Find out how popular the first name Indi has been for the last 45 years (from 1979 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Indi by gender

Based on the last 45 years of data, Indi is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 93% of people named Indi being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 91 female babies and 8 male babies born with the name Indi.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 8 baby boys were named Indi in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Indi

The name Indi has its roots in the Sanskrit language, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, where it was used to refer to the revered Indus River, one of the major rivers in the region. The name is closely linked to the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished around 3300-1300 BCE in the northwestern regions of modern-day India and Pakistan.

Indi is derived from the Sanskrit word "Sindhu," which means "river" or "ocean." This name was initially associated with the Indus River, but over time, it became closely connected with the people and culture of the Indus Valley region. In ancient Hindu mythology, the Indus River was considered sacred and was often personified as a goddess.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Indi can be found in the Rigveda, one of the oldest and most revered Hindu scriptures, composed around 1500-1200 BCE. In this text, the name is mentioned in connection with the Indus River and the surrounding territories.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Indi. One of the most famous was Indi Sawhney (1925-2011), an Indian architect and urban planner who played a significant role in shaping the modern landscape of New Delhi. Another prominent figure was Indi Khaanji (1919-2001), an Indian writer and poet known for her works in the Sindhi language.

In the realm of art and culture, Indi Rana (1930-2018) was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer who made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of traditional Indian dance forms. Indi Cowie (1944-2020) was a British actress and author, best known for her roles in television series such as "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "The Forsyte Saga."

Moving to the field of sports, Indi Grewal (born 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who has represented her country in several international tournaments.

While the name Indi has its origins in the Indian subcontinent, it has gained popularity across various cultures and regions over time. Its connection to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization and the sacred Indus River has imbued it with a rich historical and cultural significance.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Indi was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Indi, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!