Indian Baby Names

Although there are hundreds of traditional Indian names, new names come into vogue every year. Each region of India has a distinctive naming pattern. For example, a South Indian name is easily discernible from a Bengali name. Authentic Hindu names usually come from a root word and then are modified or joined with another root word to create a special meaning. For example, the name Veda means "knowledge," derived from the word veed, meaning "to know." A land that has endured thousands of years of aggression waged by every race imaginable, from Greek and Roman to English and Arabic, India has adopted many names from various cultures.