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Indian names: 200+ common first names and surnames with meanings

208 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

Indian names such as Ananya (unique), Arjun (white, clear) and Diya (lamp) usually come from Sanskrit, though Tamil, Punjabi, Urdu and the other languages of India add names of their own. Common Indian names across generations include Pooja, Kavita, Rajesh and Sunil, and many full names put the family name last, as in Priya Sharma.

Below are 200+ names from India for girls and boys, each with its meaning and the language it comes from, plus common Indian surnames. Sections cover female and male names, common and typical names, Hindu names from gods and goddesses, names of light and nature, virtue names, Tamil names, Punjabi and Sikh names, Urdu and Persian names used in India, and family names. Spellings vary from region to region, so we give common forms.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Sandhya

    Twilight; Sanskrit, also a time of evening prayer.

  • Veer

    Brave, a hero; Sanskrit.

  • Kavya

    Poetry; Sanskrit, for a creative spirit.

  • Karan

    Clever and skillful; Sanskrit.

  • Ishaan

    Ruler, lord; Sanskrit, a name of Shiva.

  • Chandra

    Moon; Sanskrit, used for girls and boys.

Find an Indian name on this page

Narrow 208 names by how common they were for US babies in 2025, by section, length or first letter, or search the meanings.

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Female Indian names for girls

Meaningful names for girls, most from Sanskrit.

  1. Ananya 52 in 2025: Unique, without equal; Sanskrit. Say uh-NUN-yah.
  2. Aadhya US #960: First, the beginning; Sanskrit, also a name of Durga.
  3. Aditi 63 in 2025: Boundless; Sanskrit, the Vedic mother of the gods.
  4. Diya 119 in 2025: Small oil lamp, like those lit at Diwali; Hindi.
  5. Kavya 75 in 2025: Poetry; Sanskrit, for a creative spirit.
  6. Navya 87 in 2025: New, fresh, young; Sanskrit.
  7. Avni 88 in 2025: The earth; Sanskrit. Say UHV-nee.
  8. Aarohi 65 in 2025: Ascending, like a rising musical scale; Sanskrit.
  9. Ishita 15 in 2025: Supremacy, greatness; from Sanskrit.
  10. Nitya 44 in 2025: Eternal, constant, always; Sanskrit.
  11. Isha 176 in 2025: Ruler, mistress, one with power; Sanskrit.
  12. Shreya 62 in 2025: Better, superior, auspicious; Sanskrit.
  13. Priya 99 in 2025: Beloved, dear one; Sanskrit.
  14. Anjali 65 in 2025: Offering with joined hands, a gesture of respect; Sanskrit.
  15. Khushi 32 in 2025: Happiness; used in Hindi, from Persian.
  16. Siddhi 20 in 2025: Accomplishment, success, attainment; Sanskrit.
  17. Pari 27 in 2025: Fairy; Persian, used in Hindi and Urdu.
  18. Tara US #847: Star; Sanskrit, also a Hindu and Buddhist goddess.
  19. Saanvi US #944: Meaning uncertain; Hindi. In the US top 1,000 every year since 2022.
  20. Riya 137 in 2025: Singer; Sanskrit.
  21. Meera 246 in 2025: Meaning uncertain; Hindi. The name of Mirabai, the 16th-century poet-saint devoted to Krishna.

Indian names for boys

Strong, meaningful names for boys, most from Sanskrit.

  1. Arjun US #490: White, clear; Sanskrit, the hero of the Mahabharata.
  2. Aditya 83 in 2025: Son of Aditi, the sun; Sanskrit.
  3. Vihaan US #910: Dawn, morning; Sanskrit. Say vee-HAHN.
  4. Ishaan US #895: Ruler, lord; Sanskrit, a name of Shiva.
  5. Dhruv 195 in 2025: Fixed, constant; the pole star in Sanskrit.
  6. Aryan US #872: Noble, honorable; Sanskrit. Outside India the word carries baggage from Nazi race theory.
  7. Arnav 43 in 2025: Ocean, the vast sea; Sanskrit.
  8. Ayush 29 in 2025: Life, long life; Sanskrit.
  9. Rohan US #812: Ascending, rising upward; Sanskrit.
  10. Kabir US #999: Great; Arabic, the name of a beloved 15th-century poet-saint.
  11. Shaurya 155 in 2025: Bravery, heroism; Sanskrit. Say SHOW-ree-ya.
  12. Dev 126 in 2025: God, divine; Sanskrit, short and strong.
  13. Yash 49 in 2025: Fame, glory, praise; Sanskrit.
  14. Veer US #942: Brave, a hero; Sanskrit.
  15. Advait 54 in 2025: Non-duality; Sanskrit, from the Advaita school of philosophy.
  16. Pranav 56 in 2025: The sacred syllable Om; Sanskrit.
  17. Siddharth 59 in 2025: One who has achieved his goal; Sanskrit, the Buddha's birth name.
  18. Karan 12 in 2025: Clever and skillful; Sanskrit.
  19. Aarav US #710: Sound, a cry; Sanskrit. Often listed as "peaceful", a meaning the Sanskrit word does not have.

Common Indian names

Typical names you hear all over India, many of them carried by today's parents and grandparents.

  1. Pooja Under 5 in 2025: Worship, reverence; Sanskrit, the word for a daily act of devotion.
  2. Sunita Under 5 in 2025: Well-conducted, wise; Sanskrit, a classic for girls.
  3. Kavita 6 in 2025: Poem, poetry; Sanskrit, a favorite for creative families.
  4. Rekha Under 5 in 2025: Line, streak; Sanskrit, also the name of a Bollywood legend.
  5. Geeta Under 5 in 2025: Song; Sanskrit, after the holy song of Krishna's teachings.
  6. Seema 9 in 2025: Boundary, limit; Sanskrit, short and widely used.
  7. Priyanka 6 in 2025: Agreeable, amiable; Sanskrit, borne by actress Chopra.
  8. Preeti Under 5 in 2025: Love, joy, pleasure; Sanskrit. Say PREE-tee.
  9. Manisha Under 5 in 2025: Wisdom, intellect; Sanskrit, the feminine of Manish.
  10. Ritu Under 5 in 2025: Season, period; Sanskrit, short and simple.
  11. Sangeeta Under 5 in 2025: Music; Sanskrit, a natural pick for music-loving families.
  12. Sapna 5 in 2025: Dream; Hindi, from Sanskrit svapna.
  13. Archana Under 5 in 2025: Honoring, praising; Sanskrit, also the name of a Hindu ritual.
  14. Neelam Under 5 in 2025: Sapphire, from Sanskrit nila, dark blue; for girls and boys.
  15. Rajesh Under 5 in 2025: Lord of kings; Sanskrit, raja plus isha.
  16. Suresh Under 5 in 2025: Lord of the gods; Sanskrit, sura plus isha.
  17. Ramesh Under 5 in 2025: Lord of Ramā, or Lakshmi; a name of Vishnu in Sanskrit.
  18. Sunil Under 5 in 2025: Very dark blue; Sanskrit, su plus nila.
  19. Manoj Under 5 in 2025: Born of the mind; Sanskrit, a name of Kama, god of love.
  20. Naveen 72 in 2025: New, fresh; Sanskrit, from nava.
  21. Rohit Under 5 in 2025: Red; Sanskrit, borne by former India cricket captain Rohit Sharma.
  22. Vishal 5 in 2025: Wide, broad, spacious; Sanskrit, a big-hearted name.
  23. Gaurav 5 in 2025: Importance, dignity, pride; Sanskrit. Say GOW-ruv.
  24. Naresh Under 5 in 2025: Lord of men, a king; Sanskrit, nara plus isha.
  25. Ashish Under 5 in 2025: Prayer, blessing; Sanskrit. Say ah-SHEESH.

Hindu names from gods and goddesses

Names of deities and their epithets are among the most cherished Hindu names.

  1. Lakshmi 18 in 2025: Sign, mark; Sanskrit, the goddess of prosperity.
  2. Parvati 5 in 2025: Of the mountains; Sanskrit, the wife of Shiva.
  3. Durga Under 5 in 2025: Invincible, hard to approach; Sanskrit warrior goddess.
  4. Saraswati Under 5 in 2025: Possessing water; Sanskrit goddess of learning and the arts.
  5. Sita 8 in 2025: Furrow; Sanskrit, the wife of Rama.
  6. Radha 60 in 2025: Success, prosperity; Sanskrit, Krishna's beloved.
  7. Gauri 15 in 2025: White, bright; Sanskrit, a name of Parvati.
  8. Uma 55 in 2025: Flax; Sanskrit, another name of Parvati.
  9. Ganga Under 5 in 2025: The Ganges, the sacred river of Hinduism; Sanskrit.
  10. Shakti 22 in 2025: Power, divine energy; Sanskrit.
  11. Shiva 24 in 2025: Auspicious, benevolent; Sanskrit, one of Hinduism's principal gods.
  12. Krishna 85 in 2025: Black, dark; Sanskrit, the beloved avatar of Vishnu.
  13. Ram 49 in 2025: Pleasing, charming; Sanskrit, the hero of the Ramayana.
  14. Ganesh Under 5 in 2025: Lord of the hosts; Sanskrit, the elephant-headed god.
  15. Hari 23 in 2025: Tawny, golden; Sanskrit, a name of Vishnu.
  16. Gopal Under 5 in 2025: Protector of cows; Sanskrit, a name of Krishna.
  17. Mahesh Under 5 in 2025: Great lord; Sanskrit, a name of Shiva.
  18. Lakshman Under 5 in 2025: Having lucky marks; Sanskrit, the brother of Rama.

Indian names meaning light, sun and moon

Light is a favorite theme, from the lamps of Diwali to the sun and moon.

  1. Jyoti Under 5 in 2025: Light and brightness; Sanskrit.
  2. Deepika Under 5 in 2025: Little lamp, a small light; Sanskrit.
  3. Prakash Under 5 in 2025: Light, bright, shining; Sanskrit.
  4. Ravi 160 in 2025: The sun; Sanskrit. Say RUH-vee.
  5. Suraj 13 in 2025: Sun; a Hindi form from Sanskrit.
  6. Kiran 172 in 2025: Ray of light, sunbeam; Sanskrit, used for both genders.
  7. Usha Under 5 in 2025: Dawn; Sanskrit, linked to the Vedic goddess of dawn.
  8. Arun 12 in 2025: Dawn, reddish brown; Sanskrit.
  9. Rashmi Under 5 in 2025: Ray of sunlight; Sanskrit.
  10. Chandra Under 5 in 2025: Moon; Sanskrit, used for girls and boys.
  11. Indu Under 5 in 2025: The moon, a bright drop; Sanskrit.
  12. Shashi Under 5 in 2025: Moon; Sanskrit, used for both genders.
  13. Purnima Under 5 in 2025: Full moon; Sanskrit, also a festival day.
  14. Jyotsna Under 5 in 2025: Moonlight, a moonlit night; Sanskrit.
  15. Nisha 13 in 2025: Night; Sanskrit, soft and starry.
  16. Deepak Under 5 in 2025: Lamp, a source of light; Sanskrit.
  17. Roshan 30 in 2025: Light, bright; Persian, used in Hindi and Urdu.
  18. Sandhya Under 5 in 2025: Twilight; Sanskrit, also a time of evening prayer.

Nature names: earth, sky, water and flowers

Sanskrit has rich words for the natural world, and many became names.

  1. Akash 23 in 2025: Sky, open space; Sanskrit.
  2. Prithvi 14 in 2025: Earth; Sanskrit, usually a boy's name today.
  3. Megha 12 in 2025: Cloud, a rain cloud; Sanskrit.
  4. Varsha 6 in 2025: Rain, the rainy season; Sanskrit.
  5. Sagar Under 5 in 2025: Ocean or sea; Sanskrit.
  6. Kamala 10 in 2025: Lotus; Sanskrit, a name of Lakshmi.
  7. Padma 7 in 2025: Lotus; Sanskrit, a symbol of purity.
  8. Nalini 10 in 2025: Lotus; Sanskrit, a graceful classic.
  9. Pankaj Under 5 in 2025: Lotus, literally born of mud; Sanskrit.
  10. Rajiv Under 5 in 2025: Blue lotus, literally striped; Sanskrit.
  11. Aravind Under 5 in 2025: Lotus; Sanskrit, a classic boy name.
  12. Mallika Under 5 in 2025: Jasmine; Sanskrit, often used in South India.
  13. Pushpa Under 5 in 2025: Flower; Sanskrit, a timeless name.
  14. Vasant Under 5 in 2025: Spring, the season; Sanskrit.
  15. Sharad Under 5 in 2025: Autumn, the harvest season; Sanskrit.
  16. Mayur Under 5 in 2025: Peacock, India's national bird; Sanskrit.
  17. Anil Under 5 in 2025: Air, wind; Sanskrit, a breezy classic.
  18. Neel 108 in 2025: Dark blue; Sanskrit, short and modern.

Names meaning wisdom, love and joy

Names for the qualities parents hope to see in a child.

  1. Vidya 8 in 2025: Knowledge and learning; Sanskrit.
  2. Vivek Under 5 in 2025: Wisdom and discernment; Sanskrit.
  3. Medha 17 in 2025: Intelligence and wisdom; Sanskrit.
  4. Pragya Under 5 in 2025: Wisdom and insight; Sanskrit.
  5. Satya 21 in 2025: Truth; Sanskrit, used for girls and boys.
  6. Shanti 11 in 2025: Peace and calm; Sanskrit.
  7. Karuna Under 5 in 2025: Compassion and mercy; Sanskrit.
  8. Asha 160 in 2025: Hope, a wish; Sanskrit.
  9. Anand 28 in 2025: Bliss and happiness; Sanskrit.
  10. Harsh Under 5 in 2025: Joy and happiness; Sanskrit, a modern form of Harsha. In English it reads as the adjective.
  11. Prem 12 in 2025: Love and affection; Sanskrit.
  12. Sneha 5 in 2025: Love and tenderness; Sanskrit.
  13. Vinay 7 in 2025: Modesty, good conduct; Sanskrit.
  14. Amar 149 in 2025: Immortal, never dying; Sanskrit.
  15. Ajay 63 in 2025: Unconquered and invincible; Sanskrit.
  16. Abhay 22 in 2025: Fearless, without fear; Sanskrit.
  17. Vijay 5 in 2025: Victory and triumph; Sanskrit.
  18. Jaya 84 in 2025: Victory; Sanskrit, also a name of Durga.

Tamil names

Names from Tamil, the classical language of Tamil Nadu, plus Tamil forms of Sanskrit names.

  1. Anbu Under 5 in 2025: Love; Tamil, warm and simple.
  2. Ezhil Under 5 in 2025: Beauty; Tamil, used for girls and boys.
  3. Thamarai Under 5 in 2025: Lotus flower; Tamil, a classic name.
  4. Murugan Under 5 in 2025: Young one; Tamil, the beloved Tamil god of war.
  5. Durai Under 5 in 2025: Chief or leader; Tamil.
  6. Malar Under 5 in 2025: Flower or blossom; Tamil.
  7. Thendral Under 5 in 2025: Gentle southern breeze; Tamil.
  8. Mugil Under 5 in 2025: Cloud; Tamil, soft and airy.
  9. Arivu Under 5 in 2025: Knowledge and wisdom; Tamil.
  10. Vetri 14 in 2025: Victory and success; Tamil.
  11. Kathir Under 5 in 2025: Ray of light; Tamil, also an ear of grain.
  12. Kanmani Under 5 in 2025: Pupil of the eye, a darling; Tamil.
  13. Kannan 17 in 2025: Tamil form of Krishna, the dark one.
  14. Meenakshi 45 in 2025: Fish-eyed; Sanskrit, the goddess of Madurai's great temple.
  15. Indumathi Under 5 in 2025: Full moon; a Sanskrit-based Tamil name.

Punjabi and Sikh names

Sikh given names are usually unisex, with Singh or Kaur added after them. Many end in -preet (love), -deep (lamp) or -jit (victory).

  1. Gurpreet Under 5 in 2025: Love of the Guru; Punjabi, for boys and girls.
  2. Harpreet Under 5 in 2025: Love of God; Punjabi, unisex.
  3. Manpreet Under 5 in 2025: Love of the heart and mind; Punjabi.
  4. Mandeep Under 5 in 2025: Light of the mind; Punjabi, unisex.
  5. Gurdeep Under 5 in 2025: Lamp of the Guru; Punjabi.
  6. Gurmeet Under 5 in 2025: Friend of the Guru; Punjabi.
  7. Navdeep Under 5 in 2025: New lamp, new light; Punjabi.
  8. Amandeep Under 5 in 2025: Lamp of peace; Punjabi, unisex.
  9. Kuldeep Under 5 in 2025: Lamp of the family; Punjabi.
  10. Jaswinder Under 5 in 2025: Glory joined with Indra, king of the gods; Punjabi.
  11. Simran 26 in 2025: Constant remembrance of God; Punjabi.
  12. Amrit 9 in 2025: Immortal, the nectar of immortality; Sanskrit, used by Sikhs.
  13. Jagjit Under 5 in 2025: Conqueror of the world; Punjabi, unisex.
  14. Inderjit Under 5 in 2025: Conqueror of Indra; Punjabi.
  15. Rupinder Under 5 in 2025: Greatest beauty; Punjabi, unisex.
  16. Asees 75 in 2025: Blessing; Punjabi, for girls and boys.

Urdu and Persian names used in India

Persian and Arabic names have been used in India for centuries, especially in Urdu-speaking families.

  1. Nargis Under 5 in 2025: Narcissus flower; Persian, a favorite image in Urdu poetry.
  2. Gulzar Under 5 in 2025: Rose garden; Persian, the pen name of a famous lyricist.
  3. Shabnam Under 5 in 2025: Morning dew; Persian, soft and fresh.
  4. Parveen Under 5 in 2025: The Pleiades; Persian, used for girls and boys.
  5. Sitara 78 in 2025: Star; Persian, used in Urdu and Hindi.
  6. Javed Under 5 in 2025: Eternal and everlasting; Persian.
  7. Farhan 72 in 2025: Happy and cheerful; Arabic.
  8. Irfan 29 in 2025: Knowledge and awareness; Arabic.
  9. Tabassum Under 5 in 2025: Smiling; Arabic, used for girls and boys.
  10. Zeenat 17 in 2025: Ornament and adornment; Persian.
  11. Sahil 62 in 2025: Coast, shore; Arabic, common in Hindi and Urdu.
  12. Saba 33 in 2025: Soft breeze; Persian, used in Urdu.
  13. Nasrin Under 5 in 2025: Wild rose; Persian, used in Urdu and Bengali.
  14. Jahangir 5 in 2025: World conqueror; Persian, the name of a Mughal emperor.

Indian names with surnames: common family names

Pair any first name on this page with a family name. Many describe a title or job, and many also mark a caste or community, so choose with care if you are naming a character.

  1. Sharma US surname #727: Joy, comfort or protection, from Sanskrit sharman; a Brahmin name.
  2. Kumar US surname #917: Prince or son, from Sanskrit kumara; very widespread.
  3. Gupta US surname #1,090: Protected, guarded; Sanskrit, also the name of an ancient dynasty.
  4. Verma US surname #3,764: Armor or protection, from Sanskrit varman.
  5. Joshi US surname #2,313: Astrologer, from Sanskrit jyotishi.
  6. Pandey US surname #5,385: Scholar or learned man, related to the word pandit.
  7. Trivedi US surname #6,376: One versed in three Vedas, the sacred Hindu texts.
  8. Dwivedi US surname #22,906: One versed in two of the Vedas.
  9. Chaturvedi US surname #24,212: One versed in all four Vedas.
  10. Desai US surname #1,518: Lord of the land, a title for a district chief.
  11. Kulkarni US surname #4,572: Village accountant, a Marathi title.
  12. Deshpande US surname #8,341: District accountant, a Marathi title from Maharashtra.
  13. Agarwal US surname #3,787: From Agroha, a historic town in Haryana.
  14. Yadav US surname #6,633: Descendant of Yadu, a legendary king.
  15. Jain US surname #1,804: Follower of Jainism, from jina, conqueror.
  16. Das US surname #2,967: Servant, especially a servant of God; common in Bengal.
  17. Iyer US surname #5,371: Respected sir or master, from Tamil ayya.
  18. Nair US surname #3,287: Perhaps from Sanskrit nayaka, leader (the origin is disputed); a Kerala community name.
  19. Menon US surname #7,365: Superior one, from Malayalam mel avan, he above.
  20. Pillai US surname #9,784: Child or prince, a Tamil honorific.
  21. Rao US surname #2,363: From raya, king; common in South India.
  22. Naidu US surname #14,094: Leader or chief, a Telugu title.
  23. Shah US surname #413: King in Persian; in Gujarati families it may also come from sah, merchant.
  24. Patel US surname #63: Landowner; Gujarati, a title for a village landholder.
  25. Singh US surname #156: Lion; Sanskrit simha, the name taken by Sikh men.
  26. Kaur US surname #431: Literally prince, often rendered princess; Punjabi, the name taken by Sikh women.

How to pick the right name

Check the language and spelling

The same name can be spelled differently across India, like Deepak and Dipak. Pick the spelling your family's language uses.

Choose a meaning you love

Many Indian names honor a god, a virtue or a star. Pick one whose meaning you will enjoy explaining for years.

Say it in English too

Short names like Dev, Tara and Asha travel easily. Longer names often gain a nickname, so make sure you like it.

Ask about family traditions

Some families choose a first letter based on the baby's birth star or follow other customs. Ask elders before you decide.

Indian names: 208 ideas from Nomezo

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Indian names: how they are chosen, how full names work, and how they fare in the US

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research names

An Indian name often carries a ceremony, a region and sometimes a horoscope. Hindu babies are traditionally named on the 10th or 12th day after birth, and Sikh families take the first letter from a randomly opened page of the Guru Granth Sahib. The finder above can narrow the names by first letter and syllables, which several of these customs use.

Full names differ by region too: a Telugu name puts the family name first, a Gujarati name carries the father's name in the middle, and a Sikh name adds Singh or Kaur. The tables below show how, and how Indian names and surnames rank in the US.

  1. Step 1Ask about family customsA starting letter or syllable count may already be set.
  2. Step 2Narrow by letter and lengthUse the finder's first-letter and length filters.
  3. Step 3Build the full nameOrder and surnames depend on the region.
  4. Step 4Check the meaning twicePopular lists often guess; a dictionary source settles it.

How Indian babies are named

  • Namakarana. The Hindu naming rite is typically held on the 10th or 12th day after birth. By ancient convention a boy's name has two or four syllables and a girl's an odd number (Wikipedia).
  • The birth star. In many Hindu families the birth name is chosen from the baby's horoscope, based on the nakshatra, or lunar mansion, at the time of birth (Wikipedia).
  • Naam Karan. Sikh families open the Guru Granth Sahib at a random page, and the child's name begins with the first letter of that passage (Wikipedia).
  • Singh and Kaur. Singh means lion; Kaur literally means prince and is often rendered princess. Sikhs believe Guru Gobind Singh required them in 1699 as a sign of equality and a rejection of caste, and most Sikh given names are now unisex (Wikipedia).
  • Check the meaning. Lists often give confident meanings that dictionaries do not. Aarav is widely listed as "peaceful", but Behind the Name derives it from Sanskrit for "crying, howling, noise" (Behind the Name). Where we could not find a sourced meaning, the note says so.

How Indian full names work

Usual order of an Indian full name, by region
Region or communityUsual order
North IndiaGiven name, then family name, which is often a caste name; Kumar is caste-neutral
Tamil NaduInitials for the village and the father, then the given name
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (Telugu)Family name first, then the given name
Maharashtra (Marathi)Given name, father's or husband's name, family name
GujaratFirst name, father's first name, surname
Kerala (Menon, Nair and related communities)Often the mother's house name or the caste name
SikhGiven name, then Singh or Kaur, sometimes a family name after

Sources: Wikipedia, Indian name; Wikipedia, Sikh names. Practice varies within every region.

Indian names in the US

US ranks of Indian names, 2025
BoysUS rankGirlsUS rank
Arjun#490Saanvi#944
Aarav#710Aadhya#960
Rohan#812Meera#1,020
Avyaan#858Isha#1,276
Aryan#872Riya#1,546
Ishaan#895Diya#1,714
Vihaan#910Ananya#3,105

Source: US Social Security Administration, 2025 data. Each spelling is counted separately, so Ishaan and Ishan are two names. Ananya went to 52 US girls in 2025.

Indian surnames in the US

Indian surnames have risen fast in the US Census. Patel moved from No. 95 in 2010 to No. 63 in 2020.

Indian surnames in the US Census
SurnameRank in 2010Rank in 2020People in 2020
Patel#95#63309,327
Singh#260#156163,612
Shah#573#41376,855
Kaur#711#43175,046
Sharma#1,236#72746,467
Kumar#1,357#91737,459
Gupta#1,886#1,09031,571

Source: US Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 surnames. Shah is also a Persian surname, and Singh and Kaur were used by Rajput warrior groups before Sikhism adopted them (Wikipedia).

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What are good Indian baby names?

Good choices include Ananya (unique), Diya (lamp) and Aditi (boundless) for girls, and Arjun (white, clear), Dhruv (pole star) and Aditya (the sun) for boys.

What language do Hindu names come from?

Most Hindu names come from Sanskrit, the classical language of Hindu scripture. Regional languages such as Tamil, Bengali and Punjabi add their own names and spellings.

What are common Indian names?

Common Indian names include Pooja, Kavita, Sunita and Rekha for women and Rajesh, Suresh, Sunil and Rohit for men. In the US in 2025, Arjun (No. 490), Aarav (No. 710) and Rohan (No. 812) ranked highest of the Indian boys' names on this page, and Tara (No. 847), Saanvi (No. 944) and Aadhya (No. 960) of the girls' names (Social Security data).

Why are Sikh names often unisex?

Older Sikh names changed their endings for boys and girls, but that faded in the late 20th century, and most Sikh given names are now unisex. Singh (lion) for men and Kaur (literally prince, often rendered princess) for women show gender. Sikhs believe Guru Gobind Singh required both in 1699, as a sign of equality and a rejection of caste.

What are common Indian surnames?

Singh and Kumar are among the most common surnames in India. In the US, Patel is the most common Indian surname, No. 63 in the 2020 Census, followed by Singh at No. 156. Many describe a title or job, like Joshi (astrologer) or Kulkarni (village accountant), and many mark a caste or community.

When is a Hindu baby named?

Traditionally at the Namakarana ceremony, typically on the 10th or 12th day after birth. Many families choose the name from the baby's horoscope, based on the nakshatra at birth.

How do Sikh families choose a name?

In the Naam Karan ceremony the family opens the Guru Granth Sahib at a random page, and the child's name begins with the first letter of that passage. Boys add Singh and girls add Kaur.

Which Indian names are most popular in the US?

In 2025 Social Security data, Arjun (No. 490), Aarav (No. 710) and Rohan (No. 812) led for boys, and Saanvi (No. 944) and Aadhya (No. 960) for girls. Patel is the most common Indian surname, No. 63 in the 2020 Census.

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