Modern Indian names in Singapore have to do a particular job: hold meaning and heritage, while working in a country where the name will be read aloud by Chinese, Malay and English speakers for the rest of the child’s life.
Below are names in current use, with meanings, followed by the practical considerations specific to registering a name here.
A note on meanings: Sanskrit-derived names often have several meanings depending on the source, the regional tradition and the compound. Those given here are the commonly cited ones. If a name’s meaning matters to your family, confirm it with an elder or a priest instead of relying on any list, including this one.
Girls
| Name | Commonly given meaning |
|---|---|
| Aanya | Grace; also given as inexhaustible |
| Aarohi | An ascending musical scale |
| Anika | Grace; also a name of Durga |
| Diya | Lamp, light |
| Ira | The earth; also associated with Saraswati |
| Ishani | A name of Parvati |
| Kavya | Poetry, poem |
| Meera | After Meerabai, the devotee-poet of Krishna |
| Myra | Admirable, sweet |
| Nitya | Eternal, constant |
| Riya | Singer; also graceful |
| Saanvi | Associated with Lakshmi |
| Tara | Star |
| Vanya | Of the forest; also given as a gracious gift |
Boys
| Name | Commonly given meaning |
|---|---|
| Aarav | Peaceful, calm |
| Advik | Unique |
| Arjun | Bright, shining; the Mahabharata hero |
| Aryan | Noble |
| Dhruv | The pole star; constant, unshakeable |
| Ishaan | The sun; also a name of Shiva |
| Kabir | Great; after the fifteenth-century poet-saint |
| Neel | Blue; sapphire |
| Reyansh | A ray of light |
| Rudra | A form of Shiva |
| Shaurya | Bravery, valour |
| Vihaan | Dawn, first light |
| Viraj | Splendour, radiance |
| Yuvan | Young; also a name of Shiva |
The traditional route
Two practices still widely followed here, good to know about even if you don’t use them:
- Nakshatra-based naming. The birth star determines a syllable the name should begin with. If your family follows this, get the syllable before you become attached to a name, not after.
- Namakarana. The naming ceremony, traditionally held on the eleventh or twelfth day after birth, though families here often move it to fit registration and work schedules. Note that this can fall later than Singapore’s birth registration timeline, so plan around it instead of discovering it late.
Registering a name in Singapore
- Names are registered in Roman script, and the spelling you choose is the one your child lives with. Transliteration varies: Aarav, Arav, Aarav; Shaurya, Shourya. So pick deliberately and use it consistently from the birth certificate onwards.
- Consider how it’ll be pronounced by non-Indian speakers. Not a reason to change a name you love, but it helps to know which sounds tend to get flattened. Names with clear vowels travel best.
- Check the initials and the short form. Every name gets shortened at school. Say the likely nickname aloud a few times.
- Patronymic naming, “s/o” and “d/o”, remains common among Indian families here, and whether to use it, or a family surname, is a decision to make before registration instead of amending later.
- Field lengths are finite. Very long full names can be awkward on documents. Check the practicalities if you’re combining several elements.
- Changing a name later is possible but tedious. A few days of deliberation now is cheaper than a deed poll.
How to choose
- Say it out loud, in full, in an angry voice. You’ll use it that way. Then say it as an introduction: “Hello, I’m ___.” Both count.
- Test it at every age. It has to work on a baby, a teenager and a fifty-year-old.
- Check it means nothing unfortunate in the other languages spoken here. This catches people out, and it’s a two-minute check.
- Beware very high popularity unless you don’t mind. Some of the names above are extremely common in this generation.
- Meaning is worth more than fashion. A name with a story attached is something a child can be told, and children like knowing why they were called what they were called.
- Involve the grandparents early if you want their input, and settle it before the birth. A naming disagreement in the first week, when nobody has slept, is a poor time to negotiate.
Frequently asked questions
What are some modern Indian baby names?
For girls, names in current use include Aanya, Anika, Diya, Ira, Kavya, Meera, Nitya, Riya, Saanvi and Tara. For boys, Aarav, Advik, Arjun, Dhruv, Ishaan, Kabir, Reyansh, Shaurya, Vihaan and Viraj. Several of these are very popular in this generation, which is good to know if you’d rather your child not share a name with three classmates.
How reliable are name meanings online?
Treat them cautiously. Sanskrit-derived names often have several meanings depending on source, regional tradition and compound form. If the meaning is important to your family, confirm it with an elder or a priest, not a list.
What’s nakshatra-based naming?
A traditional practice in which the birth star determines the syllable a name should begin with. If your family follows it, find out the syllable before becoming attached to a particular name.
When is the naming ceremony held?
Namakarana is traditionally on the eleventh or twelfth day after birth, though families here often adjust the timing around registration and work. It can fall later than Singapore’s birth registration timeline, so plan around it in advance.
What should I consider when registering an Indian name in Singapore?
The spelling is registered in Roman script and transliteration varies, so choose deliberately and use it consistently from the birth certificate onwards. Decide before registration whether you’re using patronymic naming with s/o or d/o, or a family surname. Check the initials and likely nickname, and check the name means nothing unfortunate in the other languages spoken here.
How do I know a name will work long term?
Say it out loud in full and in an angry voice, because you’ll use it that way. Then say it as an introduction. Test whether it suits a baby, a teenager and a fifty-year-old. It has to work at every age.
What to do
Pick the meaning first and confirm it with someone who knows, not with a list.
If your family follows nakshatra naming, get the syllable before you fall in love with a name.
Then the practical checks: settle the spelling and the s/o or d/o question before registration, say it aloud in anger and in introduction, and check it means nothing awkward in the other languages your child will grow up hearing.
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