Indian first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Indian has been for the last 1 years (from 1984 to 1984) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Indian

From the Sanskrit word meaning "of Indian origin or descent".

Popularity of Indian by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Indian is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 1984, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Indian.

Year Male Count Female Count
1984 0 5

The history of the first name Indian

The given name Indian is derived from the Latin word 'Indus', which refers to the Indus Valley region in modern-day Pakistan and northwestern India. The name has its origins in ancient civilizations that thrived along the Indus River, dating back to around 3000 BCE. It was later adopted by the Greeks and Romans, who referred to the Indian subcontinent as 'India' and its inhabitants as 'Indians'.

In ancient Sanskrit texts, such as the Vedas and Upanishads, the name appears in various forms, including 'Indu' and 'Indra', often associated with lunar deities and the god of rain and thunderstorms, respectively. The name is also mentioned in the epic poems Mahabharata and Ramayana, which date back to the 4th century BCE.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Indian was Indian Jones, an English explorer who traveled to India in the late 16th century. His accounts of the subcontinent and its people were widely read and contributed to the spread of the name in Europe.

In the 18th century, Indian Mutiny (1857-1858) was a significant event that brought the name to prominence. Indian soldiers, also known as sepoys, played a crucial role in this uprising against the British East India Company's rule in India.

Another notable figure was Indian Chief, a leader of the Nez Perce tribe in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. He was born around 1825 and led his people during the Nez Perce War of 1877, resisting the forced relocation of his tribe.

In literature, Indian Hosseini, an Afghan-American novelist born in 1965, is known for his acclaimed works, including "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns", which explore themes of cultural identity and the experiences of Afghan people.

Indian Arie, born in 1975, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer who has won numerous Grammy Awards and is known for her neo-soul and acoustic soul music, often exploring themes of empowerment and self-love.

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

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

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"Indian first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 16, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/indian-meaning-and-history/.

"Indian first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/indian-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 16 July, 2025

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

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