Chandra

GirlSanskrit, Hindi· “moon”

Meaning
moon
Origin
Sanskrit, Hindi
Pronunciation
CHAHN-druh
Syllables
2
US rank 2025
Unranked
US babies 2025
0
Best rank
#307 (1975)
Peak year
1975

Meaning and origin of Chandra

Chandra is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “moon”.

Chandra is a Sanskrit word meaning moon, and it is the name of the moon god in Hindu mythology, who drives a chariot across the night sky. Chandra is also a common element in Indian names for both boys and girls, such as Chandrika, Chandrakant and Ramachandra. The Indian space missions to the moon are called Chandrayaan, moon vehicle. In the US, Chandra has been used as a girls' name since the middle of the twentieth century. It is said CHAHN-druh or SHAHN-druh.

Popularity over time

02505007501k19401960198020002020Peak 1975: 747
US babies named Chandra per year, 1880 to 2025

Chandra first appears in US Social Security records in 1935. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 37 different years, starting in 1956. Its best national rank was #307 in 1975, the same year it reached its highest count of 747 babies. It did not appear in the 2025 data, which only lists names given to at least five babies.

Its national rank moved from #2,263 in 1950, #396 in 1980, #2,125 in 2000, and #13,762 in 2010. Of the 17,283 US girls named Chandra since records began, 39% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 4,285 babies. Since 2010, 99 more have been named Chandra.

Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Chastity, Tennille, Anitra, Jenifer, and Chasity.

Gender, sound and spelling

In the US it is used almost only for girls.

Chandra is usually pronounced CHAHN-druh, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with C and ends in “-ra”.

Middle names for Chandra

A few middle names that flow with Chandra: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Sofia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#9
Grace Girl
GRAYS
“grace” · English
#38
Quinn Unisex
KWIHN
“descendant of Conn” · Irish
#97
Lily Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
#18
Savannah Girl
suh-VAN-uh
“treeless grassland” · English
#135

Sibling names for Chandra

Similar names

Tara Girl
TAIR-uh
“hill; also star” · Irish
#847
Meera Girl
MEER-uh
“uncertain; possibly 'ocean' or 'boundary'” · Sanskrit
#1,020
Uma Girl
OO-muh
“a name of the goddess Parvati” · Sanskrit
#3,025
Priyanka Girl
pree-YAHNG-kuh
“dear, beloved” · Sanskrit
#14,518
Nisha Girl
NEE-shuh
“night” · Sanskrit
#8,216
Lyra Girl
LY-ruh
“lyre” · Greek
#435
Sora Unisex
SOR-uh
“sky” · Japanese
#1,959
Shaila Girl
SHY-luh
“of the mountain, rock” · Sanskrit
#5,211
Neha Girl
NAY-hah
“love, affection” · Hindi
#5,662
Divya Girl
DIHV-yuh
“divine, heavenly” · Sanskrit
#5,449
Ara Unisex
AIR-uh
“legendary Armenian king; Latin altar” · Armenian
#3,255
Sidra Girl
SID-ruh
“of the stars” · Latin
#1,366

Lists that include Chandra

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Chandra mean?

Chandra is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “moon”.

What is the origin of the name Chandra?

Chandra has Sanskrit and Hindi roots. Chandra is a Sanskrit word meaning moon, and it is the name of the moon god in Hindu mythology, who drives a chariot across the night sky.

Is Chandra a popular name?

No. Chandra was not recorded for five or more babies of its most common sex in 2025, so it is rare today.

Is Chandra a boy or girl name?

Chandra is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.

How do you pronounce Chandra?

Chandra is usually pronounced CHAHN-druh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings