Indian names have a similar pattern to Western names. The given name comes first and the family name follows. Sometimes there is a middle name, which is usually the father's name.
Let's take Mahatma Gandhi's name as an example: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Mohandas is the first name, Karamchand is his father's name, and Gandhi is the family name (surname).

Indian Surnames and Their Castes
Many Indian surnames are related to the caste system. People in Indian society are divided into four castes according to their occupation, namely Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra.
- The Brahmin, whose task is to master and impart knowledge and administer sacrifices, have the highest rank.
- The role of the Kshatriyas (ranked second) is to hold the throne, to serve as soldiers, and to defend society.
- The Vaisya, whose task is to run commerce and agriculture, are the third class.
- The task of the Sudras is to serve the above three types of people. Artisans and craftsmen belong to this category, and they have the lowest social status.
Some surnames used by each caste are exclusive and caste-role-related, and therefore they indicate the family's caste status. For example, surnames used by the Brahmin are generally related to the Vedas, the Hindu classics, the major gods, or words denoting dignity.
The family names of the Kshatriya are generally related to weapons or words of authority and valor.
The surnames of the Vaisya are often associated with trade and wealth. People of Sudra caste can only use words such as carpenter and shoemaker as surnames to indicate their status.
Here are some common surnames used by the four castes:
- Brahmin: Sharma, Trivedi, Vyas, and Pandit
- Kshatriya: Thakker, Rajput, Singh, Thakor, and Verma
- Vaisya: Gupta, Modi, Seth, Gandhi, Shah, Ghaggar, and Goal
- Sudra: Ambedkar, Solanki, Chamar, Nayi, and Lohar
There are also many surnames unrelated to caste like Kumar. In most cases in India, surnames also indicate the family's religion. For example, "Singh" is mostly a Sikh surname. If someone's surname is Khan, then s/he's probably a Muslim.
Many Indian women change their surnames to their husbands' when they get married.
Indian First Names
In India, a first name (given name) is the name people use at work, or the one they use when introducing themselves to strangers (informally). Indians' given names are chosen to have positive and good meanings.
Many parents, especially of Hindu families, choose a name based on the constellations (Nakshatra) and consult astrologers to help with choosing the right name for their baby.
Some Indians have a middle name, which is usually his/her father's name.
If someone is against the caste system, it is very likely that they will drop their surname and use their middle name as their new surname.
You may see some Indian (Tamil) names with initials. This is common in South India. In this case, the first letter of the initials is usually the first letter of his/her birth place, the second letter the person's father's name's initial, and this is followed by the surname.
The Name Ceremony
In India, typically there is a name ceremony on the tenth day, eleventh day, hundredth day, or first birthday of a baby.
The baby's naming ceremony (Namakarana) in a Hindu family is performed in front of a sacred fire in a temple or by inviting a priest to their home.
In the ceremony, the father writes the baby's name with a gold staff and prays to the gods to bless the new baby. The newborn is then cradled by the grandmother, who whisper the baby's name in the infant's ear.




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I have never hear of this company…
I have never hear of this company before , and after reading all these reviews ,I decided to give it a try . The professionalism and communicative skill received by one of the agent , Sharon of Asia Highlights , convince me that She was the right travel agent for my trip in Asia . Very quickly she communicated with me and got all the detail of my desire vacation . Sharon made me a great itinerary with great experiences that I am dreaming to experience and I am looking forward to it . Thanks Sharon for been so great and crafting me a dream vacation with great suggestions. More
orge alvarez,
May 2023
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Coco Yang worked tirelessly to…
From the moment I landed in Bangkok, Ms Noi Ying was there to welcome me and get me settled into my hotel. We enjoyed several days together touring Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. In Chiang Mai, Mr Ekachai took my son snd I on an amazing trip to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and to visit a community Lanna home, gardens and a hands-on cooking class preparing an authentic Thai meal. Lisa arranged a last-minute speedboat tour of 5 breathtaking islands in Phuket. From start to finish, the guides exceeded my expectations!! Thank you, Asia Highlight!! Debbie Woods More
Debbie Woods,
May 2023
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Sharon from Asia highlights has been…
Sharon from Asia highlights has been amazing. She offered her amazing ideas to other tours I wanted. We have planned the perfect 9 day itinerary to Thailand. She worked in my budget and was very flexible when I had to change my flights. Thank you sharon. Can’t wait for the trip. More
Heather Stern Wilensky,
Apr 2023
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Ms. Ning first review 4-2023
Ms. Albee Ning has been doing a great job accommodating my requests and itinerary changes. Remember the first itinerary is a rough draft and you may modify it to suit your tastes. Remember you can not do it all and see everything in 3 weeks. If the flight wasn't so long I would visit Southeast Asia more often. I will update my review in a few months. We don't leave for 9 more months. Asia Highlights is working well for me so far! More
Chiefray,
Apr 2023
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Perfect Trip To Thailand…
We had so much fun in Bangkok with Tanni and Tom as they kept laughing at all of our silly jokes. Paul, our guide and Chiang Mai was really thoughtful, fun and full of great information about the temples and sights. Thanks so much! Brian and Michelle More
Scott Orchard,
Mar 2023
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I highly recommend Asia Highlights
I highly recommend Asia Highlights. I worked with Alisa and she is fantastic! I was planning my honeymoon trip, and I changed the destination multiple times. Each time, Alisa provided me an updated itinerary with activities that matched my interests. Whether I had a small change to an activity, a question about one of the arrangements, or a change or destination, Alisa was helpful, thoughtful, and knowledgeable, providing me with updated options in an extremely timely manner. In the end, despite the fact that I changed my mind on location multiple times, I ended up booking a 17 day trip to Thailand for this upcoming November. I am extremely excited to experience everything that Alisa planned for us. I recommend Asia Highlights to everyone and look forward to using them again on any other trips to Asia in the future. Thank you Alisa and Asia Highlights! More
Britt Rosen,
Mar 2023
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Three weeks encompassing Vietnam
A special shoutout to our last guide in Bangkok - Ms. Ka-Noon who spoiled us with her kindness and then got us through check in and security for our flight home in record time at that huge Bangkok airport. More
Deby,
Feb 2023
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Over the last 5 years we've used Asia…
Over the last 5 years we've used Asia highlights twice. And both times we've had fantastic vacations. Would not want to do it any different when we travel to Asia from now on. Sharon was fantastic. She was a wonderful agent who helped us nail down our trip and make everything go as smooth as possible. More
Todd Atwell,
Feb 2023
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Family Trip to Thailand
Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family , ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult brief.Our itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and tours.From out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were terrific.In each location we were met by a smiling , knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for everyone.Our transportation was clean and comfortable . Transport was always ready for us at the agreed time and the drivers were excellent.There were so many highlights enjoyed by all the age groups. The floating houses , railway market and elephant sanctuary were particular favourites.We had one minor glitch with the accommodation in Phuket which was immediately dealt with by Tip. I think we would have struggled to resolve the problem by ourselves. So, thank you Asia Highlights , Cathy, Tip and tour guides Tanny, Sam and Lisa. It was a memorable holiday and we will be back. More
Roger Pyle,
Feb 2023
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Trip of a lifetime from Asia Highlights!
I recommend highly Asia Highlights as a travel company. Our travel consultant Albee took the time to connect with us during the planning process to make sure we were comfortable with our itinerary. When we arrived, we were met by our guide and all the details were attended to. They picked great hotels and tours. I often describe our trip as the trip of a lifetime! Would definitely use them again when we come back to Asia More
Nancy Parker,
Feb 2023
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Asia Highlights and Albee - highly recommended
Asia Highlights is very reliable agency and Albee is an amazing representative of the company. From the moment when we contacted her until our departure, the whole support we received was 6* level. She prepared our trip offer within few hours and afterwards she was extremely flexible to adjust as per our needs. In the period between the offer and the trip, Albee was always available for all our questions and supported us on the best possible way. During the trip she was again flexible to add new activities/transfers and this went on the smoothest possible way. Thank you, Albee and Asia Highlights. Definitely we will approach you again for our next Asian trip More
AZ,
Feb 2023
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5 STAR CUSTOMER SERVICE BY MONICA
Monica is a very sweet young lady who speaks excellent English via email/WhatsApp, and knows the importance of excellent customer service. More
Trent,
Jan 2023
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We had an awesome experience with Asia Highlights
We started our trip in Bangkok, where Mr. Prassert our tour guide, met us. He was on time and the van was clean and well-maintained. Mr. Prassert was our guide for the 4 days we spent in Bangkok. He was helpful, kind, and willing to accommodate our pee and coffee breaks. The driver was safe and punctual. Next, we went to Chiang Mai.Gemma exceeded every expectation we had for our tour of Chiang Mai! She had a great attitude that made exploring the city fun and exciting, as well as an abundance of knowledge and experience. She was always spot on with figuring out logistics and coming up with unique ideas that suited our interests and schedules. Gemma was incredibly generous with her time and even walked us to security at the airport to make sure we could carry all of our luggage. That’s just one example of how far out of her way she went to make our trip easier and more enjoyable. Gemma was sincerely interested in making every minute of our trip count. We’re very grateful to have met her and feel like we have found a friend in Gemma! Our driver in Chiang Mai was also great and very accommodating to our changes in schedules. More
Lois Paskow,
Dec 2022
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Thailand & Cambodia 2022
Albee went above and beyond to make our trip perfect. She rearranged flights due to a mistake of mine. She made sure we were still picked up and escorted to the airport. I felt comfortable and safe with all our reps. She did an excellent job and I highly recommend her booking your next trip. Thank you, Albee. More
Karen Brooks,
Dec 2022
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Perfect vacation thanks to Albee we…
I can’t say enough about how much we appreciate all the efforts, attention to details and immediate responses to all questions that Albee and her team provided. The Asia Highlights team deserves more stars than the maximum allowed because of continually going above and beyond all expectations. Thanks Albee for making our vacation through south east Asia absolutely perfect!!! More
Michael Sharp,
Dec 2022
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2023 Chiang Mai CAD Yipeng Festival
We got early bird ticket and Bella was assisting us through whatsapp. Easy, competitive price, front row tickets. Thanks Bella, for being patient explaining everything to me. Highly recommended. More
lily hartati,
Dec 2022
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Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep
Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep. She was responsive and knowledgeable. Buying tickets from their website was super easy and the whole process was straightforward. Highly recommended. More
Khai,
Nov 2022
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I was ever so grateful to have a point…
I was ever so grateful to have a point of contact while in a foreign country for the first time, alone, that helped me through the Ins and outs of getting to and from my destination. Albee was readily available which brought me much comfort and feeling of safety. If in this part of the world again, I will not hesitate to use your services.. More
Omega,
Nov 2022
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Memorable Experience!!!
I booked tickets to the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Nov 2022. Bella was extremely responsive and helpful!! More
Bowen,
Nov 2022
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Personalized
It is the attention to detail and what we specifically wanted to see that made the reservation experience so exciting. More
Peter Bongiovanni,
Nov 2022
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Indian Nicknames
Parents also give cute nicknames to their kids. Close friends and family often continue to use the nickname even when he/she is an adult.
Besides cute kid names, nicknames could simply be a short form of a given name, like Akki, which is short for Akshit.
How to Address an Indian Person

In India, you would usually call a man by his surname and a woman by her given name. This is because many women change their surnames to their husbands'. So, it is clearer to call her by given name (especially when both husband and wife are present).
Polite expressions in English can also be used in India, such as "Mr." or "Mrs.". Another local popular polite expression is to add "Ji" behind the name which shows the respect, like "Tomji" or "Amyji".
There is also a special taboo in India. The wife cannot call her husband by his name, which is considered disrespectful. Wives usually use Babuji (meaning ‘father of the baby') or ‘you', instead of using their husband's name.
This is because, in traditional Indian society, the status of the husband is higher than the wife's. Indian women are told to respect their husbands from a very young age.
But now in some big cities in India, some highly educated women are breaking this "rule".
The Most Popular Indian Names and Their Meanings

Here are some of the most popular and beautiful Indian names for girls and boys.
The names, whether for girls or boys, mainly focus on common themes such as beauty, divinity, and nature, and some relate to religious beliefs/practice.
50 Popular Indian Female/Girl Names
Girls' Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Anaka | Sweet-faced |
Aija | Melody; happy |
Amberlie | Amber |
Bhumika | Earth, base |
Durga | Invincible one |
Hasina | Good or beautiful |
Pooja | Prayer, worship |
Shantae | Stone |
Niranjana | Night of the full moon |
Apsara | Celestial maiden |
Bhavika | Righteous, pious |
Niesha | Alive and well |
Kaeya | Monsoon flower |
Kanisha | Glowing eyes |
Shalini | Modest |
Abhaya | Has no fear |
Chella | Liking for all; meadow on a ledge |
Anjuli | Blessing |
Eshana | Wish, desire |
Harshita | Always happy |
Rachana | Creation |
Anusha | God has favored me |
Veena | Lute |
Shanti | Peace |
Azha | Sunrise; goat; star |
Chandani | Star; moonlight |
Laboni | Grace |
Jarita | Mythical bird |
Hansika | Swan |
Yanisha | One with high hopes |
Neha | Loving; affectionate |
Lata | Beautiful vine |
Devi | Goddess |
Sona | Gold; wisdom; beautiful |
Divya | Divine brilliance |
Charu | Radiant, graceful |
Reva | Rain |
Naya | Renewal; fresh |
Shaan | peaceful; pride |
Ambar | Sky |
Nila | Blue |
Ishani | Desire; Goddess Durga, Parvati |
Sitara | Starlight |
Amar | Immortal one; Eternal |
Jaya | Victorious |
Dayamai | Kind; merciful |
Heena | Sensuous; beautiful woman |
Sumana | Flower; good-hearted |
Eesha | Powerful |
Bhakti | Faithfulness |
20 Less-Common but Brilliant Indian Girl/Female Names
Girls' Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Aarushi | First ray of the sun |
Advaita | Union of matter and soul, Non-duality, Unique |
Bhama | Light |
Chavi | Reflection |
Ganika | Jasmine flower |
Ishya | Spring |
Kalpi | Imagined |
Nainika | pupil of the eye |
Sagareka | The waves in the ocean |
Tapasi | Ascetic |
Tarana | Daytime; meaning bring a sense of warmth and hope |
Talika | Nightingale |
Sila | Reunite |
Safa | Innocent and pure |
Sadguna | Good virtues |
Zoya | Love and care |
Anitha | Grace |
>Harini | Deer |
Sanu | Young |
Kaira | Peaceful; unique |
50 Popular Indian Boy/Male Names
Boys' Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Aadrik | The sun rising between the mountains |
Aakash | Sky |
Aarav | Wisdom |
Abhay | Brave |
Adhyan | One who is rising |
Ajay | Triumphant kings |
Chetan | Intelligence; vigor; spirit of life |
Diya | Light, glow |
Daksh | Precious son |
Darshil | One who is good-looking, attractive, and sober |
Eklavya | loyal and brave student of Dronacharya in the Mahabharata epic |
Gautam | Wisest; another name for Lord Buddha |
Hari | The one who removes evil; another name for Lord Krishna |
Harsh | Joy; excitement; happiness |
Ishank | Peak of the mighty Himalayas |
Ivaan | Glorious and gracious gift of God |
Jai | Victory |
Jeet | One who overcomes all his problems |
Kairav | White lotus |
Kavyansh | Wisdom and intelligence |
Lalit | Handsome, charming, and graceful |
Manvik | A kind-hearted individual |
Mohan | One who can mesmerize people around him by his style, charm, and looks |
Naitik | A good-natured individual with great morals |
Nikit | One who is honest and has divine wisdom |
Nirved | A gift from the gods |
Pratyush | A person who is bright and radiant like the sun |
Rajiv | Successful |
Ranveer | Winner; one who is a hero of the battle |
Rajat | Courageous |
Sathvik | Calm and virtuous |
Shaurya | Bravery and power |
Sumedh | Intelligent and clever |
Tanay | A son |
Tarak | Star |
Vatsal | Adorable and affectionate |
Vinay | Humble and modest |
Viraj | Resplendent |
Yashvir | Brave and glorious |
Tipu | Tiger |
Banjeet | Mighty, victorious |
Adhiraj | King |
Din | Humble |
Anshu | Ray of sun |
Nalin | Lotus |
Ruan | Sandalwood; red; raising; ascending, tall |
Johar | Gem |
Chander | Moon |
Sajan | Loved one |
Praneel | Lord Shiva; kind; benign; auspicious |
20 Best Indian Boys/Male Names that are Less-Common
Boys' Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Madhavaditya | Of the springtime |
Purav | Singing or chanting voice that comes from the East at sunrise |
Miransh | Small part of the ocean |
Vishesh | Something/someone special |
Nishad | Seventh note on the Indian musical scale |
Omkar | Sacred syllable of Hindus |
Rakshan | Protector; Preserver; 928th name of Lord Vishnu. |
Prathmesh | The best of the best among all gods |
Prateek | The first word in a sentence |
Anshul | One who is bright, radiant, and glows like a sunbeam |
Anvit | One who leads/guides others |
Himanshu | Moon |
Kshitij | The point where the earth and the sky meet |
Nikunj | Sweet-smelling fragrance |
Prabhas | Brilliant or lustrous |
Riddhiman | One who has good fortune |
Vyom | Sky |
Ehsaan | An act of compassion |
Divit | Someone immortal or reaching the sky |
Bhavin | Winner |
10 Unisex Indian Names
Name | Meaning |
Chaila | Handsome and charming |
Harsha | Joy; delight |
Kadal | Ocean |
Deva | Celestial spirit |
Chandlan | Beautiful and everlasting moon |
Ishana | Rich; prosperous |
Daruka | Pine tree |
Druva | Pole Star |
Joarder | Powerful |
Harjot | God light |
Touring India with Us
Taking a trip to India is a great way to delve into and start learning about India's unique language(s), values, and customs. See our popular India tours:
- 7-Day Golden Triangle India Tour
- 9-Day India Golden Triangle with Tiger Safari
- 11-Day India Highlights and Goa Honeymoon Trip
- 14-Day Classic Rajasthan Tour
We offer a customized travel service. All our tours can be adjusted. Just contact us to tell us your needs.
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
Get Inspired with Our Sample Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.