India is a feminine given name derived from the name of the country

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, which itself takes its name from the

Indus River The Indus ( ) is a transboundary river of Asia and a trans-Himalayan river of South and Central Asia. The river rises in mountain springs northeast of Mount Kailash in Western Tibet, flows northwest through the disputed region of Kashmir, ...

. The name was used for

India Wilkes ''Gone with the Wind'' is a novel by American writer Margaret Mitchell, first published in 1936. The story is set in Clayton County and Atlanta, both in Georgia, during the American Civil War and Reconstruction Era. It depicts the struggles of y ...

, a character in the novel and film '' Gone with the Wind''. Its use for girls in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

began during the

British rule in India The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...

during the 19th century. It has been used for daughters of

aristocrat The aristocracy is historically associated with "hereditary" or "ruling" social class. In many states, the aristocracy included the upper class of people (aristocrats) with hereditary rank and titles. In some, such as ancient Greece, ancient Ro ...

ic families in England that had ties to

Colonial India Colonial India was the part of the Indian subcontinent that was occupied by European colonial powers during the Age of Discovery. European power was exerted both by conquest and trade, especially in spices. The search for the wealth and prosper ...

, such as India Hicks. It has had an

exotic Exotic may refer to: Mathematics and physics * Exotic R4, a differentiable 4-manifold, homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic to the Euclidean space R4 * Exotic sphere, a differentiable ''n''-manifold, homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic to the ordina ...

image in the

Anglosphere The Anglosphere is a group of English-speaking world, English-speaking nations that share historical and cultural ties with England, and which today maintain close political, diplomatic and military co-operation. While the nations included in d ...

and also is similar in sound to other fashionable names such as

Olivia Olivia may refer to: People * Olivia (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name * Olivia (singer) (Olivia Longott, born 1981), American singer * Olívia (basketball) (Carlos Henrique Rodrigues do Nascimento, born 1974 ...

and

Sophia Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek. It may refer to: *Sophia (wisdom) *Sophia (Gnosticism) *Sophia (given name) Places *Niulakita or Sophia, an island of Tuvalu *Sophia, Georgetown, a ward of Georgetown, Guyana *Sophia, North Carolina, an unincorpor ...

. In more recent years, some critics have viewed use of the name for non-Indian girls as problematic because they say it evokes the

British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...

and

colonialism Colonialism is a practice or policy of control by one people or power over other people or areas, often by establishing colonies and generally with the aim of economic dominance. In the process of colonisation, colonisers may impose their relig ...

. Although India is a feminine given name in the world, it is not a popular given name in India.

Usage

The name has been used in the

since at least the 19th century. In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

it ranked among the top 1,000 names for girls at different points between 1880 and 1911. It then declined in use but has had renewed popularity beginning in 1970 and was again among the 1,000 most popular names for American girls at different points between 1970 and 2021. It has been among the 200 most popular names for girls in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

since 1996 and among the 100 most popular names for girls in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

since 2017. https://www.behindthename.com/name/india

People named India

* I ndia Adams (1927-2020), American singer *

India Allen India Allen (born India Juliana Orban on June 1, 1965, in Portsmouth, Virginia) is an American actress and model. Allen appeared as a centerfold in the December 1987 issue of ''Playboy'' magazine and was subsequently named Playmate of the Year ...

(born 1965), American ''Playboy'' model * India Arie (born 1975), American singer-songwriter * India de Beaufort (born 1987), English actress *

India Jane Birley India Jane Birley (born 1961) is a British artist and businesswoman. Her father, Mark Birley, opened the private member's club Annabel's, named for her mother, Lady Annabel Goldsmith, in the early 1960s and Birley ran the club with her brother, ...

(born 1961), British artist and businesswoman *

India Boyer India Boyer (1907–1998) was an American architect who was the first woman to pass Ohio's architectural licensing exam. She also worked as head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' architecture department. Early life and education India Boyer wa ...

(1907-1998), American architect *

India Catalina India Catalina (1495- May 11, 1538) was an indigenous child of Mokaná ethnicity from the Colombian Atlantic coast, who accompanied Pedro de Heredia as an interpreter and intermediary, playing a role in the Spanish conquest of Colombia. History ...

(fl. early 16th century), local translator/intermediary for Pedro de Heredia in the Spanish conquest of Colombia *

India Crago Harris India Crago Harris (1848–1948), a native Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana, United States, was an art patron and civic leader in Indianapolis, Indiana, who served on the Art Association of Indianapolis's board of trustees, including roles ...

, American diplomat, lawyer, and patron of the arts * India Edwards (1895-1990), American journalist and political advisor *

India Eisley India Joy Eisley (born October 29, 1993) is an American actress. She is known for her role as Ashley Juergens in the ABC Family television series ''The Secret Life of the American Teenager'', Eve in the 2012 film '' Underworld: Awakening'', Sawa ...

(born 1993), American actress *

India Ennenga India Ennenga (born November 16, 1994) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Sofia Bernette in the HBO series '' Treme'', Camille Winship in the A&E drama '' The Returned'' and the voice of the titlular character in the Nick Jr. ...

(born 1994), American actress *

India Fisher India Fisher (born 1974) is a British actress, narrator and presenter. Her father is the ex- MP Mark Fisher. She is also the stepsister of musician Crispin Hunt and of actress Francesca Hunt, who appears with her in the play ''Other Lives''. S ...

(born 1974), British actress, narrator and presenter * India Grey, British romance novelist *

India Hair India Hair (born 1987) is a French actress. Early life Hair was born in Saumur a town in western France, to an American father and an English mother. Career She has worked in film and television. Her film credits include '' Camille Rewinds' ...

(born 1987), French actress of American-English parentage * India Hicks (born 1967), British designer, writer, businesswoman, and former fashion model *India Rose Hemsworth (born 2012), daughter of famous actor Chris Hemsworth *

(born 1961), British artist, heiress, and businesswoman *

India Knight India Knight (née Gisèle Aertsens; born 14 December 1965) is a British journalist and author. She writes for British newspapers, and has written the books: ''My Life on a Plate'', ''Don't You Want Me?'', ''The Shops'', ''Neris and India's Id ...

(born 1965), British journalist and author *

India Oxenberg India Riven Oxenberg (born June 7, 1991) is an American actress and documentary film producer. A granddaughter of Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, she is a relative of the House of Karađorđević, the former royal family of Serbia and, later, ...

(born 1991), American film producer * India Scandrick, American actress *

India Summer India Summer is an American pornographic film actor, pornographic actress and Fetish model, nude model and a member of the List of members of the AVN Hall of Fame, AVN and XRCO Hall of Fame, XRCO Halls of Fame. Her stage name is based on the phr ...

, American pornographic actress *

India Trotter India Ashlei Trotter (born March 10, 1985) is an American former professional soccer player. She played for Saint Louis Athletica, Sky Blue FC, and the Atlanta Beat of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) and the United States women's national so ...

(born 1985), American former professional soccer player *

India Walton India B. Walton is an American political activist and nurse. She defeated incumbent Mayor Byron Brown in the Democratic Party primary for the 2021 election for mayor of Buffalo, New York before losing to Brown in the general election where he r ...

(born 1982), former mayoral candidate in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from South ...

India Willoughby India Scarlett Willoughby (born 2 September 1965) is an English newsreader, broadcaster, journalist and reality television personality. She is Britain's first transgender national television newsreader and the first transgender co-host of an all ...

, English journalist and newsreader

Animals named India

* India "Willie" Bush, a cat owned by former

U.S. President The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...

and

First Lady First lady is an unofficial title usually used for the wife, and occasionally used for the daughter or other female relative, of a non-monarchical A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state fo ...

Laura Bush Laura Lane Welch Bush (''née'' Welch; born November 4, 1946) is an American teacher, librarian, memoirist and author who was First Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009. Bush previously served as First Lady of Texas from 1995 to 2000. ...

Fictional characters named India

*India, character in ''

Shalimar the Clown ''Shalimar the Clown'' is a 2005 novel by Salman Rushdie. The novel took Rushdie four years to write, and was initially published on 6 September 2005 by Jonathan Cape. ''Shalimar the Clown'' derives its name from Shalimar Gardens, in the vici ...

'' *India the Moonstone Fairy, character in the ''

Rainbow Magic ''Rainbow Magic'' is a British children's fiction brand originally created by Working Partners and now owned by IoM Media Ventures. It is best known for the children's books published by Orchard Books. The books are ghostwritten by a number of ...

'' book franchise *India Bridge, character in the 1990 film ''

Mr. and Mrs. Bridge ''Mr. & Mrs. Bridge'' is a 1990 American drama (film and television), drama film based on the novels by Evan S. Connell of the same name. It is directed by James Ivory, with a screenplay by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, and produced by Ismail Merchant. ...

'' *India Cohen, minor character in ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' *India Jourdain, an antagonist character in the TV series ''

Jane by Design ''Jane by Design'' is an American comedy-drama television series on ABC Family. The series follows the life of Jane Quimby ( Erica Dasher), a teenager who is mistaken for an adult, as she finally gets her fashion dream job working with a world-fa ...

'' *India McCray, character in 1981 horror/psychological thriller book ''The Elementals'' by Michael McDowell *India Opal, character in the book '' Because of Winn-Dixie'' *India Stoker, character in the 2013 film '' Stoker'' *India Tate, character in the 1983 novel ''Voice of Our Shadow'' by

Jonathan Carroll Jonathan Samuel Carroll (born January 26, 1949) is an American fiction writer primarily known for novels that may be labelled magic realism, slipstream or contemporary fantasy. He has lived in Austria since 1974. Life and work Carroll was b ...

, character in the book ''Gone with the Wind''

India as a family name

People with the surname India include: * Jaclyn Sienna India, American luxury travel advisor * Jonathan India, American baseball player

Notes

{{given name Feminine given names English given names