Is India unusable

[Gardeniarose]

DH and I are expecting our first baby, we were set on India, but a few days ago I saw some comments on here suggesting it may not be useable due to colonial/Imperialists links. I can't imagine my baby being anything other than India but I don't want to give her a name that will cause any offence or embarrass her.

So is India unusable? What could we use instead?

I think it's a beautiful name. I know two little Indias and neither is the least bit "chavvy". However, both little Indias are mixed race, as is the other India I'm aware of (the writer and journalist India Knight). For a white child, I'd probably try to choose something less controversial if there is bad feeling about it. Perhaps a name that is usable in both Britain and India, such as Anita or Sophia?

Reading the reactions of PPs on here of Indian heritage would be enough to have me giving it a wide berth. I wouldn’t want to cause offence.

I am fully Orthodox Jewish but in practice most of my family are culturally Jewish in that they don’t attend synagogue, keep kosher and many don’t believe in God, I’d still feel uncomfortable with someone with no Jewish heritage, proposing to call their DS Cohen, on the basis it’s the title given to priests and is believed to be associated with the priests who were descended from Aaron in the Old Testament. It might seem odd with me being non practicing, but it’s just how I feel.

It does put me in mind of posh English families with a rose-tinted view of the Raj.

Pakistan is an acronym (Punjab, Afghan, Kashmir, Indus/Islam, Sind. The "Tan" is for Baluchistan). People can do name their kids after the regions / eg Kashmira / Ghani

Interesting. I didn't know that.

Don't think it would be offensive to use, but unfortunately, when I hear India, I now think Willoughby and that would be enough to put me off using it.

I like places as names but I think it makes sense only if you have strong roots there. Also for some reason I think cities/regions work better than countries.

For example I'd love London for (unborn) DS but I know DH wouldn't hear of it lol.

I knew a girl called Paris growing up, which is weird because I think of it as a boy's name but I guess it could be either.

There's also Sydney, Brooklyn, Chelsea etc. Maybe even, Bristol or Kent

It depends how much you value the good opinion of others. Like the pp who feels uncomfortable about people using the name Cohen - I accept that is their opinion, but it doesn’t really have any value to add to/affect what I would call my child. If you are really concerned don’t use it. People will have opinions on any name you choose though.

The first time I met a person called India I thought they were taking the piss. It's the name of a country - what next, Italy and Australia??

I never knew Pakistan was an acronym. Thanks for the explanation. Every day’s a school day.

I agree with pp that it’s colonial and a bit tone-deaf.

What about Linnea for a similar sound? Or simply Linda.

Twenty five years ago I worked with a woman called Italia.

India is totally useable!! My best friends have the most gorgeous little girl called India (blonde hair and blue eyed so definitely doesn't only work on kids with Indian heritage), she is 4 and I've heard her receive many compliments on her name. They aren't even close to chavvy, much the opposite, they live in Chelsea in a multimillion pound house!!
Also my name is China, sometimes people look surprised but mostly get compliments, and India is a far more common name than mine.

You seem to have spectacularly missed the point - your post indicates all the reasons why people should not call their child India.

If there was ever a post that showed her ridiculous it is to name a child India - it’s this.

@Henxy clearly doesn’t get any of the issues!

India is totally useable!! My best friends have the most gorgeous little girl called India (blonde hair and blue eyed so definitely doesn't only work on kids with Indian heritage), she is 4 and I've heard her receive many compliments on her name. They aren't even close to chavvy, much the opposite, they live in Chelsea in a multimillion pound house!! Also my name is China, sometimes people look surprised but mostly get compliments, and India is a far more common name than mine.

This cannot be legit.
And it's why you can't use India

Google Katie Hopkins and India. There’s quite a funny interviews with her and Holly Willoughby.

It used to be used by people who had links to India (the country) India Hicks was given the name because she is the grandaughter of Earl Mountbatten who was the last viceroy of India.

It's nto that unusual to use place names as given names, Florence Nightingale was born in Florence.

Then you get places that happen to have the same name as a place, Orlando has been used as a name for centuries, long before the place in the USA was given the name.

India is perfectly fine and has bee a name for many years.

I love the name, and wanted to call now 17 year old dd India. With hindsight I am really glad I didn't, as others have said, it seems tone deaf (I am not from the UK).
But, I also love Indigo, nn Indie!

My cousin is called China (maybe you're her?!) I've never heard of another one.

As person of non-white heritage, it's a no from me. It sits in the category of names white people choose to make themselves sound more exotic and bohemian.
What about Lydia? Similar sound.

People like the name. Indiya and Priya are quite common names I love them both. I prefer my spelling!

Is it any different to Paris? 🙄

I just think of that ghastly woman, Katie Hopkins.