India
Meaning of India
India, pronounced IN-dee-uh, began as the Latin and Greek adaptation of Sindhu, the Sanskrit name for the Indus River, before becoming the cartographic label for the entire South Asian subcontinent. Introduced into English-speaking nurseries during the British colonial era and later popularized by literature—most famously the character India Wilkes in “Gone with the Wind”—the name carries connotations of vivid festivals, long trade routes, and an independent spirit. In Spanish-speaking cultures, la india can also evoke the image of a native woman, lending the name an earthy, pan-hemispheric resonance. U.S. birth data underline its quiet durability: after reaching the mid-300s in the early 2000s, India now sits at No. 782 with 168 newborn bearers in 2024, holding steady in the 150–300 range each year. The result is a choice that feels global yet unpretentious, familiar yet still distinctive.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as IN-dee-uh (/ˈɪndiə/)
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