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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Which of these Indian names would you consider to be secular?

64 replies

Babyonthewaysoon · 06/04/2021 10:19

Baby girl will be of mixed Indian & Pakistani heritage and from Hindu and Muslim backgrounds. We won’t raise her to follow either faith because we’re not religious. We want an Indian name, not an Arab or Persian one!
Some that we have considered but aren’t sure if they are appropriate or not for a Muslim/ Hindu background but non-religious child? Honest opinions please!
Anjali
Deepika
Diya
Tara
Sima
Avani
Nisha
Disha
Vidya
Vaani
Anjana
Rohini
Aditi
Jaya
Shreya
Vaishali
Ambika
Shaila
Ankita
Ananya

Suggestions are more than welcome!! :)

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Karmakamelion · 17/04/2021 18:52

Whats vhp?

ChurchBells · 16/04/2021 10:06

Perhaps Tara as middle name.

How about—
Anisha
Veda
Esha
Meena
Nila
Asha
Lina
Ila
Maya
Anita
Meera
Nalini
Sarita

drainrat · 16/04/2021 10:05

Do you like Vira (pronunciation Vee-ra)? It means life force or inner strength.

drainrat · 16/04/2021 10:02

Not Vaishali - it’s the Indian equivalent of the Flying Scotsman 🤣

drainrat · 16/04/2021 09:58

I think I posted on a previous thread of yours (the one that got ugly because of someone with VHP views).

The actor Saif Ali Khan has Hindu-Muslim heritage and both his marriages were to Hindu women. His daughter is Sara IIRC.

Tara is a great cross-cultural name, as is Kavita and Varuna.

Karmakamelion · 15/04/2021 15:51

Anjali has a deep sanskrit meaning so doesn't feel very secular

Karmakamelion · 14/04/2021 22:11

Tara is a beautiful name with a beautiful meaning. And its from lots of cultures therefore reducing the risk of offending

Original poster
Babyonthewaysoon · 14/04/2021 22:03

@LadyMonicaBaddingham It seems to be a favourite on mumsnet!

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LadyMonicaBaddingham · 14/04/2021 16:52

Definitely Anjali, in my opinion - we had a lovely girl with that name at school a few years back and I always adored it...

Original poster
Babyonthewaysoon · 14/04/2021 16:48

@Gardenista Thanks for all those suggestions, I really like some of them!

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Gardenista · 14/04/2021 01:43

Also Meera/Mira

Gardenista · 14/04/2021 01:42

Given your circumstances and that your daughter is not going to be raised to practice Hinduism or Islam, I wonder if something like Nina, Meena, Natasha, Anita, Angela, Anoushka might be a good choice - very mainstream Indian names but also quite religiously neutral because they are western names too. Also seen muslim friends in mixed marriages use Sara, Lara, Laila, Amara, Sophia, Maya.
Your original list to me seem all very Hindu names (I am Hindu). Choosing a name which reflects 2 different cultures is difficult. If people want to criticise you they will, so you should choose the name you love but I also think in naming your child you are saying something about what you think is their identity. I really limited myself choosing a name for my daughter that worked in both cultures - in hindsight I would have just chosen the name I loved. People will make assumptions on your child’s race/religion on the basis of your/ her fathers names too if they are Asian - you won’t be able to get around it.

Original poster
Babyonthewaysoon · 12/04/2021 11:32

@habsboys2020 @Member589500 Thanks for the help! Anjali has lovely nn potentials! I like Tara but it just seems a bit bland compared to the others.

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Member589500 · 11/04/2021 21:54

Most traditional names have a religious connection. You have some beautiful choices. Love Anjali. Can be annie for short

habsboys2020 · 11/04/2021 20:54

@Babyonthewaysoon I don't think you will be offending any Hindu by calling your daughter Anjali or any other names from the list. I am a Hindu. I absolutely love Tara from your list. I like it above all the name.

Original poster
Babyonthewaysoon · 11/04/2021 20:48

@LostArcher Thanks! Love Aditi , all time favourite name!
@VanillaAndOrange Thanks! :)

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VanillaAndOrange · 11/04/2021 14:07

I can't comment on the religious connotations but I like Anjana and Anjali. I went to school with a very nice Anjana!

LostArcher · 11/04/2021 13:41

I have taught a lot of these but although I taught a Tara from Indian heritage, I'd always assumed it was an Irish name so you learn something everyday! I think Anjali is lovely. I teach a fabulous Diya. Aditi too. There are hundreds of Mayas and Laylas so I personally would avoid those.

Original poster
Babyonthewaysoon · 11/04/2021 13:25

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions! I am purposefully sticking to Sanskrit names because we both love them - the spiritual meanings behind them and the stories & historical/ cultural context. I don’t feel comfortable highlighting a particular religious belief on here - for safety reasons. Leaving a particular religion and embracing another one can be a very dangerous concept for the individual involved, depending on which religion they were from.

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Bemoreme21 · 10/04/2021 21:17

I think all of your names are very Hindu sounding so guessing you are Hindu OP. My suggestions are:

Alana
Anaya
Maya
Shaan
Samar
Natasha
Sana
Sara
Leena
Amaya
Arya

cerealgamechanger · 10/04/2021 21:04

Apart from Tara, all the others are very Hindu sounding to me. I don't think anyone will mind you keeping the name YOU want for YOUR child so go easy on yourself. One name that I think works in both cultures/religions is Maya. Meera is lovely too. I live in an Indian/Hindu majority area and all the other names you've listed are sadly very common. If that isn't an issue for you, go for your favourite Anjali (will forever be associated with KKHH for me- favourite film of all time 🙈).

BABSYA · 10/04/2021 20:42

Amani

In Hindi it means the one that comes first

Meaning of Amani in Arabic
Amani is a direct Quranic name for girls that means hope, wish, fancy.

Original poster
Babyonthewaysoon · 10/04/2021 20:37

@DalPalak That’s reassuring & thanks for the support! :) Love those as well, Vaishali is so pretty.

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DalPalak · 08/04/2021 20:59

I'm in an Indian/Irish, Hindu/Catholic relationship, and our son is named for Hindu God. No one's offended! On the contrary, my relatives in India love his name.

Give your dd the name you like best and screw what others think. She has as much right to those names as any "born Hindu".

By the way, I love Vaishali, Diya, Anjali and Anjana.

Original poster
Babyonthewaysoon · 08/04/2021 20:46

Many of you seem to like Tara and Anjali! Those are high up on our list at the moment as well as a few others like Avni x

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