Sanskrit and Indian baby names
Sanskrit and Indian names, many from Hindu tradition and the epics, are given across the Indian American community and beyond: Arya and Aryan ("noble"), Arjun ("white, bright"), Veda ("knowledge"), Bodhi ("awakening") and Rohan ("ascending"). Of the names we have researched, 20 are Sanskrit and Indian, given to 9,984 US babies in 2025.
Rising Sanskrit and Indian names
Biggest climbers in rank since 2020: Avani (#1,042 to #806), Veda (#918 to #739), Mira (#485 to #335), Ila (#866 to #718), Aadhya (#1,085 to #960), Agastya (#1,539 to #929), Avyaan (#1,087 to #858), Veer (#1,140 to #942), Arjun (#560 to #490), Bodhi (#295 to #265).
Sanskrit and Indian girl names (10)
| Name | Meaning | Rank 2025 | Babies 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arya | noble (Sanskrit) | #158 | 1,858 |
| Kali | the black one (Hindu goddess); also a pet form of Katalin | #323 | 948 |
| Mira | #335 | 916 | |
| Ila | #718 | 390 | |
| Veda | knowledge (Sanskrit) | #739 | 370 |
| Nala | Sanskrit epic hero's name (Nala) | #856 | 317 |
| Avani | earth (Sanskrit) | #806 | 339 |
| Saanvi | #944 | 274 | |
| Aadhya | first; a name of Durga | #960 | 268 |
| India | from the country, named for the Indus | #1,722 | 118 |
Sanskrit and Indian boy names (10)
| Name | Meaning | Rank 2025 | Babies 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodhi | awakening, enlightenment (Sanskrit) | #265 | 1,301 |
| Arjun | white, bright (Sanskrit) | #490 | 615 |
| Aarav | sound, roar (Sanskrit) | #710 | 377 |
| Aryan | noble (Sanskrit) | #872 | 275 |
| Avyaan | #858 | 282 | |
| Rohan | ascending (Sanskrit); also a Breton place name | #812 | 306 |
| Vihaan | dawn, morning | #910 | 261 |
| Ishaan | lord, ruler | #895 | 266 |
| Veer | brave, hero | #942 | 250 |
| Agastya | #929 | 253 |
How origins are assigned
Each name gets one origin: the language its meaning comes from, which is not always the language it reached English through. Mateo is Spanish in form but Hebrew in origin, so it is listed as Hebrew. The lists cover the roughly 2,000 most used names we have researched so far. Common meanings among Sanskrit and Indian names: noble, wisdom, light.