India first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name India has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of India

A feminine name derived from the Sanskrit word Sindhu, meaning "region of the Indus River".

Popularity of India by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, India is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named India being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 180 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name India.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 180
2022 0 272
2021 0 282
2020 0 247
2019 0 284
2018 0 295
2017 0 302
2016 0 263
2015 0 262
2014 0 226
2013 0 259
2012 0 204
2011 0 252
2010 0 261
2009 0 335
2008 0 353
2007 0 430
2006 0 522
2005 0 613
2004 0 615
2003 0 740
2002 0 979
2001 0 1,049
2000 0 723
1999 0 677
1998 0 514
1997 0 602
1996 0 668
1995 0 598
1994 0 616
1993 0 659
1992 6 664
1991 0 614
1990 7 500
1989 9 443
1988 0 498
1987 0 530
1986 0 603
1985 5 754
1984 0 329
1983 0 178
1982 0 141
1981 0 178
1980 0 134
1979 0 157
1978 0 129
1977 0 159
1976 0 134
1975 0 151
1974 0 106

The history of the first name India

The name India is a relatively modern invention, likely originating in the late 19th or early 20th century. It is believed to be derived from the name of the Indian subcontinent, which itself comes from the Greek word "Indos," meaning "the river Indus." The Indus River flows through modern-day Pakistan and northwestern India.

While the name India itself does not appear to have any historical references or appearances in ancient texts or religious scriptures, the name of the region has a long and storied history. The name "India" was used by the ancient Greeks to refer to the regions beyond the Indus River, which were known as "Indika" or "Hindustan" to the Persians and Arabs.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name India as a given name was in the early 20th century. India Wilkes was a British actress born in 1886 who appeared in several silent films in the 1910s and 1920s. Another early bearer of the name was India Edwards, an American actress born in 1914 who appeared in films and television shows from the 1930s to the 1970s.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the name India was India Arie, an American singer-songwriter and record producer born in 1975. She is known for her neo-soul and R&B music and has won numerous awards, including four Grammy Awards. Other notable individuals named India include India Eisley, an American actress and singer born in 1993, and India Hicks, a British author, model, and entrepreneur born in 1967.

While the name India is not derived from any ancient languages or cultures directly, its connection to the Indian subcontinent and the historical significance of the region make it a unique and intriguing name choice. Its relatively recent emergence as a given name also reflects the increasing globalization and cultural exchange of the modern era.

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 India was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of India, 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!

"India first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 8, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/india-meaning-and-history/.

"India first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/india-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 8 November, 2024

India first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/india-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.