Most Popular Indian Last Names To Use For Your Baby-In this article, we will be looking at some of the most popularly used Indian last names that you can give to your child if you love Indian names.
Indian names are normally based on a variety of systems and it may vary from one region to another. The names are also influenced by religion and caste and some may come from epics.
There are number languages in India and this is as a result of the population of the country. Due to the historical Indian cultural influences some names across south and Southeast Asia are influenced by or adopted from Indian names.
In India, the surnames are last names and they are placed before the first names indicating village, origin, clan, trade of their ancestors or caste.
So we are going to be showing you some popular Indian last names you can give to your baby.
Most popular Indian last names
We will be listing the names alphabetically with their meanings.
· Acharya:
Acharya is the Brahman Hindu surname. The surname comes from Sanskrit word ‘acarya’. The term is also applied as a title for a man of learning.
· Agarwal:
Agarwal is a Jain surname. The Agarwals are one of the most prominent mercantile communities of India. The surname comes from the word Agroha, the former capital of the ancient city Agar Sen. One of the most common Indian last names.
· Ahuja:
Ahuja is a Sikh surname meaning the ‘descendant of Ahu’. Ahu was the name of an Arora ancestor.
· Anand:
Anand is a Hindu surname derived from the Sanskrit word ‘anada’, which means joy. It was initially a given name but is now popular as a surname.
· Anthony:
The last name Anthony is a surname popular amongst Christians in South India. It is derived from the personal name Anthony.
· Arya:
Arya is a Hindu surname popular in several communities. It comes from the Sanskrit word ‘arya’, which means an ‘honorable man’.
· Ahluwalia:
Ahluwalia is a Sikh surname derived from a place name. Ahlu is the name of a village near Lahore.
· Amin:
Amin is a Muslim surname derived from the Arabic word ‘amin’, which means ‘trustworthy’. The term is used in combination with other names to form compound names.
· Apte:
Apte is a Maharashtrian surname found amongst Konkan surname. It comes from the Marathi word ‘apta’, which denotes the three Bauhinia tomentose.
· Aadesh
Aadesh is a notable and popular Indian name that means “order” or “command.”
· Aadrik
The name Aadrik refers to “the sun rising between the mountains.”
· Aakash
The name Aakash has been quite a popular Indian baby boy name and means “sky.”
· Aahan
The name Aahan refers to “dawn, sunrise, or first ray of light.”
· Aarav
Aarav is a popular choice among Indian parents. The name Aarav means “wisdom.” It also means “one who is peaceful.”
· Aarnik
The name Aarnik means “being one of its kind or something unique.”
· Abhay
If you want your child to grow into a fearless man, then name him Abhay. The name Abhay means “brave.”
· Abhimanyu
Abhimanyu was the name of Arjun’s son in Mahabharata. You can also name your son Abhi, which is a diminutive of the name Abhimanyu.
· Abhinav
The name Abhinav has its origin from a Sanskrit word that means “unique.” Abhinav also means “bright and clever.”
· Adit
Adit is a diminutive of the name Aditya. The variation of the name is as popular as the original form. Adit means “from the beginning.”
· Adhyan
The name Adhyan means “one who is rising.”
· Adrith
Another name for Lord Vishnu, Adrith, refers to “one who supports others.”
· Advaith
The name Advaith means “unique” or “free from duality.”
· Advik
A short and sweet boy name, Advik, means “creativity.”
· Agastya
The name Agastya has its origin from “Agastya,” a revered Vedic sage as per the Hindu mythology.
· Ajay
The name Ajay means “one who is invincible.” In ancient India, the title ‘Ajay’ referred to “the triumphant kings.”
· Akshaj
A name that comes with a religious origin, Akshaj, means “a thunderbolt.” Akshaj also refers to “Lord Vishnu.”
· Akshant
The name Akshant refers to “an individual who wants to win all the time.”
· Akshat
The name Akshat refers to “one who can neither be harmed nor injured.”
· Akshay
A popular name for boys, Akshay, means “one who is immortal.”
· Amandeep
Amandeep is a popular Punjabi name that means, “the lamp of peace.”
· Amey
The name Amey refers to “one who is free from deceit and error.” Amey also has a religious origin and is another name for Lord Ganesha.
· Anik
The name Anik means “strong.” It is also one of the many names of Lord Ganesha.
· Aniket
A name that has a religious origin, Aniket, is another name for Lord Shiva.
· Anishk
The name Anishk refers to “one who has no enemies and foes.” This is a good example of Indian Last Names
· Ankit
The name Ankit means “a symbol.” The name Ankit also means “distinguished or the chosen one.”
· Ansh
The name means “portion” or “day.” The name is also used for referring to Lord Vishnu.
· Anshul
A unique and modern name, Anshul refers to the “one who is bright, radiant, and glows like a sunbeam.”
· Anvit
A unique name, Anvit, refers to “an individual who leads/guides others.”
· Arijit
The name Arijit refers to “one who triumphs over his enemies.” Arijit is also the name of Lord Krishna and Subhadra’s son.
· Babu:
Babu is a Hindu surname meaning ‘father’. It is derived from the Prakrit word ‘bappa’, a respectful term of address for a man. It is also a term of endearment for a baby boy.
· Bahadur:
This surname is used by Hindu Kayastha and is widely found in the North Indian States.
· Bajpayee:
This surname belongs to Hindu Brahmin.
· Bajwa:
Bajwa is a Sikh surname of the Jat tribe. This surname is popular in Northern states of India like Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.
· Bakshi:
Bakshi is a Hindu and Punjabi surname. The surname comes from the Persian ‘bakhshi’, which means ‘paymaster’. Bakshi was originally the title of officials who distributed wages in Muslim armies.
· Balakrishnan:
The surname Balakrishnan is derived from the Sanskrit word bālakṛṣna, which means ‘child Krishna’. This surname is common in South India.
· Banerjee:
Banerjee is a Bengali surname. Its first element ‘Ban’ is a short form of the village named Bandoghat and the last element ‘jee’, is derived from ‘jha’, which means ‘teacher’.
· Basu:
Basu is a Bengali surname. It comes from the Sanskrit word vasu, which means ‘wealth, gem, and radiance’. The surname Basu is also an epithet of Lord Shiva.
· Batra:
Batra is a Punjabi surname based on a clan in the Arora community. This is a good example of Indian Last Names
· Bawa:
Bawa is a Sikh surname based on the name of Jat clan. Itis also the title given to the male descendants of the first three Sikh gurus.
· Bedi:
The surname Bedi is based on the name of a clan in the Khatri community. Bedi is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘vedi’, which means ‘one who knows the Vedas’.
· Bhasin:
Here is another Sikh surname for you. Bhasin is based on the Khatri community clan. The surname is derived from Sanskrit word Bhasin, which means ‘sun’.
· Bhatt:
The surname Bhatt is based on the name of a subgroup of goldsmiths in Punjab. It means ‘the learned one’.
· Bhonsle:
This surname belongs to the Maratha clan who are believed to be the successors of Sisodia Rajput. Found mostly in West Bengal and eastern parts of India.
· Bisht:
This is very commonly seen in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand. It refers to a person who has a land grant from the government.
· Biswas:
Biswas is a Bengali Kayastha surname. It comes from Sanskrit word ‘visvasa’, which means trust’.
· Biswal:
This surname is commonly found in India, especially in Odisha and West Bengal.
· Bohra:
This is a Brahmin Kshatriya surname that is prevalent in Uttarakhand and some other parts of India.
· Burman:
Burman is a Rajbansi surname for the Sanskrit word ‘varman’, which means ‘protection’. It is also the cognate of the North Indian surname Verma.
· Chabra:
Chabra is a Hindu and Sikh surname. It is based on the name of the Arora clan.
· Chadha:
Chadha is a Khatri Hindu surname. It is based on the name of the clan in the Khatri community. The Ramgharia Sikhs have a clan named Chadha.
· Chakrabarti:
The Bengali surname Chakrabarti comes from the Sanskrit word čakravartī, which means ‘emperor’. It also denotes a ruler whose chariot wheels rolled everywhere without obstruction.
· Chandra:
The popular surname Chandra comes from the Sanskrit word ‘candra’, which means ‘pleasant or moon’. It usually occurs as the final element of a compound name. For example- Ramachandra.
· Chauhan:
The surname Chauhan has an ancient prestige. The Chauhan kings ruled in Rajasthan and other bordering states.
· Chawla:
Chawla is a Hindu and Sikh surname. It is based on the name of a clan in the Arora community.
· Chopra:
Chopra is a surname borne by Hindus and Sikhs. It belongs to a clan called Chopra.
· Chourasia:
This is from the brahmin caste. It is commonly found in Uttar Pradesh, the Terai regions and Bihar.
· Chowdhury:
Chowdhury is a status name for the head of a community. The title was originally awarded to people of eminence. It is now a popular surname among both Indian Muslims and Hindus.
· Dalal:
Dalal is a gotra (clan) of Jats community, which is found in the northern part of India. According to Wikipedia, the clan got this name from a king named Dalal.
· Das:
Das is a Bengali surname. It comes from Bengali word ‘das’, which means ‘votary’. It is also used as a final element of the compound given names.
· Dara:
Dara is a Parsi surname. It is based on Old Persian royal name Dārayavahush, which means ‘possessor’.
· Datta:
Datta is a Bengali and Punjabi surname derived from the Sanskrit word ‘datta’, which means ‘gift’. In the Puranas, the name is associated with the Vaishya caste. In Assam and Bengal, the surname Datta belongs to the Kayastha caste.
· Dayal:
Dayal is the surname of Kayastha community. Just like the surname Chandra, Dayal also occurs as the final element in a compound name.
· Deol:
The Sikh surname Deol is based on the name of a Jat clan.
· Deshmukh:
Deshmukh is a Hindu surname found in several communities. The surname is derived from the Marathi word ‘desmukh’, which means ‘district chief’. This is a good example of Indian Last Names
· Deshpande:
Deshpande is a Brahmin surname derived from the Marathi word ‘despande’. The term was used for the district accountant of a hereditary office.
· Dewan:
The surname Dewan comes from the Arabic word ‘diwan’, which means a royal court or treasury. In the Mughal era, the term Dewan was the highest official in a state
· Dhar:
Dhar is a Kayasth surname deriving from the Bengali name ‘dhar’, which means ‘credit’.
· Dhawan:
The surname Dhawan is based on the name of a clan in the Khatri community. It comes from the Sanskrit word ‘dhav’, which means ‘runner’ or ‘messenger’.This is a good example of Indian Last Names
· Dhillon:
Dhillon is a Sikh or Jat surname. The Dhillon tribe is one of the most widely distributed Jat tribes in India.
· Dixit:
Dixit is a Brahman surname coming from the Sanskrit word ‘diksita’, priest-performing initiation.
· Dubey:
Dubey is a North Indian surname pronounced as two syllables.
· Fernandes:
This last name has its basis from the Portugal name “Fernando”. It is prevalent in Goa and the coastal regions of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
· Gandhi:
Gandhi is an occupational surname meaning ‘perfume seller’, in Indic languages. In Gujarat, the word ‘gandha’ also means ‘pharmacist’ and ‘grocer’.
· Ganguly:
The Bengali surname Ganguly is a variation of Sanskrit surname Gangopadhyay. It means a teacher from the Ganga village.
· Garg:
Garg is a Bania and Jain surname. Both Oswal Banias and Agarwal Banias have clans named Garg. It was the name of an ancient Hindu sage.
· Ghosh:
Ghosh is a Bengali surname. It is a Kayasth occupational name coming from the Sanskrit ‘ghosa’, which means ‘cowherd’.
· Gill:
Gill is a Punjabi surname. It comes from a Punjabi word ‘gil, which means ‘prosperity’. There is also a Jat tribe with the same name.
· Goel:
The Indian surname Goel is based on the name of a clan of the Agarwal community. The surname Goel is popular in the northeastern states of India.
· Gokhale:
Gokhale is a Hindu surname found among Konkanasth Brahmins. It comes from the Marathi word ‘gokhla’, which means ‘cow eye’.
· Goswami:
Goswami is a Brahmin Hindu surname. It derives from the Sanskrit word ‘gosvami’, which means religious mendicant.
· Grover:
Grover is a Hindu and Sikh surname. You will find many Punjabis with this surname.
· Gupta:
Gupta is a Jain and Bania surname coming from the Sanskrit word ‘gupt’, which means ‘protected’. It is an ancient surname of India.
· Haldar:
Haldar is a Brahman surname coming from the Sanskrit word ‘haladhara’, which means ‘one who holds a plow’. It is an epithet of Balarama.
· Hussain:
It originates from the Arabic name “Husayn” that means “to be good”. It is a common Muslim surname.
· Iyer:
Iyer is a Hindu-Brahmin surname popular in Tamil Nadu region of India. The Iyer Brahmans are an important community from Tamil Nadu.
· Jain:
The surname Jain derives from the Sanskrit word ‘jaina’, which is derived from Jina or the ‘follower of Jina. It means ‘triumphant’.
· Jaiswal:
The Jaiswal surname is used by several Hindu communities including the Jains, Rajputs and alwars.
· Jha:
The surname Jha is popular in Northern India. It is the reduced form of the Sanskrit word ‘upadhaya’, which means teacher’.
· Joshi:
The surname is a short form of the Sanskrit surname ‘jyotshi’, which means astrologer. It is borne by Brahmins.
· Kale:
This is a common Maharashtrian surname and originates from a nickname given to Kahl, that signifies bald.
· Kalra:
Yet another Khatri/Arora community clan, it is a Sikh as well as a Hindu surname, mostly found in parts of Punjab.
· Kapadia:
Kapadia is a surname popular in Rajasthan, Bombay, and Gujarat. It comes from a Parsi word ‘kapad’, which means ‘cloth merchant.
· Kapoor:
Kapoor is a Sikh surname of the Khatri community. It is a derivation of the personal name ‘karpura’, which means ‘camphor’.
· Kashyap:
Kashyap is a Hindu surname based on the name of a Gotra. It was the name of Hindu sage. It means ‘tortoise’ and ‘deer’.
· Kaur:
Kaur is a surname used by Sikh and Punjabi women. It is used either as the final element of a personal name or as the last name.
· Khan:
This is a very common Muslim surname based on a Turkish ruler.
· Khanna:
Khanna is a Sikh surname based on the clan found in the Khatri community. They are said to be the descendants of Khan Chand.
· Khandelwal:
This surname has its origins in Rajasthan from a place called Khandela. The Khandelwal surname is very common in the states of Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, districts of Ajmer, Jaipur etc.
· Khurana:
The Sikh surname Khurana is based on the name of a clan in the Arora community.
· Kohli:
Kohli is a Hindu and Sikh surname based on the name of a clan in the Khatri community.
· Kulkarni:
Kulkarni is a Marathi surname meaning ‘village clerk’. The Kulkarni was a village official under the village headman.
· Kumar:
The surname Kumar is found in several Indian communities. It is the epithet of god Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva. Kumar also occurs as an element of a given name.
· Kumari:
Another common surname used by many communities; is a feminine connotation of the wife of the warrior Bhima in the Mahabharata. It is also another name for Goddess Durga.
· Kundu:
A Bengali Kayastha surname. It is widely used in West Bengal.
· Kulkarni:
This surname is common in Maharashtra and Karnataka. It comes from two words; Kula referring to family and karanaika that refers to the archivist.
· Laghari:
Laghari is another common Indian last name. The last name is taken from the Laghari tribe in Baluchistan.
· Lal:
Lal is a Hindu surname common in several communities. comes from a Sanskrit word ‘lala’, which means ‘darling’. It is an epithet of the God Krishna. It is also one of the popular Indian last names.
· Madan:
The surname Madan comes from an ancestral personal name Madan. It means ‘god of love’. It is also the name of an Arora clan.
· Mahajan:
The Bania surname Mahajan comes from the Hindi word ‘mahajan’, which means ‘banker’ or money lender’. The Sanskrit meaning of Mahajan is ‘great person’.
· Mahapatra:
People belonging to this surname are the natives of West Bengal and Odisha and are mostly Bengali Brahmins.
· Maheshwari:
This surname is a Hindu caste and mostly from Rajasthan. They are mostly in commerce and form a large part of the Bania community.
· Malhotra:
Malhotra is a surname based on the clan in the Khatri community. It is a variation of Mehrotra.
· Mallick:
Mallick is both a Hindu and a Muslim surname. It comes from an Arabic word ‘malik’, which means ‘king.
· Mangal:
Mangal is a Hindu surname coming from the Sanskrit surname ‘mangala’. The Agarwal has a clan called Mangal. The surname means ‘auspicious’.
· Mani:
Mani is the reduced form of the South Indian surname Subramanian. It is also a given name in Kerala.
· Mannan:
Mannan is a Hindu surname meaning ‘king’ in Tamil. It Mannan is also a Muslim surname. It is based on the Sanskrit word ‘mannan’, which means ‘the bountiful’.
· Majumdar:
This surname means “a record keeper” and originates from a Persian word. It is a Hindu as well as a Muslim surname and is prevalent in Assam, Bengal, Bangladesh etc.
· Mehta:
Mehta is a Rajasthani surname-meaning chief in modern Indian languages. It Gujarati, it means ‘teacher and accountant’.
· Mishra:
A common surname between Hindu Brahmins. Very commonly found in all parts of India as well as Nepal.’
· Mitra:
A common surname found in Bengali Hindus, it is also quite common with the Kayastha caste in West Bengal.
· Modi:
The last name Modi is borne by Gujarati and Parsi people. There is a clan called Modi among the Oswal Banias.
· Mondal:
A surname predominantly found in Bangladesh, Nepal and India.
· Mukherjee:
The surname Mukherjee is the Sanskrit version of Mukhopadhyaya. It is composed ‘mukhya’, which means principal and ‘upadhaya’, which means teacher.
· Naidu:
The surname Naidu occurs in communities of Andhra Pradesh. It is composed of a stem word ‘Maya, which means leader or chief. The suffix ‘du’ is a third-person masculine suffix in Telegu.
· Naik:
It originates from the Sanskrit word Nayak that signifies hero. This surname is predominant in Goa and Maharashtra. It is even found in Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
· Nath:
An Indian last name among Bengali Hindus and Assamese Hindus as well. The Nath surname also represents certain backward classes in West Bengal.
· Pal:
It is an alternative name used in India and Bangladesh. It is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit term “pala” which refers to the keeper.
· Pandey:
The surname Pandey comes from the Sanskrit surname ‘Pandita, meaning scholar. It denotes a Brahmin engaged in teaching or cooking.
· Pandit:
A common surname for Brahmins especially the kumhars.
· Parekh:
Parekh is the variant of the name Parikh. It means ‘assayer’ in Gujarati. The Porwal Banias and Oswal have clans called Parekh.
· Patel:
Patel is a common Gujarati surname. It means the ‘village headman’ in Gujarati.
· Pillai:
The Pillai surname refers to a feudal group and has its origins in Tamil Nadu as well as Kerala. It is further divided into other castes and is relevant to the southern states of India.
· Puri:
The name Puri is based on the clan in the Khatri community. The word ‘puri’ means ‘small town’ in Punjabi.
· Purohit:
Purohit is a Brahmin surname. The term denotes the family priest of a Hindu community. It means ‘one placed foremost’.
· Qureshi:
This surname has its descent from Arabic descendant Quraish who was the leader of Mecca when Prophet Muhammed was born. It is a common Muslim surname and is found all over the subcontinent.
· Ranganathan:
Ranganathan is a Hindu last name meaning ‘lord of mirth’. It is an epithet of Lord Krishna.
· Rao:
The last name Rao is popular in Orissa and other western states of India like Maharashtra, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh.
· Raut:
This surname is prevalent in Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
· Rawat:
This surname is borne by many Rajput officials and is common in Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi.
· Ray:
The surname Ray is a variant of Rai. It comes from the Sanskrit word ‘raja’, which means ‘king’. It is also the name of the Bunt community.
· Reddy:
Reddy is a caste in Southern India. The people of the Reddy caste are known for good administration. Their other profession besides administration is farming.
· Roy:
One of the Bengali surnames which are used as titles as well. It originates from the word which means king.
· Rthaod:
This is also a Rajput clan and it was used as a surname by some other community who referred to them as Rathore Vaishyas. This is a popular last name in Rajasthan.
· Sachdev:
The last name Sachdev is based on one of the clans in the Arora community. It means ‘true god’.
· Sahani:
A surname from the Khatri community, popular with the Hindu Sikhs.
· Sahu:
A common last name in Maharashtra. It is common among Marwaris who have migrated to Vidarbha from Bundelkhand. This name is also common in Odisha.
· Sarkar:
This is a prestigious title given to the zamindars of Bengal who used to serve both Britishers as well as Islamic rulers.
· Saxena:
Saxena is the name of one of the subgroups of the Kayastha community. It is also the title awarded to them by the kings of Srinagar.
· Seth:
Seth is a Parsi and Jain last name. It is popular amongst mercantile communities. Seth means ‘banker or merchant’.
· Shah:
Shah is both a Hindu and Muslim surname. It is a Persian royal title, which means ‘emperor’.
· Sharma:
The last name Sharma means ‘joy or shelter’. It is regarded as a prestigious name by the Indians. This is a good example of Indian Last Names
· Shenoy:
This surname is from the regions of Goa and coastal Karnataka. This is common among Hindus of the Brahmin community.
· Shetty:
This south Indian surname is from the coastal parts of Karnataka. It is an upper-caste and is found in Karnataka and Maharashtra as well.
· Shinde:
This surname is found in the Dalit community and it is a clan of Kunbi origin.
· Shukla:
This surname means white or bright. A common surname used by the North Indian Brahmins.
· Singh:
Singh is a Hindu Kshatriya surname, which is now being adopted by several communities. It means ‘hero’ or ‘eminent’.
· Sinha:
This surname is very common and is from the eastern parts of India. It is common among Kayastha and the Bhumihar community. Prevalent in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
· Srivastava:
This surname is one of the twelve clans of the Chitragupta Kayastha.
· Tandon:
A surname found in Punjabi Sikhs and Hindu Khatris.
· Thakur:
The name Thakur means ‘deity’ or ‘lord’. The last name Thakur is commonly associated with Kshatriyas but is also found among the Brahmins and other communities.
· Trivedi:
A very commonly used North Indian Brahmin surname in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra. It originates from the Sanskrit term “Trivedi”, one who knows all the three Vedas.
· Tripathi:
This is a Hindu brahmin surname, very commonly found in the North Indian states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and neighboring areas.
· Waghmare:
This surname is widely used by many people. It is a clan of Mahar and Arakh Gopal and represents a sub-caste in India.
· Varghese:
This is very common in the states of Kerala.
· Varma:
Varma is a surname common in North India. It comes from the Sanskrit word ‘armor’, which means ‘protection’. It was initially used only by the Kshatriya caste, but is now adopted by non- Kshatriya communities as well.
· Yadav:
This surname originates from “Yadavu”, who is a successor of Yadu is a Sanskrit term. Predominantly found in the North-Eastern states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
· Zacharia:
Zacharia is a Hebrew surname popular amongst Christians in Kerala. It is also used as a first name among the families of Kerala.
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