of Rama |
Lakshmi | Girl | wife of Vishnu |
Leela | Girl | play |
Mahendra | Boy | Indra |
Mahima | Girl | greatness |
Malavika | Girl | princess of Malawa |
Mallika | Girl | queen |
Manish | Boy | god of mind |
Manu | Boy | founder father of humans |
Manushri | Girl | Lakshmi |
Maya | Girl | illuision, goddess Durga |
Mira | Girl | a mythical princess |
Mohan | Boy | charming |
Nandika | Girl | Lakshmi |
Neeharika | Girl | dew drops |
Neel | Boy | blue |
Neelam | Girl | sapphire |
Neha | Girl | rain, love |
Nihar | Boy | dew |
Nivedita | Girl | one dedicated to service |
Pallavi | Girl | new leaves |
Paramjeet | Boy | highest success |
Pavan | Boy | the wind |
Pratima | Girl | icon |
Priyadarshini | Girl | delightful to look at |
Rajan | Boy | king |
Raman | Boy | beloved |
Ramani | Girl | beautiful girl |
Rana | Girl | royal |
Ravi | Boy | Sun |
Rishi | Boy | name of a sage |
Rohini | Girl | a star |
Ruchi | Girl | taste |
Rupin | Boy | embodied beauty |
Sagar | Boy | Ocean |
Sanjana | Girl | conscientious |
Saurav | Boy | celestial |
Shilpa | Girl | stone |
Shreya | Girl | auspicious |
Shyam | Boy | dark blue |
Siddharth | Boy | white mustard |
Suchita | Girl | beautiful |
Suruchi | Girl | one with good taste |
Sweta | Girl | fair beauty |
Tanmay | Boy | engrossed |
Tanushri | Girl | beauty |
Tara | Girl | star |
Tarun | Boy | youth |
Tushar | Boy | fine drops of water |
Ujjwala | Girl | bright, lustrous |
Uma | Girl | bright |
Upendra | Boy | an element |
Urmila | Girl | wife of Lakshmana |
Vaishali | Girl | name of an ancient city |
Vinay | Boy | good manners |
Yash | Boy | victory |