Top 50 Indian Boy Names and Their Meanings

If you’re looking for a special name for your little boy, you might like to consider dipping into the history of India. Its ancient culture, along with multiple languages  and religious traditions, may offer up numerous naming options that are unparalleled in their uniqueness. Whether you’re Indian American or your family has Indian heritage, or you’d like a name to set your baby apart from the crowd, check out this list of popular, modern, cool, unique, and cute Indian boy names.

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Popular Indian Boy Names

To make the naming process a little simpler, we’ve gathered 50 Indian boy names in one place—so you can browse a wide range of meanings, styles, and cultural inspiration more easily.

1. Amir. Meaning “commander, prince” in Arabic, this Indian boy name was originally used as a title—in English you may recognize it as the word emir. The name is used predominantly by Urdu speakers in India.

2. Muhammad. In Arabic, this very popular name means “praised, commendable,” as it’s derived from the Arabic word hamida, which means “to praise.” The most famous bearer of the name was the Prophet Muhammad, who founded the Islamic religion in the seventh century after having been visited by the angel Gabriel. The name is popular among speakers of Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, and Bengali.

3. Hassan. This name originated with Hassan ibn Thabit, a seventh-century poet who accompanied the Prophet Muhammad. In Arabic, the name—sometimes spelled as Hasan—means “beautifier, improver.” It’s 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 word rohana, it means “ascending.” If you’re having twin boys, you might like to pair Rohan with the Irish boy’s name Ronan, which means “little seal.”

5. Vihaan. This Hindi boy name comes from the Sanskrit word vihana, which means “dawn” or “morning.”

6. Kabir. This Indian boy name means “great, powerful, leader” in Arabic. There are many more letter K names for boys that you could also look at.

7. Zahir. This unique Indian boy name is derived from the Arabic word zahir, which means “helper, supporter.” It’s used by speakers of Punjabi, Urdu, and Bengali.

8. Ishaan. This Hindu name of Sanskrit origin refers to the guardian of the northeast direction. He’s typically depicted with the deity Shiva.

9. Mustafa. This Indian boy name is used by Urdu speakers and means “the chosen one” in Arabic. Mustafa is also an epithet of Muhammad.

10. Avyaan. This Sanskrit name means “beginning,” and is often associated with the Hindu gods Vishnu and Ganesha.

11. Deepak. Also spelled Dipak, this name of Sanskrit origin means “inflaming, exciting.” Originally spelled Dipaka, it’s an epithet for the Hindu god of love, Kama. A famous bearer of the name is 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 who’s depicted with the head of an elephant. The Sanskrit name means “lord of the multitude.” The name is most used by those following Hinduism.

13. Krishna. Although the meaning of this name (“black, dark”) is rather bleak, the name refers to the most 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. Manish. This Indian boy’s name means “thought” or “wisdom,” and it’s used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil, and Nepali.

15. Rahul. Meaning “able, efficient” in Sanskrit, this name was the name of the Buddha’s son. The traditional name is used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Gujarati, Punjabi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu.

16. Ravindra. This name combines the meaning “sun” with the name of the Hindu god Indra. It’s also used as an epithet for the Hindu god of the sun, Surya. It’s used in the Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, and Kannada languages.

17. Siddhartha. The Buddha’s original name was Siddhartha, which in Sanskrit means “one who has accomplished a goal,” a beautiful meaning for a little boy who will surely have many accomplishments ahead of him.

18. Sukhwinder. This name used by the Sikh community means “pleasant” or “happy” in Sanskrit, combined with the name of the Hindu god Indra.

19. Surendra. Meaning “lord of gods” in Sanskrit, this name is often used as an epithet for the god Indra. It’s common in Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, and Nepali.

20. Vishnu. Meaning “all-pervasive” in Sanskrit, Vishnu is a supreme Hindu god depicted with four arms and blue skin. He is the protector and preserver of the universe. The name is common in Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Marathi.

21. Anant. Meaning “infinite, endless,” this Indian boy’s name is the modern version of the traditional name Ananta, which is often used as an epithet for the Hindu god Vishnu or the goddess Parvati. It’s common in Hindi and Marathi.

22. Bhaskar. As the modern form of the name Bhaskara, this Indian boy’s name means “shining.” It’s often used as an epithet for the Hindu god Shiva, and it was the name of a renowned twelfth-century Indian astronomer. The name is used in Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, and Kannada.

23. Dilip. Traditionally spelled Dilipa, this modern variant of the Sanskrit name means “protector of Delhi,” referring to the northern Indian city, which itself means “threshold.” Several Indian kings bore this name, which is used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.

24. Dinesh. Meaning simply “day lord” in Sanskrit, this modern Indian boy’s name (originally spelled Dinesha) can be found in ancient Hindu texts, used as the name for the sun. It’s common among speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Nepali, and Sinhalese.

25. Harish. This could be quite a funny Indian name for you little boy as it means “lord of monkeys” in Sanskrit. Originally spelled as Harisha, it’s often used as an epithet for the Hindu god Vishnu. It’s frequently used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.

26. Kumar. Derived from the Sanskrit word kumala, this modern Indian boy’s 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 the Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Nepali languages.

27. Lakshman. You’ll love this Indian name for your little boy as it means “having lucky marks” in Sanskrit. Think of it as the Hindu version of the name Lucky. Originally spelled Lakshmana, the name appears in the Hindu epic the Ramayana, in which Lakshman accompanies the hero Rama into exile.

28. Prabhakar. Another name with a very appealing meaning, “light maker,” is Prabhakara, whose modern form loses the last letter. The name is also used in ancient Hindu texts to represent the sun. A renowned Hindu scholar also bore this name. You’ll find the name among Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, and Hindi speakers.

29. Shankar. Combining the Sanskrit words sham, meaning “auspicious, lucky” and kara, meaning “maker,” this Indian boy’s name is another good choice for setting your little boy up with lots of luck. The name is used as an epithet for the Hindu god Shiva and was borne by a ninth-century Indian religious philosopher. The name is common among Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, and Nepali speakers.

30. Vikram. Meaning “stride,” “pace,” or “valor,” this Sanskrit letter V baby boy name is used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. It’s the modern form of Vikrama, an epithet of the Hindu god Vishnu.

31. Dharma. This Indian boy’s name has a very stoic meaning of “law,” “duty,” or “virtue.” If you wish all these things for your son, choose this name, which is common among speakers of Hindi, Telugu, and Nepali.

32. Jayesh. Combining two Sanskrit words jaya and isha, 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.

33. Kartik. This is the Sanskrit name for the constellation of Pleiades, which is also in the constellation of Taurus. If your son is born under that astrological sign, you might like to choose this name.

34. Mitra. In Sanskrit, this name means “friend,” and it’s used by speakers of Hindi. it’s also the name of the Hindu god of friendship who is mentioned in the Rigveda, an ancient collection of Sanskrit hymns.

35. Pravin. Used by speakers of Marathi, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam, this name of Sanskrit origins means “skilled,” a great choice for a little boy who will be skilled at whatever he chooses to do in life.

36. Rashmi. A new little baby brings light into your life, so why not choose a name with that exact meaning, “ray of sunlight”?

37. Sampath. Among your wishes for your new baby boy may be “success” and “wealth,” the exact meanings of this name used in the Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Sinhalese languages.

38. Shakti. This name can be considered unisex since in Hinduism it’s often used to refer to the female counterpart of Shiva, sometimes referred to as Parvati. The name means “power” in Sanskrit.

39. Sikandar. If you’re looking for a Western-sounding Indian boy’s name for your baby, you may like this Urdu and Pashto form of the name Alexander.

40. Vishal. Meaning “wide, broad, spacious,” this name of Sanskrit origin is used in many parts of India and elsewhere by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Bengali.

41. 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 Princess Kunti. You’ll find the name quite popular as it’s used in the Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Bengali, and Nepali languages.

42. Ashok. Originally spelled Ashoka, this name means “without sorrow” in Sanskrit. With this name you can almost guarantee your son will be joyous! The modern spelling of the name is used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Nepali.

43. Bharat. Bharata (the original spelling of the name) is an epithet for the Hindu god of fire, Agni, another name also on this list. In Sanskrit the name means “being maintained.” An interesting fact: Bharat is the official name of the country of India in various Indian languages.

44. Nikhil. In Sanskrit, this name has a very wholesome meaning, “whole, entire.” It’s used by speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Tamil.

45. Kapil. Originally spelled Kapila, the name means “reddish brown” in Sanskrit and derives from the word for monkey. In the Mahabharata, one of the Hindu epics, Kapila is the name of a sage.

46. Ravi. meaning “sun” in Sanskrit, the name Ravi is also used by the Hindu god of the sun. A famous modern bearer of this name was musician Ravi Shankar.

47. Sanjay. Another name that appears in the Mahabharata is Sanjaya, which means “triumphant.” The modern name Sanjay is used in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and Nepali.

48. Shahjahan. This Urdu name is well known because it was the name of the seventeenth-century Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal in India. The name means “king of the world,” the perfect moniker for your little boy.

49. Viraj. Originally spelled Viraja, this Sanskrit name means “ruling” or “sovereign.” It was also the name of one of the Hindu god Brahma’s children. We’re sure that your little boy will be the sovereign of your heart!

50. 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 speakers of Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Nepali. Alternate spellings of the name include Rajeev and Rajib (Bengali).

Still Exploring? Discover More Baby Names, Themes, and Inspiration

Still searching for the one? Dive into even more baby name ideas by theme, meaning, origin, style, popularity, and beyond. This is where you’ll discover fresh inspiration from every corner of our baby name lists.

1. Hye. This short and simple Korean boys’ name means “bright, intelligent.” It’s less commonly used as a single character name. A famous bearer of the name was the sixth-century king of Baekje (an ancient Korean kingdom).

2. Lucas. A name that evokes brightness and hope, Lucas is of Latin origin and means "light" or "illumination." It has been a popular choice in Scotland, the United States, Australia, and France since the second half of the 20th century.

3. Duy. Pronounce ZWEE, this boy’s name means “to maintain, preserve” or “tie, fasten” in Vietnamese.

4. Abbán. This unique moniker means “little abbot” and belonged to a sixth-century Irish saint. It's a name with a sweet sound and an unusual meaning.

5. Kyle. This modern boy name derives from a Scottish surname that refers to a place name that in Gaelic means “narrows, channel, or strait.” Kyle didn’t become popular as a given name until the early 1900s, rising in popularity up until the 1990s.

The Bottom Line

Whether you like the allure of Eastern names or are Indian American or of Indian heritage, you may likely be able to assemble a strong shortlist of Indian baby names for your boy from this epic list. If not, there are plenty of other cultures you could look to for inspiration. Why not peruse our extensive baby name articles on Japanese boy names, Korean boy names, or Chinese boy names?

If you’re feeling lucky, you could pick a name for your baby boy at random using our Baby Name Generator—it’s worth the fun!