Indian (Sanskrit) Baby Names

Sanskrit has shaped names across South Asia for thousands of years. As the classical language of Hindu scripture, Buddhist philosophy and epic poetry, it offers names rooted in ideas like wisdom, light, devotion and cosmic order. Many Indian families still turn to Sanskrit when naming a child, and a growing number of parents outside India are drawn to its bright vowels and clear meanings.

For girls, names like Maya, Lila, Mira and Tara are short, musical and familiar in English. For boys, Arjun comes from the hero of the Mahabharata, Rohan is associated with ascending or growing, and Bodhi refers to spiritual awakening in Buddhist tradition. Aarav and Aryan show the long, open vowels that are common in the language, often written with a doubled letter to mark length.

Several of these names carry religious significance. Kali is the name of a major Hindu goddess, and Bodhi and Arjun have strong spiritual associations too. That can be a beautiful reason to choose them, but it is worth learning the stories first. If you have Indian heritage, ask relatives how they pronounce and spell the name, since regional traditions differ across the many languages that draw on Sanskrit roots.