In Indian culture, names carry great significance and often hold deep meanings. Choosing the perfect name for your baby is an important decision that reflects your hopes and dreams for their future.
When selecting a name, many parents consider factors like family traditions, personal values, and aspirations for their child’s life.
Last names, in particular, hold a special place in Indian culture, as they represent one’s family heritage and identity. In India, the last name can be derived from a person’s family name, caste, religion, occupation, or ancestral region.
Most Popular Indian Last Names For Your Baby
1. Sharma
A common last name among Brahmins, Sharma is a name that means “protection” or “shelter” in Sanskrit.
2. Patel
Patel is a widely used last name among the Patel community in Gujarat, and it refers to a village head or a leader.
3. Iyer
Iyer is a common last name in Tamil Nadu and refers to a learned scholar or a priest. It is often associated with the Tamil Brahmin community.
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4. Gupta
Gupta is a widely used last name in India, and it means “protected” or “hidden.” The surname is associated with the trading and merchant class.
5. Singh
Singh is a popular last name in North India, and it means “lion” in Sanskrit. It is a common surname among Rajputs and Sikhs.
6. Reddy
Reddy is a South Indian last name that is commonly used in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It refers to a person from the Reddy community.
7. Kumar
Kumar is a common last name in India, and it means “prince” or “boy.” It is often used as a suffix for many first names.
8. Verma
Verma is a common last name among Kayasthas and is mainly found in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh. It means “shield” in Sanskrit.
9. Nair
Nair is a dominant last name in Kerala and was originally used to refer to the warrior or landowner caste in Kerala.
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10. Desai
Desai is a last name that is predominantly used in Gujarat and Maharashtra, and it means “lord of a place.”
11. Choudhury
Choudhury is a last name that is commonly used in Bengal and Bihar. It is often used by landlords and rulers, and the title Choudhury means “chief” or “administrator.”
12. Mehta
Mehta is a last name used by various communities in India, but it is most commonly used by Gujaratis and Marwaris. It means “leader” or “headman.”
13. Banerjee
Banerjee is a last name that is widely used in West Bengal. It originates from the Bengali aristocracy and means “educated” or “learned.”
14. Bhat
Bhat is a last name that is primarily used in Jammu and Kashmir. It refers to a Brahmin family and means “a learned person.”
15. Agarwal
Agarwal is a common last name among the business community in India, especially in the north. It means “successor” or “prosperous.”
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16. Yadav
Yadav is a widely used last name in North India, and it refers to a community that claims to be descendants of Lord Krishna.
17. Joshi
Joshi is a last name that is found all over Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is a surname for a priest or an astrologer.
18. Mishra
Mishra is a common last name among Brahmins in India, and it comes from the Sanskrit word mishra, which means “mixed.”
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19. Das
Das is a last name that is very common in Bengal, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh. It means “servant” or “worshiper.”
20. Bose
Bose is a last name that is found mostly in Bengal. It means “a family of scholars” or “intellectuals.”
More Popular Indian Last Names for Your Baby
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Rao
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Soni
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Khan
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Ali
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Thakur
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Chopra
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Shukla
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Bhatt
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Jain
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Kaur
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Tiwari
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Kapoor
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Shah
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Dasgupta
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Rajput
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Shinde
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Bhatnagar
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Chatterjee
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Raghavan
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Prasad
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Chavan
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Jadhav
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Gupta
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Kulkarni
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Patil
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Singhvi
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Mahal
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Lal
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Raghav
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Sarkar
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Bansal
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Vyas
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Basu
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Pillai
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Puri
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Rathore
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Kochhar
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Sharma
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Vishwakarma
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Dixit
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Khandekar
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Biyani
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Varma
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Gandhi
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Kamat
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Rathore
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Bawne
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Bhowmick
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Chandran
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Gokhale
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Lalwani
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Bajpai
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Dandekar
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Nand
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Hegde
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Garg
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Tripathi
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Kulkarni
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Sadhwani
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Ravindra
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Vishnu
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Khatri
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Poddar
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Bhargava
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Narayanan
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Koli
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Saigal
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Solanki
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Kumawat
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Kalle
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Bhandari
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Sharma
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Iyer
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Vishal
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Rajesh
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Anand
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Vimal
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Nair
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Patankar
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Sethi
Final thought
Choosing the right name for your baby is a big decision that requires careful thought and consideration. One of the most important things to keep in mind is the meaning and origin of the last name you choose.
A last name can hold deep cultural or family significance, so it’s important to choose a name that aligns with your values and aspirations for your child.
You might also want to consider the flow and rhythm of the full name when pairing a last name with a first name. It’s always a good idea to consider the opinions and preferences of your partner or family members when selecting a name.
Indian last names are not just identifiers; they are also a reflection of a person’s heritage and identity. By choosing a name that carries significant meaning or history, you are giving your child a deeper sense of connection to their roots and culture.
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