India Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'India' originates from the Sanskrit word 'Sindhu', referring to the Indus River. It evolved through Persian and Latin influences. The meaning relates to the land of the Indus. There is no biblical relevance. The name gained prominence during British colonialism and is now associated with a culturally rich and rapidly developing nation. Notable figures include Mahatma Gandhi and Sachin Tendulkar.
The name India is most popular in District of Columbia, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, India has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'India' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10692nd out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1287th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1922nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1744th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1028th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 477th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 529th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1036th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'India' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "India"
Pronunciation
/ˈɪndiə/
Origin
Sanskrit
Etymology
The name 'India' is derived from the River Indus, which was called 'Sindhu' in Sanskrit. The Persians referred to the land beyond the Indus River as 'Hindus', which later evolved to 'India'.
Meaning
The land of the Indus River.
Language Evolution
Sindhu (Sanskrit), Hindu (Old Persian), India (Latin)
Historical Usage
The name India gained popularity during the period of British colonial rule in the 19th century, as it was used to refer to the entire subcontinent.
Variants & Derivatives
Bharat (Hindi), Hindustan (Urdu), Indies
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, India is perceived as a vibrant and diverse country known for its rich culture, history, and rapid economic growth.
Famous People
Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, A. R. Rahman, Sachin Tendulkar
Explore More India Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "India"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "India"
"India" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 10692nd of 16616 | 27 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1287th of 9107 | 641 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1922nd of 9204 | 339 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1744th of 12526 | 697 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1028th of 19264 | 1,933 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 477th of 27321 | 7,973 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 529th of 35406 | 8,871 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1036th of 30306 | 3,046 |
Regional Popularity of "India" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
67.60% 3511th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "India" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
45.05% 1066th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
83.34% 1961st/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
68.40% 1662nd/2430 |
59.03% 1684th/2853 |
100.00% 2775th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
33.09% 972nd/2937 |
23.31% 812th/3483 |
24.22% 852nd/3518 |
44.81% 1812th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
10.83% 399th/3685 |
11.84% 530th/4475 |
6.43% 334th/5194 |
18.39% 1162nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
11.87% 544th/4582 |
10.69% 552nd/5164 |
5.18% 379th/7313 |
13.79% 1029th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
29.52% 1176th/3984 |
24.56% 1102nd/4487 |
11.23% 766th/6822 |
23.47% 1473rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "India"
This map shows the relative popularity of "India" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.