Punjabi English baby names

[Gherkin14]

Anyone have any ideas of any “neutral” names that would fit with my DH’s Indian (Punjabi Sikh) family and my Irish/English family?
Finding a name that both sets of grandparents like/approve of had been proving tricky

We’re not finding out the gender so suggestions of both boys and girls names welcome!

Ruben
Milan
Bodhi
Noah
Dylan / Dillon
Nayan
Aidan / Aiden
Nathan
Joshan

Veda
Mila
Maya
Ruby
Ania / Anya
Sia
Sofia
Leela
Eva
Hannah
Uma
Elora
Anjali
Arya
Indira
Talia
Tara
Opal

Danyal. Easy to say, nice name. Aadam. Raafi/Raaf?

I think girls are much easier!

I missed Sikh sorry! Mine are more Muslim.

Shaan for a boy or girl is nice

Rupal for a girl?

A lot of the previous suggestions are not actually Sikh names

Some traditionally Sikh but modern names include:

• Kiran is nice and works for a girl or boy, nice meaning too (ray of light)

Boys

• Rohit & Rohan for boys
• Ajit, Amrit
• Aakash
• Daan
• Harbir, Hardeev, Harcharan
• Jai (v popular!)
• Pal (said like ‘Paul’
• Shaan
• Taran

Girls

• Aria
• Maya (v v popular for both Sikh & Hindu Punjabis)
• Asha
• Serena, Selina
• Raya , Rekha, Rhea
• Lila

Better than suggesting a name, I really would suggest that you bounce ideas off some of the women in your DHs circle. Asian names really signify regional and religious identity and this is not obvious if you’ve not grown up in that culture. I’d avoid choosing a very non Sikh/non Punjabi but Asian sounding name as that’s just weird (example: Sara- it’s a Pakistani Muslim name. Lovely, but does not signify YOUR child’s heritage).

Asian names also have generational trends too … but doubt you’d go for any v out of vogue names

Btw - my favourite name and one that could work is Tara (meaning ‘star’), for a girl. I think it’s an Irish name too?

I’m in a similar situation. It’s much easier if you make the decision without family input and announce the name at birth. No one has to approve of the name.

Our family is the same Punjabi/English mix and some names we considered were -

Boys

Anand
Rohan
Jeevan
Jassa
Hari
Ekam

Girls -

Leila
Anya
Nina
Maya (although couldn’t use due to close family member being called this)
Noa
Ambika
Ameya
Nila

FWIW I wouldn’t personally announce the name until after the birth - saved us a lot of drama!

Pick a name you both like but use the punjabi middle names Singh and Kaur.

The grandparents named their own children