Choosing a name is one of the first big decisions you make for your child. Indian lists for boys keep returning to a few styles: short and easy to say, rooted in Sanskrit and mythology, and soft, modern sounds with doubled vowels such as "Aarav" and "Aayan". Here is what is trending, with meanings and the feel of each name.
The names you will hear most
- Aarav: peaceful, calm. A top pick in many lists, and easy for people of any language to say.
- Vivaan: full of life. One of the names of Krishna.
- Reyansh: a ray of light. Linked to Lord Vishnu.
- Vihaan: dawn, the start of a new morning.
- Ayaan: often given as gift of God or a path. Common across communities.
- Arjun: bright, shining. The archer hero of the Mahabharata.
- Kabir: great, powerful. Also the name of the poet-saint.
- Ishaan: the sun, or a name of Shiva, and the north-east direction.
- Atharv: the first Veda, the Atharvaveda. Also a name linked to Ganesha.
- Advik: unique, one of a kind.
Strong and brave
- Shaurya: bravery, valour.
- Rudra: a fierce name of Shiva.
- Samarth: capable, strong.
- Dhruv: the pole star, steady and fixed.
- Aryan: noble, honourable.
- Yash: glory, success.
- Parth: a name of Arjun; a prince.
Light, sun and nature
- Ahaan: the first light of dawn.
- Tejas: brilliance, radiance.
- Arnav: ocean.
- Neev: foundation, a strong base.
- Rohan: ascending, rising.
- Aadi: the beginning, the first.
Spiritual and gentle
- Devansh: a part of God.
- Shivansh: a part of Shiva.
- Hriday: heart.
- Divit: immortal.
- Kavish: a poet; a little one who loves words.
- Lakshay: a target, a goal.
Short, modern names
Many parents now like two-syllable names that look the same in English and Hindi: Aarav, Ayaan, Neev, Rohan, Kabir, Yash, Ahaan and Aadi. They are quick to write on school forms and passports, and are rarely mispronounced.
Before you finalise
- Say it out loud with the surname. Check the initials too.
- Look at the meaning in more than one language. A name that is lovely in Hindi may sound odd in another language, which can matter if you move abroad.
- Think about nicknames. Kids will shorten it.
- Be wary of very common names. If Aarav is in every class, a less common spelling does not fix it and can cause paperwork trouble later. Pick a different name if you want one that stands out.
Read our guide on how to choose a baby name, and see the trending girl names.
Please note: there is no official, single ranking of baby names in India. "Trending" here means names that appear again and again in recent Indian parenting and baby-name lists, and not a count of birth records. Meanings differ between sources, so check with a family elder, a Sanskrit or Arabic dictionary, or your own priest or maulvi before you decide. Spelling matters too: pick one spelling and use it everywhere.