Most Popularly Used Indian Last Names for Your Baby

Filed in Articles by on December 14, 2021

– Indian Last Names –

Last names create a connection between a family’s present and their past. Indian last names have made their way around the globe.  As rich as the culture they come from, these names reflect an ancestor’s occupation, place of residence, or personality.

Not all Indian last names have definitive meanings, and each name isn’t reduced to one particular origin.

Because of India’s diverse history and population, the origins of last names can depend on religions, castes, areas, or languages, and scripts.

We’ve compiled this list of Indian last names and their meanings. We’ve also included any relevant religious, caste, or regional ties so if your name is here, you’ll have a clearer idea of its origins. Take a look and see!

Indian names are based on a variety of systems and naming conventions, which vary from region to region.

Names are also influenced by religion and caste and may come from epics. India’s population speaks a wide variety of languages and nearly every major religion in the world has a following in India.

This variety makes for subtle, often confusing, differences in names and naming styles. Due to historical Indian cultural influences, several names across South and Southeast Asia are influenced by or adapted from Indian names or words.

In India, surnames are placed as last names or before first names, which often denote: village of origin, caste, clan, office of authority their ancestors held, or trades of their ancestors.

The largest variety of surnames is found in the states of Maharashtra and Goa, which numbers more than the rest of India together.

Here surnames are placed last, the order being: the given name, followed by the father’s name, followed by the family name.

The majority of surnames are derived from the place where the family lived, with the ‘ker’ (Marathi) or ‘Kar'(Konkani) suffix, for example, Mumbaiker, Puneker, Aurangabadker or Tendulkar, Parrikar, Mangeshkar, Mahendrakar.

Another common variety found in Maharashtra and Goa are the ones ending in ‘e’.

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, surnames usually denote family names. It is easy to track family history and the caste they belonged to using a surname.

100 Most Popular Indian Last Names

It is common in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and some other parts of South India that the spouse adopts her husband’s first name instead of his family or surname name after marriage.

India is a country with numerous distinct cultural and linguistic groups. Thus, Indian surnames, where formalized, fall into seven general types.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Khatri:

The surname Khatri is a synonym for Kshatriya. Kshatriya is one of the five major castes in Hinduism.

4. Ahuja:

Ahuja is a Sikh surname meaning the ‘descendant of Ahu’. Ahu was the name of an Arora ancestor.

5. 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.

6. Laghari:

Laghari is another common Indian last name. The last name is taken from the Laghari tribe in Baluchistan.

7. Patel:

Patel is a common Gujarati surname. It means the ‘village headman’ in Gujarati.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Anthony:

The last name Anthony is a surname popular amongst Christians in South India. It is derived from the personal name Anthony.

11. 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.

12. Arya:

Arya is a Hindu surname popular in several communities. It comes from the Sanskrit word ‘arya’, which means an ‘honorable man’.

13. Balakrishnan:

The surname Balakrishnan is derived from the Sanskrit word bālakṛṣna, which means ‘child Krishna’. This surname is common in South India.

14. 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’.

15. 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.

16. Bhatt:

The surname Bhatt is based on the name of a subgroup of goldsmiths in Punjab. It means ‘the learned one’.

17. 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.

18. 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’.

19. 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.

20. Dara:

Dara is a Parsi surname. It is based on Old Persian royal name Dārayavahush, which means ‘possessor’.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. Chabra:

Chabra is a Hindu and Sikh surname. It is based on the name of the Arora clan.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. Chawla:

Chawla is a Hindu and Sikh surname. It is based on the name of a clan in the Arora community.

27. Ahluwalia:

Ahluwalia is a Sikh surname derived from a place name. Ahlu is the name of a village near Lahore.

28. 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.

29. Apte:

Apte is a Maharashtrian surname found amongst Konkan surname. It comes from the Marathi word ‘apta’, which denotes the three Bauhinia tomentose.

30. 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.

31. Deol:

The Sikh surname Deol is based on the name of a Jat clan.

32. Deshpande:

Deshpande is a Brahmin surname derived from the Marathi word ‘despande’. The term was used for the district accountant of a hereditary office.

33. 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.

34. 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.

35. Kohli:

Kohli is a Hindu and Sikh surname based on the name of a clan in the Khatri community.

36. Mangal:

Mangal is a Hindu surname coming from the Sanskrit surname ‘mangala’. The Agarwal has a clan called Mangal. The surname means ‘auspicious’.

37. Malhotra:

Malhotra is a surname based on the clan in the Khatri community. It is a variation of Mehrotra.

38. Jha:

The surname Jha is popular in Northern India. It is the reduced form of the Sanskrit word ‘upadhaya’, which means teacher’.

39. Joshi:

The surname is a short form of the Sanskrit surname ‘jyotshi’, which means astrologer. It is borne by Brahmins.

40. Kapadia:

Kapadia is a surname popular in Rajasthan, Bombay, and Gujarat. It comes from a Parsi word ‘kapad’, which means ‘cloth merchant.

41. Iyer:

Iyer is a Hindu-Brahmin surname popular in Tamil Nadu region of India. The Iyer Brahmans are an important community from Tamil Nadu.

42. Jain:

The surname Jain derives from the Sanskrit word ‘jaina’, which is derived from Jina or the ‘follower of Jina. It means ‘triumphant’.

43. 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.

44. Grover:

Grover is a Hindu and Sikh surname. You will find many Punjabis with this surname.

45. 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.

46. 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’.

47. Gokhale:

Gokhale is a Hindu surname found among Konkanasth Brahmins. It comes from the Marathi word ‘gokhla’, which means ‘cow eye’.

48. Ghosh:

Ghosh is a Bengali surname. It is a Kayasth occupational name coming from the Sanskrit ‘ghosa’, which means ‘cowherd’.

49. 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.

50. Dhar:

Dhar is a Kayasth surname deriving from the Bengali name ‘dhar’, which means ‘credit’.

51. Gandhi:

Gandhi is an occupational surname meaning ‘perfume seller’, in Indic languages. In Gujarat, the word ‘gandha’ also means ‘pharmacist’ and ‘grocer’.

52. Ganguly:

The Bengali surname Ganguly is a variation of Sanskrit surname Gangopadhyay. It means a teacher from the Ganga village.

53. Gupta:

Gupta is a Jain and Bania surname coming from the Sanskrit word ‘gupt’, which means ‘protected’. It is an ancient surname of India.

54. 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.

55. Chopra:

Chopra is a surname borne by Hindus and Sikhs. It belongs to a clan called Chopra.

56. 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

57. Dixit:

Dixit is a Brahman surname coming from the Sanskrit word ‘diksita’, priest-performing initiation.

58. Dubey:

Dubey is a North Indian surname pronounced as two syllables.

It means ‘one who has studied the Vedas’. The surname Dubey is a cognate of Gujarati Dave.

59. 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.

60. Kapoor:

Kapoor is a Sikh surname of the Khatri community. It is a derivation of the personal name ‘karpura’, which means ‘camphor’.

61. Khurana:

The Sikh surname Khurana is based on the name of a clan in the Arora community.

62. Kulkarni:

Kulkarni is a Marathi surname meaning ‘village clerk’. The Kulkarni was a village official under the village headman.

63. 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.

64. Bajwa:

Bajwa is a Sikh surname of the Jat tribe. This surname is popular in Northern states of India like Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.

65. 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’.

66. 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.

67. Chauhan:

The surname Chauhan has an ancient prestige. The Chauhan kings ruled in Rajasthan and other bordering states.

68. 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

69. Dayal:

Dayal is the surname of Kayastha community. Just like the surname Chandra, Dayal also occurs as the final element in a compound name.

70. Dhillon:

Dhillon is a Sikh or Jat surname. The Dhillon tribe is one of the most widely distributed Jat tribes in India.

71. Goswami:

Goswami is a Brahmin Hindu surname. It derives from the Sanskrit word ‘gosvami’, which means religious mendicant.

72. 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.

73. Mallick:

Mallick is both a Hindu and a Muslim surname. It comes from an Arabic word ‘malik’, which means ‘king.

74. 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’.

75. 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.

76. Mani:

Mani is the reduced form of the South Indian surname Subramanian. It is also a given name in Kerala.

77. 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.

78. 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’.

79. Biswas:

Biswas is a Bengali Kayastha surname. It comes from Sanskrit word ‘visvasa’, which means trust’.

80. Batra:

Batra is a Punjabi surname based on a clan in the Arora community. This is a good example of Indian Last Names

81. 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.

82. Mehta:

Mehta is a Rajasthani surname-meaning chief in modern Indian languages. It Gujarati, it means ‘teacher and accountant’.

83. Mukherjee:

The surname Mukherjee is the Sanskrit version of Mukhopadhyaya. It is composed ‘mukhya’, which means principal and ‘upadhaya’, which means teacher.

84. 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.

85. Zacharia:

Zacharia is a Hebrew surname popular amongst Christians in Kerala. It is also used as a first name among the families of Kerala.

86. Shah:

Shah is both a Hindu and Muslim surname. It is a Persian royal title, which means ‘emperor’.

It is also a Jain and Gujarati name meaning ‘merchant’.

87. 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.

88. Rao:

The last name Rao is popular in Orissa and other western states of India like Maharashtra, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh.

89. Purohit:

Purohit is a Brahmin surname. The term denotes the family priest of a Hindu community. It means ‘one placed foremost’.

90. Parekh:

Parekh is the variant of the name Parikh. It means ‘assayer’ in Gujarati. The Porwal Banias and Oswal have clans called Parekh.

91. 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.

92. Singh:

Singh is a Hindu Kshatriya surname, which is now being adopted by several communities. It means ‘hero’ or ‘eminent’.

93. 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

94. Seth:

Seth is a Parsi and Jain last name. It is popular amongst mercantile communities. Seth means ‘banker or merchant’.

95. Sachdev:

The last name Sachdev is based on one of the clans in the Arora community. It means ‘true god’.

96. Ranganathan:

Ranganathan is a Hindu last name meaning ‘lord of mirth’. It is an epithet of Lord Krishna.

97. Puri:

The name Puri is based on the clan in the Khatri community. The word ‘puri’ means ‘small town’ in Punjabi.

98. Pandey:

The surname Pandey comes from the Sanskrit surname ‘Pandita, meaning scholar. It denotes a Brahmin engaged in teaching or cooking.

99. 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.

100. Modi:

The last name Modi is borne by Gujarati and Parsi people. There is a clan called Modi among the Oswal Banias.

Hope you find our article informative. Share with us your surname and its significance in the comment section below. Your contribution will help add more to the list.

More Unique India Surname That You Will Love

These are usually more archaic than the ‘Kar’s and usually denote medieval clans or professions like Rane, Salunkhe, Gupte, Bhonsle, Ranadive, Rahane, Hazare, Apte, Satpute, Shinde, Sathe, Londhe, Salve, Kale, Gore, Godbole, etc.

1. Aadesh

Aadesh is a notable and popular Indian name that means “order” or “command.”

2. Aadrik

The name Aadrik refers to “the sun rising between the mountains.”

3. Aakash

The name Aakash has been quite a popular Indian baby boy name and means “sky.”

4. Aahan

The name Aahan refers to “dawn, sunrise, or first ray of light.”

5. Aarav

Aarav is a popular choice among Indian parents. The name Aarav means “wisdom.” It also means “one who is peaceful.”

6. Aarnik

The name Aarnik means “being one of its kind or something unique.”

7. Abhay

If you want your child to grow into a fearless man, then name him Abhay. The name Abhay means “brave.”

8. 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.

9. Abhinav

The name Abhinav has its origin from a Sanskrit word that means “unique.” Abhinav also means “bright and clever.”

10. 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.”

11. Adhyan

The name Adhyan means “one who is rising.”

12. Adrith

Another name for Lord Vishnu, Adrith, refers to “one who supports others.”

13. Advaith

The name Advaith means “unique” or  “free from duality.”

14. Advik

A short and sweet boy name, Advik, means “creativity.”

15. Agastya

The name Agastya has its origin from “Agastya,” a revered Vedic sage as per the Hindu mythology.

16. Ajay

The name Ajay means “one who is invincible.” In ancient India, the title ‘Ajay’ referred to “the triumphant kings.”

17. Akshaj

A name that comes with a religious origin, Akshaj, means “a thunderbolt.” Akshaj also refers to “Lord Vishnu.”

18. Akshant

The name Akshant refers to “an individual who wants to win all the time.”

19. Akshat

The name Akshat refers to “one who can neither be harmed nor injured.”

20. Akshay

A popular name for boys, Akshay, means “one who is immortal.”

21. Amandeep

Amandeep is a popular Punjabi name that means, “the lamp of peace.”

22. 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.

23. Anik

The name Anik means “strong.” It is also one of the many names of Lord Ganesha.

24. Aniket

A name that has a religious origin, Aniket, is another name for Lord Shiva.

25. Anishk

The name Anishk refers to “one who has no enemies and foes.” This is a good example of Indian Last Names

26. Ankit

The name Ankit means “a symbol.” The name Ankit also means “distinguished or the chosen one.”

27. Ansh

The name means “portion” or “day.” The name is also used for referring to Lord Vishnu.

28. Anshul

A unique and modern name, Anshul refers to the “one who is bright, radiant, and glows like a sunbeam.”

29. Anvit

A unique name, Anvit, refers to “an individual who leads/guides others.”

30. Arijit

The name Arijit refers to “one who triumphs over his enemies.” Arijit is also the name of Lord Krishna and Subhadra’s son.

Hope you find our article informative. Share with us your surname and its significance in the comment section below. Your contribution will help add more to the list. Also, endeavor to share with your friends.

CSN Team.

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