"White, fair"; Arabic ʿafrāʾ, also the bright 13th night of the month
Collection
Short Indian names with a checked meaning
How we chose them: four letters or fewer in English spelling, a meaning checked in a dictionary or scripture, and a cited page. 344 names in our list fit; below is a spread of 84 across traditions. Every short name is in the name finder.
Worth knowing: a name that is short in English can be longer in its own script, and short names often have several spellings. Say the name with your surname, and check how it sounds in the languages your family speaks.
Girls
"Small, little"
"The farthest"; after al-Masjid al-Aqṣā in Jerusalem
"Exalted, high"; Arabic arfaʿ, "higher, highest"
"Prayer, supplication"
"Life"; a pet form of Eve and Evelyn
"Speech, voice"; Sanskrit girā
"Gift", something freely given
"Maiden of Paradise"; Arabic ḥūr, gazelle-eyed
"Knowledge"; from Arabic ʿilm
"Faith"; Arabic īmān
"Ivy", the evergreen climbing plant
"God is gracious"; the feminine of John
"Victory"; also a name of the goddess Durga
"Heart" or "sweetheart"; Hindi jiyā, "life, soul, darling"
A small white jasmine, the eared jasmine
The month of June, from Latin Iunius, "of Juno"
"Cuckoo", the singing koel bird
The lily flower; English lily, from Latin lilium
Pet form of Dolores, "sorrows", from Mary of the Sorrows
"Pearl"; Arabic luʾluʾ
"The moon"; Latin luna
"Light"
"New"; Latin nova, as in a new star
"Golden lady" or "golden princess"; Irish Órfhlaith
"Beloved, dear"
"Love, delight"; the wife of Kamadeva
"The Narmada river"
Season; the right time
The ruby, a red gem; from Latin rubeus, "red"
A flower; Sanskrit suma
"Wave"; Sanskrit ūrmi
"The greatest"
"Speech, voice"; also the goddess Sarasvati
"A braid of hair"; also a stream
"Morning light, forenoon"; Quranic Arabic ḍuḥā
Boys
Chaste, virtuous; Arabic ʿafīf
Devoted, steadfast; one who stays in worship
A name of Lord Shiva; Sanskrit akula
Prince, commander; Arabic amīr
Incomparable; Hindi anūp, from Sanskrit anupama
Successor, the one who comes last; Arabic ʿāqib
Knowing, knowledgeable
Meaning, purpose; also wealth; Sanskrit artha
"Grace", divine mercy and favour
Formless; Sanskrit arūpa
Lion; Arabic asad
Affectionate, kind; Arabic ʿāṭif
Unequalled, incomparable; Sanskrit atula
Mighty; also dear, precious; Arabic ʿazīz
"Possessor, sovereign"; Persian dārā
"Superior, excellent"; Arabic fāʾiq, "surpassing"
"Desired, striven for"
"God is gracious"; the Russian form of John
"Victory"
"Mind, heart"
Friend, beloved
"Cloud"
"Dark blue"; also "sapphire"
"Christmas", from French noël and Latin natalis
Long-lived, flourishing; from Arabic ʿumr, "life"
Strong, powerful; Arabic qawī
Lord Rama; Sanskrit rāma, "pleasing, charming"
"The sun"
"God is gracious", the Irish form of John
Smiling; a smile
"God is good"; from Tobias, Hebrew Toviyyah
Little one, child; Malayalam uṇṇi
Wind, the wind god; Sanskrit vāyu
"Flute"; also bamboo
"Krishna's land"; Sanskrit vraja, Braj
Sky, space; Sanskrit vyoman
For a girl or a boy
Hope
Love
"One, oneness" in popular use; Punjabi ekam, "first, unique"
"Beauty, grace"
"Song"; Hindi gīt, from Sanskrit gīta
"Cowherdess", like the devoted milkmaids of Krishna's Vrindavan
Joy, delight; sweetness
Music, melody; Tamil icai
Light; the divine light
"Joy, happiness"; English, from Latin gaudium
"Oarsman"; French Rémi, from Latin Remigius
"Master, lord"; the name of Sai Baba of Shirdi