If you're looking for a special name for your little boy, you might want to delve into the history of India. Its ancient culture, along with multiple languages and religious traditions, can provide numerous naming options unparalleled in their uniqueness. Whether you are Indian American or your family has Indian heritage or you want a name that will make your baby stand out from the crowd, check out this list of popular, modern, cool, unique and cute Indian boy names.
Choosing Indian names for boys
If you are considering Indian names for boys, you may want to learn more about how names are traditionally chosen before making your final decision. In India, naming is often influenced by region and religion. Here is a brief introduction to the regional languages and religions of India.
India's regional languages
Here are some of the major regional languages found in both India and neighboring countries. These can influence your choice of name.
Hindiis the main language in India and the fourth most spoken language in the world. It is mainly used in North, East, Central and West India.
Urduis the main language of Pakistan, whose main religion is Islam. It is also used in north and south-central India.
Telugubelongs to the Dravidian language family and is mainly spoken in south-eastern India.
Marathiis spoken in the Indian state of Maharashtra in western India.
Kannadais also part of the Dravidian language family and is mainly spoken by the Karnataka people of southwestern India.
Gujaratiis the language spoken in the Indian state of Gujarat in western India. It is also one of the most common Indic languages in the United States and Canada.
Tamilis another Dravidian language found in southern India and Sri Lanka.
Punjabiis spoken in the Indian state of Punjab in northwestern India and eastern Pakistan.
Bengalispoken in East India and Bangladesh.
The Religion of India
When searching for Indian male names, you may find that all of your options are influenced by the different religions in India and its bordering nations. Here are some religions that may come up in your Indian boy name search:
Hinduismis the oldest religion in the world and the third largest religion in the world with 95 percent of its believers residing in India. Hindu naming options derive from its polytheistic mythology, astrology, philosophy and cosmology.
Sikhismis the fourth largest religion in India. It is traditional for men to be given the middle name Singh, meaning 'lion'.
Islamis India's second most followed religion. Muslims in India follow Islamic naming conventions, which often have Arabic or Persian roots.
Jainismis one of the oldest religions in the world. Adherents often use Jain, Shah, Firodia, Singhal, or Gupta as surnames.
naming rules
As with mostAsian boy names, Indian boy name selection involves many factors that transcend region and religion. Here are some examples of how names are used in India:
In North India, people have a given name followed by a surname.
In South India, surnames are uncommon and usually adopted by people who are migrating.
The importance of first names is paramount, and names for children are chosen specifically for this reason.
Followers of Hinduism consult an astrologer to help them choose a name for their child based on a horoscope reading. The astrologer chooses a prefix for the parents, who then choose a name with that specific prefix. For example, the astrologer can specify the prefixThey are, and parents can then choose between names like Sunil, Suraj, Surendra, Surya, etc.
Common and popular Indian boy names
The following male names of Indian origin made the top 10 in the United States in 2021. If you are looking for a popular Indian name that is also relatively common for your little boy, the perfect option might be on this list!
1.Amir. This Indian boy name means ‘commander, prince’ in Arabic and was originally used as a title – in English you might recognize it as the wordEmir. The name is predominantly used by Urdu speakers in India.
2.Mohammed. In Arabic, this very popular name means ‘praised, praiseworthy’ as it is derived from the Arabic wordblessing, meaning "to praise." The most famous bearer of the name was the Prophet Mohammed, who founded the Islamic religion in the seventh century after a visit from the angel Gabriel. The name is popular among Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto and Bengali speakers.
3.Hassan. This name comes from Hassan ibn Thabit, a seventh-century poet who accompanied Prophet Muhammad. In Arabic, the name - sometimes written as Hasan - means "beautifier, improver". It is used by Urdu speakers.
4.Rohan. So what is the best Hindu boy name? Rohan is the most popular Hindu name for a boy in the United States. Derived from the Sanskrit wordextension, it means “ascending”. If you have twins, you might want to combine Rohan with the coupleIrish boy nameRonan, meaning "little seal".
5.I hate it. This Hindi boy name comes from the Sanskrit wordFeld, meaning "dawn" or "morning."
6.Kabir. This Indian boy name means ‘great, powerful, leader’ in Arabic. There are many moreLetter K names for boyswhich you could also look at.
7.Zahir. This unique Indian boy name derives from the Arabic wordZahir, meaning "helper, supporter". It is used by speakers of Punjabi, Urdu and Bengali.
8.Ishaan. This Sanskrit Hindu name refers to the guardian of the north-east direction. He is typically depicted with the deity Shiva.
9.Musafa. Used by Urdu speakers, this Indian boy name means ‘the chosen one’ in Arabic. Mustafa is also an epithet of Mohammed.
10.Avian. This Sanskrit name means “beginning” and is often associated with the Hindu gods Vishnu and Ganesha.
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Classic Indian boy names
You may be wondering what is a good Indian name for a boy? How withCountry boy names, you can't go wrong with a storied classic or traditional name. In this list of classic Indian boy names, you'll find plenty of options to suit your specific needs.
11.Deepak.Also spelled Dipak, this Sanskrit name means 'incendiary, exciting'. Originally written Dipaka, it is an epithet for the Hindu god of love, Kama. A famous bearer of the name is the author Deepak Chopra. The name is commonly used in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Nepali.
12.Ganesha. You can't get more classic than this Indian boy's name, which refers to the Hindu god of wisdom depicted with the head of an elephant. The Sanskrit name means "lord of the crowd". The name is most commonly used by adherents of Hinduism.
13.Krishna. Although the meaning of this name ("black, dark") is rather murky, the name refers to the supreme Hindu god, Krishna, an incarnation of the god Vishnu. This Hindu boy's name is used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Nepali.
14.Manic. This Indian boy's name means 'thought' or 'wisdom' and is used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil and Nepali.
15.Raul. This name means "able, efficient" in Sanskrit and was the name of the Buddha's son. The traditional name is used by Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Telugu speakers.
16.Ravindra. This name combines the meaning "sun" with the name of the Hindu god Indra. It is also used as an epithet for the Hindu sun god Surya. It is used in Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Kannada languages.
17.Siddhartha. The Buddha's original name was Siddhartha, which in Sanskrit means "one who has achieved a goal," a beautiful meaning for a young boy who surely has many accomplishments ahead of him.
18.searchwinder. Used by the Sikh community, this name means 'pleasant' or 'happy' in Sanskrit combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra.
19.Surendra. This name means “lord of the gods” in Sanskrit and is often used as an epithet for the god Indra. It is common in Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Nepali.
20.Vishnu. Vishnu means 'all pervading' in Sanskrit and is a supreme Hindu god depicted with four arms and blue skin. He is the protector and keeper of the universe. The name is common in Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Marathi.
More classic Indian boy names
If the above 10 names aren't enough, here are 10 more classic Indian boy names to consider:
Choosing a baby name can be fun, but it can also be overwhelming. Watch this video to learn some fun facts that might help you find the perfect baby name!
Modern Indian Boy Names
Maybe classic is not your thing! Well these modern Indian boy names are based on traditional names but have a modern twist and often drop the last vowel letter to make the name sound more up to date.
31.An ant.This Indian boy's name means 'infinite, endless' and is the modern take on the traditional name Ananta, often used as an epithet for the Hindu god Vishnu or goddess Parvati. It is common in Hindi and Marathi.
32.Bhaskar.A modern form of the name Bhaskara, this Indian boy's name means 'shining'. Often used as an epithet for the Hindu god Shiva, it was the name of a famous 12th-century Indian astronomer. The name is used in Hindi, Marathi, Telugu and Kannada.
33.Dilip.Traditionally spelled Dilipa, this modern variant of the Sanskrit name means 'Protector of Delhi' and refers to the northern Indian city, which itself means 'threshold'. Several Indian kings bore this name, which is used by Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam speakers.
34.Dinesh.This modern Indian boy name (originally spelled Dinesha) simply means 'lord of the day' in Sanskrit and is found in ancient Hindu texts used as the name for the sun. It is common among speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Nepali and Sinhala.
35.Harish.This could be a pretty fun Indian name for your little boy as it means 'lord of the monkeys' in Sanskrit. Originally written as Harisha, it is often used as an epithet for the Hindu god Vishnu. It is commonly used by Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam speakers.
36.Kumar.Derived from the Sanskrit worddirty, this modern Indian boy name means ‘boy’ or ‘son’. It can be an epithet for both the Hindu gods Agni (fire god) and Skanda (war god). The name is used in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Nepali languages.
37.Lakshman.You will love this Indian name for your little boy as it means 'to have auspicious signs' in Sanskrit. Think of it as the Hindu version of the name Lucky. Originally spelled Lakshmana, the name appears in the Hindu epic theRamayana, in which Lakshman accompanies the hero Rama into exile.
38.Prabhakar.Another name with a very appealing meaning, 'maker of light', is Prabhakara, whose modern form loses the last letter. The name is also used in ancient Hindu texts to represent the sun. A well-known Hindu scholar also bore this name. You can find the name among Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi and Hindi speakers.
39.Shankar.Combination of Sanskrit wordsSchein, meaning auspicious, happy, andKara, meaning 'maker', this Indian boy's name is another great choice to set up your little boy with good luck. The name is used as an epithet for the Hindu god Shiva and was borne by a 9th-century Indian religious philosopher. The name is common among Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali and Nepali speakers.
40.Vikram.Means "step", "speed" or "valor" in this Sanskrit.Letter V boy nameused by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada. It is the modern form of Vikrama, an epithet of the Hindu god Vishnu.
More modern Indian boy names
Here are even more modern Indian boy names to choose from.
Unique Indian Boy Names
The Indian boy names listed here not only have unique sounds but also unique meanings. Choose from this list if you are looking for oneUnique boy namefor your unique little guy.
51.Dharma.This Indian boy's name has a very stoic meaning of 'law', 'duty' or 'virtue'. If you want all of these for your son, choose this name, which is common among Hindi, Telugu, and Nepali speakers.
52.Jayesh.Combination of two Sanskrit wordsJayaAndIscha, this name means ‘Lord of Victory’, a unique and powerful meaning for your little boy. The name is often used by Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati speakers.
53.Kartik.This is the Sanskrit name for the Pleiades constellation, which is also in the Taurus constellation. If your son is born under this zodiac sign, you might want to choose this name.
54.Mitra.In Sanskrit, this name means "friend" and is used by Hindi speakers. It is also the name of the Hindu god of friendship mentioned in the Rigveda, an ancient collection of Sanskrit hymns.
55.Pravin.Used by speakers of Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam, this name of Sanskrit origin means ‘gifted’, a great choice for a little boy who is gifted in whatever he wants to do in life is.
56.Rashmi.A new little baby brings light into your life, so why not choose a name that means exactly that: 'ray of sunshine'?
57.Sampath.Your wishes for your new boy may include 'success' and 'wealth', the exact meaning of this name used in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Sinhala languages.
58.Shakti.This name can be considered unisex as it is often used in Hinduism to refer to the female counterpart of Shiva, sometimes referred to as Parvati. The name means "power" in Sanskrit.
59.Sikandar.If you're looking for a western-sounding Indian boy name for your baby boy, you might like this Urdu and Pashto form of the name Alexander.
60.Vishal.This Sanskrit name means ‘broad, broad, spacious’ and is used by Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Bengali speakers in many parts of India and elsewhere.
More Unique Indian Boy Names
We can't just leave you with 10 unique Indian boy name options, so here are 10 more to consider:
Cool Indian Boy Names
The it factor cannot be neglected when choosing a name for your little guy. So, if you are wondering what is the coolest Indian boy name, you can take a look at this list and pick one of these cool Indian boy names, all of which capture coolness in both their meanings and their melodic tones.
71.Arjun.In Sanskrit, this name means "white, clear". In ancient Hindu texts, Arjuna (the old-fashioned spelling) is a hero, the son of the god Indra and the princess Kunti. You will find that the name is very popular as it is used in Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Bengali and Nepali languages.
72.Aschok.Originally spelled Ashoka, this name means 'without suffering' in Sanskrit. With this name, you can almost guarantee that your son will be cheerful! The modern spelling of the name is used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Nepali.
73.Bharat.Bharata (the original spelling of the name) is an epithet for the Hindu fire god Agni, another name also on this list. In Sanskrit, the name means "to be cared for". An interesting fact: Bharat is the official name of the country of India in various Indian languages.
74.Murugan.This Tamil name may have come from a Dravidian word meaning 'youth'. TheLetter M boy namealso used by the Tamil god of war, equal to the Hindu god Skanda.
75.Nikhil.In Sanskrit, this name has a very healing meaning, "whole, whole". It is used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Tamil.
76.Kapil.Originally spelled Kapila, the name means 'reddish brown' in Sanskrit and derives from the word for monkey. In theMahabharata, one of the Hindu epics, Kapila is the name of a sage.
77.Ravi.The name Ravi, meaning “sun” in Sanskrit, is also used by the Hindu sun god. A famous modern bearer of this name was the musician Ravi Shankar.
78.Sanjay. Another name that appears in theMahabharatais Sanjaya, meaning victorious. The modern name Sanjay is used in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil and Nepali.
79.Shahjahan. This Urdu name is known because it was the name of the 17th century Mughal Emperor who built the Taj Mahal in India. The name means 'king of the world', the perfect moniker for your little boy.
80.masculine. Originally spelled Viraja, this Sanskrit name means 'ruling' or 'sovereign'. It was also the name of one of the children of the Hindu god Brahma. We are sure that your little boy will be the sovereign of your heart!
More cool Indian boy names
Let's continue the coolness with 10 more cool Indian boy names:
Cute Indian Boy Names
What makes a cute name? Well, it can sound cute, or it could have a cute meaning, or a little bit of both. So, here are some cute Indian boy names for you to read through.
91.Ankur.This Indian boy's name simply means "sapling, sprout, sprout" in Sanskrit. What could be cuter than that?
92.Kishore.If you are a lover of horses, you might like this name for your baby boy as it means 'foal', the name for a male baby horse.
93.Raghu.This name means 'fast' in Sanskrit and appears in the Hindu epics as the great-grandfather of Rama. It was also the name of the Buddha's son.
94.Rajiv.This cute Indian boy's name means "striped" in Sanskrit. It refers to the blue lotus mentioned in ancient Hindu texts. The name is used by Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam, Tamil and Nepali speakers. Alternative spellings of the name are Rajeev and Rajib (Bengali).
95.Risks.If you think your little boy is a wise little sage, you might like this Sanskrit name, meaning 'sage' or 'poet'.
96.Rohit.Not only does this sweet name sound cute, but it also has the sweet meaning of ‘red’. It is used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati, Kannada, Telugu and Nepali.
97.Sachin.This adorable Indian boy's name simply means 'true' or 'genuine'. It is also the name of Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
98.Singh.This name, used by the followers of Sikhism, means 'lion'. It is most commonly used asMiddle name for boys.
99.Sunil.Combination of Sanskrit wordsAreAndthem, this Indian boy's name means 'very dark blue'. You might like this name if dark blue is one of your favorite colors.
100.arise.Known as the Hindu sun god, Surya is also used as the name for the sun. It is used by Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi, Nepali and Indonesian speakers.
More Cute Indian Boy Names
And here are 10 more cute Indian boy names to think about:
Short Indian Boy Names
Short boy namesare a great idea when you're looking for something punchy and sweet in a syllable or two. These short Indian boy names achieve just that!
111.Arya.if you watchUnisex-BabynamenFor your new baby, you might like Arya, which has Persian roots meaning "noble." It is used by Hindi and Malayalam speakers.
112.I drive.In Sanskrit, this boy's name means "road, path, procession." It is common among Bengali speakers.
113.Deep.This is an alternative spelling of the Indian boy name Dip, the masculine form of the feminine name Dipa, meaning 'light' or 'lamp' in Sanskrit. The name is used by Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali and Punjabi speakers.
114.developerThis Indian boy's name simply means 'God', derived from the Sanskrit worddeva.
115.Gul.This Indian boy's name is of Persian origin and means 'flower' or 'rose' in Urdu and Pashto.
116.Tag.With different meanings such as "brown, yellow, tawny" and "monkey", "horse" or "lion", you are free to choose what you prefer. This Sanskrit name is an epithet for the Hindu god Vishna and sometimes for the god Krishna. It is commonly used by Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, and Nepali speakers.
117.Harsh.Harsha was a seventh-century emperor of northern India. This variant spelling of the boy's name is used by Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati speakers in northern India.
118.Indra.Indra is the Hindu warrior god of rain and sky, which is fitting as this name means 'possessing raindrops' in Sanskrit. What a beautiful image to introduce yourself to every time you call your son by name. Not to mention thatBoy names starting with the letter Iare unique.
119.Jay.This Hindu name is mainly used in northern India and derives from the Sanskrit wordJaya, meaning "victory". Jaya is also used as an epithet for the Hindu goddess Durga. This western-sounding Indian boy name is used by Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati speakers.
120.Sher.This boy's name is of Persian origin and simply means 'lion' in Urdu and Pashto. A wild meaning indeed! A famous bearer of the name was the Mughal ruler of the 16th century.
More short Indian boy names
Here are 10 more short Indian boy names to consider:
Strong Indian boy names
Strong boy namescan capture all the ambitious feats you want your little guy to accomplish in this world. Here are some powerful and masculine Indian boy names that might appeal to you:
131.Abhay.If you want to bring fearlessness to your son, choose this name from Sanskrit. It means 'fearless' and is used by Hindi and Marathi speakers.
132.Abhijit.In Sanskrit the star is called Wega Abhijit, which means victorious. You might like this name if you are interested in astronomy. This Indian boy's name is commonly used by Hindi, Marathi and Bengali speakers.
133.Say.This boy name of Arabic origin means ‘virtuous’. Although the name is considered feminine in the Arab world, Urdu speakers in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh use the name for boys.
134.Agni.Agni means "fire" in Sanskrit. It is also the name of the Hindu god of fire, typically depicted with red skin, three legs, seven arms, and two faces.
135.Ajay.This western-sounding Indian boy name (easy to pronounce as AJ) could be a great option for your baby. The name means "undefeated" in Sanskrit and is used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil.
136.anise.This Indian boy name has three meanings in Sanskrit: 'supreme', 'supreme' and 'without ruler'. If you want your son to live indefinitely, go for this name.
137.Balwinder.This male Sikh name derives from the Sanskrit wordbala, meaning "strength, power", combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra.
138.cut itThis Tamil boy's name simply means 'chief, leader'. Choose thisletter D namefor your son when your intuition tells you he was born to lead!
139.Jaya.This Indian name is traditionally unisex as it is used for girls in North India but for boys or girls in South India. The name derives from the Sanskrit word for victory. It is commonly used as an epithet for the Hindu goddess Durga. It is used by Hindi, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu speakers.
140.Rajesh.This Indian boy name combines two Sanskrit words,RajaAndIscha, meaning "ruler of kings." It is used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Nepali. The name was recently made famous by a character on the hit TV showThe big Bang Theory.
Stronger Indian Boy Names
Powerful in sound and/or meaning, these Indian male boy names represent determination and ambition.
Even more Indian boy names
If you still haven't found exactly the right name in our extensive list above, here are 40 more Indian boy names for you to check out.
The final result
Whether you like the allure of Eastern names or are of Indian American or Indian origin, you can probably make a strong Indian baby name picks for your boy from this epic list. If not, there are many other cultures you could draw inspiration from. Why not check out our extensive articles on baby names?Japanese boy names,Korean boy names, orChinese boy names?If you're lucky, you can use our to randomly pick a name for your babyBaby Name Generator– it's worth the fun! If you still can't find the right name for your son, you may want to check our extensive listsNames beginning with the letter Athrough the entire alphabetNames starting with the letter Z.