India
India: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɪndiːə/ · /ˈɪndi.ə/
Meaning and origin of India
Root meaning: “river”
- A female given name.
Etymology
Ancient Greek Ἰνδός (Indós) Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā) Inherited from Old English India, Indea, from Latin India, from Ancient Greek Ἰνδία (Indía), from Ancient Greek Ἰνδός (Indós, “Indus river”), from Old Persian 𐏃𐎡𐎯𐎢𐏁 (hiⁿdūš), from Sanskrit सिन्धु (sindhu), ultimately from Proto-Indo-Iranian *síndʰuš (“river”). Compare Middle English Inde and Ynde from Old French Ynde (original form started to prevail in the 16th century), Classical Persian هند (hind, “India”), Sanskrit सिन्धु (síndhu, “a river, stream”). Doublet of Indus, Sindhu, Hindu, and Sindh.
How popular is India?
Since 1880, 23,990 girls and 27 boys in the U.S. have been named India (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #299 in 2001. Its highest rank for boys was #5341 in 1989. In 2025, 118 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to India
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sibling name ideas for India
Names that peaked around the same time as India and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
India FAQ
What does the name India mean?
India traces back to a root meaning "river". A female given name. Ancient Greek Ἰνδός (Indós) Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā) Inherited from Old English India, Indea, from Latin India, from Ancient Greek Ἰνδία (Indía), from Ancient Greek Ἰνδός (Indós, “Indus river”), from Old Persian 𐏃𐎡𐎯𐎢𐏁 (hiⁿdūš), from Sanskrit सिन्धु (sindhu), ultimately from Proto-Indo-Iranian *síndʰuš (“river”). Compare Middle English Inde and Ynde from Old French Ynde (original form started to prevail in the 16th century), Classical Persian هند (hind, “India”), Sanskrit सिन्धु (síndhu, “a river, stream”). Doublet of Indus, Sindhu, Hindu, and Sindh.
How popular is the name India?
Since 1880, 23,990 girls and 27 boys in the U.S. have been named India (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #299 in 2001. Its highest rank for boys was #5341 in 1989. In 2025, 118 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is India a boy or girl name?
India is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 23,990 girls and 27 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.