Indie first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Indie has been for the last 46 years (from 1979 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Indie

A diminutive form of the word "independent", implying freedom of thought or action.

Popularity of Indie by gender

Based on the last 46 years of data, Indie is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 94% of people named Indie being female.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 450 female babies and 20 male babies born with the name Indie.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 20 baby boys were named Indie in 2024, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

YearMale CountFemale Count
202420450
202326514
202229547
202124433
202020370
201917311
201818251
201713234
201614208
20158147
2014986
20131162
20121146
2011856
2010835
2009833
2008523
2007544
2006014
2005023
2004011
2003011
2002011
199505
197905

The history of the first name Indie

The name Indie is a modern English name that emerged in the late 20th century. It is derived from the word "independent," which comes from the Latin word "independens," meaning "not depending on another." The name reflects a sense of individuality, freedom, and self-reliance.

While the name Indie itself does not have a long historical lineage, it has been influenced by the rise of independent music and film movements, particularly the indie rock and indie film genres. These artistic movements celebrate a DIY (do-it-yourself) spirit and a rejection of mainstream corporate culture.

The earliest recorded use of the name Indie dates back to the 1980s, coinciding with the emergence of the indie rock scene in the United States and the United Kingdom. One of the first notable individuals to bear the name was Indie Namal, a Sri Lankan singer and songwriter born in 1984.

Throughout history, there have been a few individuals with similar names or nicknames that may have influenced the popularity of Indie. For example, Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India (1917-1984), had a name derived from the Sanskrit word "Indu," meaning "moon."

Another notable figure was Indira Devi, a Nepali princess and writer (1915-1982), whose name also had Sanskrit roots. Additionally, there was Indiana Ellison, an American actress and singer (1932-1984), whose nickname "Indie" may have contributed to the name's recognition.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the name Indie are:

  1. Indie Rock, an American singer-songwriter born in 1991.
  2. Indie Chua, a Singaporean singer and songwriter born in 1992.
  3. Indie Merrill, an American actress born in 1995.
  4. Indie Anderson, an American model and social media personality born in 1997.
  5. Indie Camingue, a Filipino actress born in 1999.

As the indie culture gained momentum in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the name Indie became increasingly popular as a way to express nonconformity, creativity, and a unique identity.

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

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

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