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ArchivesRe: Are these names actually used in India?
in reply to a message by Lily8
Easiest is to check Google for web pages ... but, yes, all these names are used somewhere or the other in India. In some subcultures, they may be somewhat dated.
Pronounciation in the various Indian languages are different, and, in most of them stress is not a marked feature. Some of them do not distinguish vowel length either. With that in mind, here is the Sanskrit pronounciations from which the north Indian forms descended. (key: a roughly as in English about, A as in car, i as in hit, I as in heat, o as in cold, l,k,m,n,h roughly as notmal in English, sh as in sugar; the Y as in yes. The t as in French tu; S is retroflex in Sanskr, but usually like sh today; the N is retroflex in some languages)
lakSmI (from lakS to mark/characterize/perceive probably related to lag to attach: originally mark or sign, later good omen or fortune; goddess of fortune and wealth; a name since antiquity).
AshA (from A- towards + shaMs to declare,praise,vow,wish,revile,hurt = to hope; hope)
lalitA (from lal/laD. to play etc., playful, voluptuous, etc.; a name since antiquity)
kAli (may be related to kal, to incite,etc.; black, night etc.; name of a goddess)
shAnti (from sham, to fatigue; means peace)
mAYA (from mA, to measure; art, supernatural power, illusion, attachment; Gautama Buddha's mother)
ashoka (from a- not + shoka (from shuc to shine, burn) burning, pain, sorrow; not causing or feeling sorrow; name since antiquity; name of an emperor in ancient India) The last -a is not pronounced in most pronounciations today.
rohaNa (from ruh, to climb; climbing, name of a mountain). The last -a is silent in most pronounciations.
rANI is from rAjn~I (the n~ is palatal like in some spanish words; from rAj, to rule; queen). The N in this one often becomes n.
Pronounciation in the various Indian languages are different, and, in most of them stress is not a marked feature. Some of them do not distinguish vowel length either. With that in mind, here is the Sanskrit pronounciations from which the north Indian forms descended. (key: a roughly as in English about, A as in car, i as in hit, I as in heat, o as in cold, l,k,m,n,h roughly as notmal in English, sh as in sugar; the Y as in yes. The t as in French tu; S is retroflex in Sanskr, but usually like sh today; the N is retroflex in some languages)
lakSmI (from lakS to mark/characterize/perceive probably related to lag to attach: originally mark or sign, later good omen or fortune; goddess of fortune and wealth; a name since antiquity).
AshA (from A- towards + shaMs to declare,praise,vow,wish,revile,hurt = to hope; hope)
lalitA (from lal/laD. to play etc., playful, voluptuous, etc.; a name since antiquity)
kAli (may be related to kal, to incite,etc.; black, night etc.; name of a goddess)
shAnti (from sham, to fatigue; means peace)
mAYA (from mA, to measure; art, supernatural power, illusion, attachment; Gautama Buddha's mother)
ashoka (from a- not + shoka (from shuc to shine, burn) burning, pain, sorrow; not causing or feeling sorrow; name since antiquity; name of an emperor in ancient India) The last -a is not pronounced in most pronounciations today.
rohaNa (from ruh, to climb; climbing, name of a mountain). The last -a is silent in most pronounciations.
rANI is from rAjn~I (the n~ is palatal like in some spanish words; from rAj, to rule; queen). The N in this one often becomes n.
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Replies
Thank you so much :) Could you tell me a bit more about the popularity of each name?
For example is Rani a name for women in their 30s or is it also common for babies? How about the other names?
Just wondering if there is such a thing as a dated name in India or if those names are timeless and used in all generations.
And are they very common? Would a girl named Laxmi have another Laxmi in her class? Or is it unlikely?
So Lakshmi and Laxmi are both lakSmI?
For example is Rani a name for women in their 30s or is it also common for babies? How about the other names?
Just wondering if there is such a thing as a dated name in India or if those names are timeless and used in all generations.
And are they very common? Would a girl named Laxmi have another Laxmi in her class? Or is it unlikely?
So Lakshmi and Laxmi are both lakSmI?
1