Meaning comes first
In Indian tradition, a name is chosen above all for its meaning. Sanskrit — the classical language behind Hindi and many other Indian languages — supplies a vast vocabulary of names drawn from the gods, from virtues, and from the natural and celestial world. A name like Aarush (“first ray of the sun”) or Divya (“divine light”) is picked precisely for the quality it expresses.
Named for the divine
Many names honour deities directly — Krish and Shiv, Rudra and Atharv, Sia (Sita) and Ira (Saraswati) — or name the sacred itself, as with Om and Pranav.
The naming ceremony
Traditionally a baby is named at the Namkaran ceremony, and in many families the auspicious first syllable is chosen according to the child’s birth star (nakshatra). Endings tend toward -a and -i for girls, and short, strong forms for boys.
A modern turn to short names
Today’s parents increasingly favour short, globally friendly Sanskrit names — Aarav, Vihaan, Kiara, Anaya — that travel well while keeping their classical meaning.