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HelpSouth Asian-compatible girls' names
Hello! I haven’t posted in a while, but of course, as I start dating someone new, I start playing around with our hypothetical future children’s names in my head. I’m sure that sounds creepy to most people, but, as I’m sure other name nerds can relate, I can’t seem to help it and it’s just for fun. I don’t want to be too specific, since we’re not anything serious at the moment, but the guy is from a Christian South Asian background (South Asia basically refers to India/Pakistan/Bangladesh) and I’m an American of Polish and Irish descent, which creates an interesting naming scenario. We also have pretty compatible tastes when it comes to most things, apparently including names. We haven’t discussed them much, but he has mentioned in passing that he likes the sound of the names Hazel and Juno, though of course he finds Juno unusable. I very much approve! So I have a revised favorites list of names that I feel would be compatible with both our backgrounds, but South Asian naming practices are a bit tricky and vary by region, so I would have to double-check usability with him on a lot of the names with him if we were talking about a real baby here. South Asian Christians usually use either names in the local language (that do not have strong Muslim or Hindu associations) or familiar/easy-to-pronounce Western or biblical names. The surname would be short and South Asian.
I’m just curious about any thoughts and opinions on these names and combos. You can skip past my thoughts/background I give for each combo and just pick out your favorites if you like. I may post my boys list soon too.
Nora (Occasional nn Nor. It is an easy-to-pronounce global name with English/Anglo-Norman/Latin, European, and Arabic/Aramaic origins with known meanings of “honor,” “light,” and “wisdom of God.” Needs a substantial mn for a short last name.)
Rosalie (nns Rose, Rosa, maybe Rosie--whatever comes naturally. I like them all. Not a common English name, but easy to pronounce and “rose” is a familiar English word, kind of sounds like the Indian Anjali.)
Talia (nn Tal. TAHL-lee-a and TAHL. Hebrew name meaning “dew from God” and variant of Thalia, name of a Greek muse of comedy and poetry meaning “blooming”)
Ariana (nn Ari, perhaps Arti as well if preferred by South Asian relatives. Proncouncing ahr-ee-AHN-a and AHR-i. It is an easy-to-pronounce name of both European and a Persian origin, though this usage is not listed in the database, meaning “from the Aryan/Indo-European tribe” and is related to the name for Iran, as well as Ireland interestingly enough. The word “Aryan” came to mean “noble/elite” in Sanskrit, but there is not associated with the Nazi racial connotation. There is an Afghan restaurant I like called Ariana. Names of Persian language origin are not uncommon in parts of South Asia and not just among Muslims.)
Arti (Hindi name meaning “love for God.” I prefer this spelling a bit over Aarti. I think it sounds simple but unsual, but feel it may be too short/nicknamey as a full name. It would need a substantial mn.)
Asha (AH-sha. A common Hindi name with the beautiful meaning of “hope.” I grew to like this name better when used on a strong female character in “A Song of Ice and Fire”/”Game of Thrones” series, Asha Greyjoy, though I wouldn’t necessarily honor her. Her character’s name was changed to Yara in the show. I realized it works well in English and sounds similar to other “Ash-” names used by English speakers. I like it paired with a Western mn.)
Nikita (Both a European and Hindi name. I find it very cool and energetic, but worry that people will call her Nikki, which I’m not crazy about for some reason. Feel free to suggest a combo that will win me over though. Maybe an mn with a nickname option or that could serve as an alternate name?)
Combos:
Nora Hazel (He happed to mention he likes the name Hazel. So do I, but perhaps too Western?)
Nora Aliza (Pretty but may sound too Muslim. Aliza is not only Hebrew, but also an Urdu name used by South Asian Muslims)
Nora Lilita (a name used by some Indian Christians probably inspired by the names Lily, Lila, and Lalita)
Nora Lalita (Lalita may be “too Hindu” in usage/meaning)
Nora Esther (I like that Esther is biblical and that the combo together has the possible meaning of “starlight.” I think I prefer the flow of Talia Esther though.)
Nora Lilith (GP-I love this combo, but feel it is unusable since many may find its associations offensive. Our families are quite religious.)
Rosalie Indira (love this combo, but mn may be “too Hindu” in meaning/usage)
Rosalie Lalita (same as above)
Rosalie Anita (Anita is both a European and Hindi name meaning “grace, favor”)
Talia Esther (I like the flow. I feel Esther sounds fresh and familiar and it’s biblical.)
Talia Jasmine (I like the name Jasmine and like the combo meaning imagery of “blooming Jasmine” or dew on Jasmine, but feel it may sound too gimmicky on a South Asian child, especially with the Disney princess association.)
Talia Jaswinder (Punjabi name that I think is kind of cool.)
Talia Nikita (Nikita’s both European and Hindi. Like the look of it, but may sound too hard as a combo)
Ariana Sophia / Sofia (pretty and elegant, but feel that Sophia is so overused right now)
Ariana Safiyyah / Ariana Safiyah (Love this, but may be “too Muslim”)
Ariana Seraphina (I think this is beautiful, but worry it is too much of a mouthful. Surname would be short though.)
Ariana Seraphine (looks beautiful and flows better, but Seraphine just sounds unfinished to me compared to Seraphina)
Ariana Surina (Used by South Asians, unsure of origin atm)
Ariana Samantha (Pretty, but don’t love it.)
Ariana Sylvia (The V may be hard to pronounce for South Asians. Their V’s sound more like W’s.)
Ariana Sasha (I think it’s kind of cute. Can be honoring. But may not flow that well?)
Ariana Susannah (Biblical, but possibly too unfamiliar to South Asians)
Ariana Pallavi (I believe it is pronounced PAHL-ah-vee, Hindi name meaning “budding leaf, shoot.” I kind of like it.)
Arti Lalita
Arti Lila (Too unsubstantial or does it work? Lila is both Western and Hindi)
Arti Latika
Arti Lorena
Arti Lydia (Biblical and used by South Asian Christians. Not in love, but could grow on me.)
Still working on Asha combos and open to suggestions, preferably a stong name of Western origin, not too frilly. Initial ideas…
Asha Susannah
Asha Korinna
Asha Nikita
Asha Julia
Asha Naomi
Also taking combo suggestions for Nikita. I kind of like Nikita Helen, Nikita Hazel, and Nikita Romilda off the top of my head.
Thanks!
I’m just curious about any thoughts and opinions on these names and combos. You can skip past my thoughts/background I give for each combo and just pick out your favorites if you like. I may post my boys list soon too.
Nora (Occasional nn Nor. It is an easy-to-pronounce global name with English/Anglo-Norman/Latin, European, and Arabic/Aramaic origins with known meanings of “honor,” “light,” and “wisdom of God.” Needs a substantial mn for a short last name.)
Rosalie (nns Rose, Rosa, maybe Rosie--whatever comes naturally. I like them all. Not a common English name, but easy to pronounce and “rose” is a familiar English word, kind of sounds like the Indian Anjali.)
Talia (nn Tal. TAHL-lee-a and TAHL. Hebrew name meaning “dew from God” and variant of Thalia, name of a Greek muse of comedy and poetry meaning “blooming”)
Ariana (nn Ari, perhaps Arti as well if preferred by South Asian relatives. Proncouncing ahr-ee-AHN-a and AHR-i. It is an easy-to-pronounce name of both European and a Persian origin, though this usage is not listed in the database, meaning “from the Aryan/Indo-European tribe” and is related to the name for Iran, as well as Ireland interestingly enough. The word “Aryan” came to mean “noble/elite” in Sanskrit, but there is not associated with the Nazi racial connotation. There is an Afghan restaurant I like called Ariana. Names of Persian language origin are not uncommon in parts of South Asia and not just among Muslims.)
Arti (Hindi name meaning “love for God.” I prefer this spelling a bit over Aarti. I think it sounds simple but unsual, but feel it may be too short/nicknamey as a full name. It would need a substantial mn.)
Asha (AH-sha. A common Hindi name with the beautiful meaning of “hope.” I grew to like this name better when used on a strong female character in “A Song of Ice and Fire”/”Game of Thrones” series, Asha Greyjoy, though I wouldn’t necessarily honor her. Her character’s name was changed to Yara in the show. I realized it works well in English and sounds similar to other “Ash-” names used by English speakers. I like it paired with a Western mn.)
Nikita (Both a European and Hindi name. I find it very cool and energetic, but worry that people will call her Nikki, which I’m not crazy about for some reason. Feel free to suggest a combo that will win me over though. Maybe an mn with a nickname option or that could serve as an alternate name?)
Combos:
Nora Hazel (He happed to mention he likes the name Hazel. So do I, but perhaps too Western?)
Nora Aliza (Pretty but may sound too Muslim. Aliza is not only Hebrew, but also an Urdu name used by South Asian Muslims)
Nora Lilita (a name used by some Indian Christians probably inspired by the names Lily, Lila, and Lalita)
Nora Lalita (Lalita may be “too Hindu” in usage/meaning)
Nora Esther (I like that Esther is biblical and that the combo together has the possible meaning of “starlight.” I think I prefer the flow of Talia Esther though.)
Nora Lilith (GP-I love this combo, but feel it is unusable since many may find its associations offensive. Our families are quite religious.)
Rosalie Indira (love this combo, but mn may be “too Hindu” in meaning/usage)
Rosalie Lalita (same as above)
Rosalie Anita (Anita is both a European and Hindi name meaning “grace, favor”)
Talia Esther (I like the flow. I feel Esther sounds fresh and familiar and it’s biblical.)
Talia Jasmine (I like the name Jasmine and like the combo meaning imagery of “blooming Jasmine” or dew on Jasmine, but feel it may sound too gimmicky on a South Asian child, especially with the Disney princess association.)
Talia Jaswinder (Punjabi name that I think is kind of cool.)
Talia Nikita (Nikita’s both European and Hindi. Like the look of it, but may sound too hard as a combo)
Ariana Sophia / Sofia (pretty and elegant, but feel that Sophia is so overused right now)
Ariana Safiyyah / Ariana Safiyah (Love this, but may be “too Muslim”)
Ariana Seraphina (I think this is beautiful, but worry it is too much of a mouthful. Surname would be short though.)
Ariana Seraphine (looks beautiful and flows better, but Seraphine just sounds unfinished to me compared to Seraphina)
Ariana Surina (Used by South Asians, unsure of origin atm)
Ariana Samantha (Pretty, but don’t love it.)
Ariana Sylvia (The V may be hard to pronounce for South Asians. Their V’s sound more like W’s.)
Ariana Sasha (I think it’s kind of cute. Can be honoring. But may not flow that well?)
Ariana Susannah (Biblical, but possibly too unfamiliar to South Asians)
Ariana Pallavi (I believe it is pronounced PAHL-ah-vee, Hindi name meaning “budding leaf, shoot.” I kind of like it.)
Arti Lalita
Arti Lila (Too unsubstantial or does it work? Lila is both Western and Hindi)
Arti Latika
Arti Lorena
Arti Lydia (Biblical and used by South Asian Christians. Not in love, but could grow on me.)
Still working on Asha combos and open to suggestions, preferably a stong name of Western origin, not too frilly. Initial ideas…
Asha Susannah
Asha Korinna
Asha Nikita
Asha Julia
Asha Naomi
Also taking combo suggestions for Nikita. I kind of like Nikita Helen, Nikita Hazel, and Nikita Romilda off the top of my head.
Thanks!
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