280 Indian Dog Names with Meanings

Whether you want to honor your Indian heritage, remember the vacation of a lifetime or just celebrate some of your favorite foods and Bollywood movies, you might want to consider Indian dog names for your new pup. These meaningful monikers not only help provide your dog a unique name (that won’t send half the dog park running!) but also give your dog a name that adds an extra layer of significance to your puppy’s identity.

Terms Associated with India

Here are some words associated with India, arranged in alphabetical order:

Diwali: A major Indian festival known as the Festival of Lights.
Mango: The national fruit of India, which is the world’s largest mango producer.
Namaste: A traditional Indian greeting or gesture of respect.
Peacock: The national bird of India.
Raga: A pattern of musical notes used in Indian classical music.
Sari: A traditional Indian garment worn by women.
Taj: historically a crown worn by an Indian prince.
Wicket: In cricket, a popular sport in India, it refers to the set of stumps targeted by the bowler.
Yogi: A person who practices yoga, a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India.
Zardozi: An elaborate embroidery work using gold and silver threads, popular in India.

Indian Words Related to Dogs

India is home to hundreds of languages, each with their own unique words for dog, puppy and other terms. Would one of these words make a fun name for your new dog?

Ano (Bengali): Fetch
Aanay (Marathi): Fetch
Bau bau (Kannada, Tamil and Telugu): Woof
Bhao bhao (Bengali): Woof
Bhau bhau (Hindi): Woof
Bhow bhow (Gujarati): Woof
Bow bow (Malayalam): Woof
Kukka (Telugu): Dog
Kukur (Bengali): Dog
Konduva (Malayalam): Fetch
Kutra (Gujarati): Dog
Kutta (Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu): Dog
Laao (Hindi, Urdu): Fetch
Laav (Gujarati): Fetch
Leyaao (Punjabi): Fetch
Nāy (Tamil): Dog
Nāyi (Kannada): Dog
Nāyi mar̥i (Kannada): Puppy
Patti (Malayalam): Dog
Patti kutti (Malayalam): Puppy
Tegoṇi (Kannada): Fetch
Tīsuko (Telugu): Fetch

Pet Names from India

These Indian terms of endearment or pet names are used to denote a special relationship with someone–perhaps like your new dog!

Anmol (Hindi): Priceless
Babu (Hindi): Often used to address younger boys, similar to “young man” or “son.”
Betu (Hindi): A loving term used for kids, equivalent to “dear” or “sweetie.”
Chirayu (Sanskrit): Long-lived, often used to denote someone precious.
Golu (Hindi): A cute term often used for someone who is round and adorable.
Heera (Hindi): Diamond, often used to denote someone precious.
Jaan (Urdu): Life, often used to denote someone very dear.
Jaan-e-mann (Urdu): Darling or sweetheart.
Laddu (Hindi): A type of sweet, often used for someone sweet and adorable.
Meethu (Hindi): Sweet, often used for someone sweet-natured.
Mithas (Hindi): Sweetness, can be used for someone sweet.
Pyaar (Hindi): Love, can be used to denote someone you love.
Raja (Hindi): King, often used for a loved one.
Rajkumar (Hindi): Prince, often used for a loved one.
Sonu (Hindi): A common nickname, like “sweetie.”
Sundar/Sundari (Hindi/Sanskrit): Beautiful, can be used to compliment someone’s looks.

Popular Indian Dog Names and Their Meanings

Male:

Arjun (Bright, shining, white, often used as a name for white dogs)
Balu or Baloo (Bear)
Chaand (sincere wish)
Hari (protector or “the one who removes evil”)
Ravi (Sun)

Female:

Gita (Song)
Kali (The black one, also the Hindu Goddess of destruction)
Lila (Play, amusement)
Priya (Beloved)
Sita (Furrow, also the name of Lord Rama’s wife in Hindu epic Ramayana)

Unisex:

Chakra (Circle, represents divine energy in Hinduism)
Karma (Deed, action)
Mowgli (Jungle boy, from Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book)
Rani (Queen)
Tara (Star)

Indian Dog Names Inspired by Geography

We went to the Taj Mahal on a travel writing assignment–it’s a spectacular place that has inspired many names.

Agra (City known for the Taj Mahal.)
Bombay (the old name for Mumbai.)
Delhi
Goa (A coastal state known for its beautiful beaches.)
Kerala (A southern state known as “God’s own country.”)
Mahal (“Palace” as in Taj Mahal or Royal Palace)
Mumbai
Shimla (A beautiful hill station.)

Indian Dog Names Inspired by Indian Cuisine

For food-loving pet parents, why not name your dog after your favorite Indian dish? Some tasty options include:

Biryani: A fragrant and spiced mixed rice dish.
Chai: A traditional Indian tea spiced with cardamom, ginger, and cloves.
Chapati: A type of Indian bread made from wheat flour.
Curry: A type of dish that includes spices, meat, and/or vegetables, and is common in Indian cuisine.
Dosa: A grilled pancake.
Idli: A type of savory rice cake, popular in southern India.
Jalebi: A sweet and tangy dessert.
Lassi: Not to be confused with Lassie, even though they are pronounced much the same, lassi is a popular, traditional, yogurt-based drink from India.
Masala: A mix of ground spices used in Indian cuisine.
Naan: A soft and fluffy leavened bread.
Roti: A round flatbread native to the Indian subcontinent.
Samosa: A popular stuffed savory pastry.
Tikki: A type of cutlet or croquette.
Vada: A category of savory fried snacks from South India.
Zarda: A traditional South Asian sweet dish, made by boiling rice with food coloring, milk, and sugar, and flavored with cardamom, raisins, saffron, pistachios, or almonds.

Sanskrit Names for Dogs

Aarav: Peaceful, melodious
Abhay: Fearless
Aditi: Boundless, free
Adya: First, unparalleled
Agni: Fire, the fire god
Alok: Light, brightness
Amaya: Boundless, limitless
Ananta: Endless, infinite
Anish: Supreme, continuous
Anuja: Younger, following
Aparna: Leafless, a name for Parvathi
Arjun: Bright, shining, white
Asha: Hope, desire
Atman: Soul, spirit
Avani: Earth
Bhavya: Grand, splendid
Chandra: Moon
Daksha: Skillful, competent
Darshana: Sight, vision, philosophy
Devi: Goddess
Dhanya: Blessed, thankful
Divya: Divine, heavenly
Eesha: Purity, gift from God
Ganesha: Lord of the people
Hamsa: Swan
Indra: King of gods
Jyoti: Light, brightness
Kailash: Abode of Lord Shiva
Kalyan: Welfare, auspiciousness
Lata: Creeper, vine
Manas: Mind, intellect
Nanda: Joy, happiness
Nirav: Quiet, calm
Prakash: Light, illumination
Radha: Worship, adoration
Rajan: King
Samir: Wind, air
Shanti: Peace, tranquility
Shiva: Auspicious, gracious
Surya: Sun
Tejas: Brightness, radiance
Uday: Rising, dawn
Uma: Tranquility, fame
Vani: Voice, sound
Veda: Knowledge, wisdom
Vidya: Knowledge, learning
Yajna: Worship, sacrifice
Yash: Fame, glory
Zara: Little, small

Hindi Names for Dogs

Aadarsh: Ideal
Aastha: Faith
Abhinav: New, young, fresh
Aditya: Sun
Anjali: Offering with both hands
Anshul: Sunbeam
Arnav: Ocean, sea
Aryan: Noble, kind
Bhavna: Feeling, sentiment
Chetan: Conscious, aware
Deepak: Lamp, light
Disha: Direction
Esha: Pure
Gaurav: Pride, honor
Harsh: Happiness
Indu: Moon
Jaya: Victory
Kajal: Kohl, eyeliner
Kavita: Poem
Lakshmi: Goddess of wealth
Manish: Wise, intelligent
Naina: Eyes
Neel: Blue
Pankaj: Lotus flower
Pooja: Worship
Prakash: Light
Priya: Beloved
Raj: Rule, kingdom
Rani: Queen
Rekha: Line, limit
Rohit: Red
Sagar: Ocean, sea
Sana: Brilliance, radiance
Shakti: Power, energy
Shanti: Peace
Suman: Flower
Tarun: Young
Udit: Grown, prosperous
Usha: Dawn
Varun: God of water
Veena: A musical instrument
Vikram: Valorous
Vivek: Wisdom, judgement
Yash: Fame
Zara: Flower

Punjabi Dog Names

These names come from the Punjabi language, which is primarily spoken in the Indian state of Punjab.

Amanpreet: One who loves peace
Balbir: Strong, brave
Baljeet: Victorious and mighty
Daljeet: Victorious army
Darshan: Vision
Eshar: Blessed with God’s grace
Fateh: Victory
Gagan: Sky, heaven
Jeevan: Life or living
Kulbir: Brave member of the family
Manjeet: Conqueror of the mind
Navdeep: New flame or light
Rajbir: Brave king
Tej: Bright, radiant
Ujagar: Luminous
Ujjal: Clear
Vipin: Forest
Wazir: Minister
Zorawar: Powerful
Upkar: Favor
Zoravar: Powerful
Zubeen: The one who touches the sky

Urdu Names for Your Dog

Aahil: Prince
Aasma: Sky
Aftab: Sun
Alisha: Protected by God
Amal: Hope, expectation
Arif: Knowing, aware
Arzoo: Wish
Asif: Gather, harvest
Azra: Virgin, maiden
Babar: Lion
Badar: Full moon
Bano: Lady, princess
Basim: Smiling
Bushra: Good news
Dua: Prayer
Faisal: Strong, handsome
Farid: Unique
Ghazal: Poetic expression
Hadi: Guide
Haseeb: Reckoner
Iqbal: Prosperity
Jahan: World
Kamal: Perfection
Kamil: Complete, perfect
Laila: Night
Mahnoor: Light of the moon
Majid: Noble
Masood: Lucky, fortunate
Nadeem: Friend
Naheed: Elevated, Venus
Parveen: Pleiades, cluster of stars
Qadir: Capable, powerful
Rafiq: Friend, companion
Rashid: Rightly guided
Saba: Morning breeze
Sami: Elevated, sublime
Shahid: Witness
Tahir: Pure, clean
Umar: Life, long-lived
Uzma: Greatest
Vahid: Singular, exclusively
Wafa: Faithful, loyal
Yasir: Wealthy
Zahid: Ascetic, devoted to God
Zahir: Bright, shining
Zain: Beauty, grace

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Indian dog names -- graphic of dog against background of map of India

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Paris Permenter

Paris Permenter is the award-winning co-author, with John Bigley, of over 30 pet and travel books including The Healthy Hound Cookbook and Texas with Dogs, both available through Simon and Schuster. Paris is also a member of the Dog Writers Association of America.

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