Dear Swistle,
We are having a second boy, due in February, and having a very hard time deciding on a name. My husband is Indian and most of his family is still located there. I am American and we live here in the US. Our last name Gupt@ is a very common Indian last name.
When naming our first son, we chose the name Rowan because we liked how similar it sounded to the Indian name Rohan, which we both loved. However, we felt Rohan would be frequently mispronounced in the US and Rowan was a good compromise because it would be pronounced the same in both cultures. (I have a name that is frequently mispronounced, so this is something that is always on the top of my mind when choosing a name.) We ended up giving him an Indian middle name, Aayan, so that he could always have the option to go by an Indian name if he wanted in the future.
When we got pregnant again, we said we would name the baby Aria if it was a girl (Arya is also an Indian name), but it turns out the baby is a boy and we are totally stuck. We want a name that is accessible to both cultures and sounds good with Rowan. I also don’t like many of the usual suggestions for crossover names (Jay/Jai, Nikhil/Nik, Hari/Harry, AJ/Ajay, Sam/Sameer, Vik/Vikram, etc)
Top contenders right now are:
Rishi – Indian name but easy to pronounce by everyone. Would it be weird if one child has an Indian name and the other does not? Also, if we choose this name, do we give the baby a western middle name? We also discussed Reece, which sounds a little similar to Rishi, but my husband prefers Rishi as he associates Reece with the actress Reese Witherspoon and finds it too feminine
Kieran – Kiran is an Indian name, so it is similar to Rohan/Rowan in that it sounds the same but spelled differently. But we’re not Irish, so would it be strange if both of our kids have Irish names? We’ve also floated the idea of Kirin or Kian instead. We have a close relative (female) named Kiran, so I’m not sure if using the Indian spelling is an option
Archer (Archie for short) – I love this name, but my husband isn’t crazy about it. He associates Archie with the comic, which was very popular in India when he was growing up. I think Archer would be easy to pronounce and similar to Indian names like Archana, Archan, Archit
Damian – Not really an Indian name but I’ve found a few websites that say it has Sanskrit origins. It’s my least favorite of the four because I find it to be a little long with three syllables and no clear nickname, but husband really likes this nameI think I could be talked into any of these names, but none of them stand out as the perfect one. I would love your suggestions on other options and thoughts on these.
Thanks in advance for your help!
My favorite is Kieran. I like the way it echoes what you did last time with Rowan/Rohan. And I think Celtic names are mainstream enough in the U.S. that it doesn’t seem odd if someone has a couple of them in a non-Celtic family.
Aidan.
Like Swistle, I like Kieren–I think it’s very symmetrical with Rowan for the reasons you’ve described here (it’s a well-known Celtic soundalike of an Indian name). Rowan and Kieren definitely sound like brothers, and Celtic names have been very integrated into our culture at this point–in 2018, I don’t think people assume an American baby named Brendan or McKenzie, etc., is of Irish or Scottish heritage.
But I also really love Rishi. The shared initial and 5-letter structure eliminate a lot of the imbalance between these names. And your family is half Indian, so it seems not odd at all to have half the children’s names reflect that. There has been no better time in the history of this country for a child’s name to reflect his culture of origin!
What about Sai?
Sai Gupt@
Rowan and Sai? I like it!
Or Bohdi? Or you could do the more American Brody, but i think Bohdi is easy enough to pronounce.
My sister has two boys and their names are Rowan and Archer! So I think this is a great sibling set.
But I do like Kieran a lot for you!
What about Richie – it seems like it follows that same pattern as Rohan/Rowan – Rishi/Richie?
Kieran!
As soon as I saw that name on your list- it was a must for me! I have a friend who is Indian and her husband is also from India and a neurosurgeon and overall I’m just a fan of the name! Please use Kieran! I love that both Kieran and Rowan end in “an” as well!
I grew up knowing brothers called Ravi and Rohan, which I thought sounded nice together xx
I like Asher, if you sort of like Archer. I think Ash is a great nickname. Good luck!
Just coming to say this! Or Ashton, if you like having the same last syllable–Rowan and Ashton. They both make me think of Ashok.
Or Ashwin – I grew up with an Ashwin and I always thought it was a great name.
My vote is for Rishi. I don’t find anything odd at all about Rowan and Rishi as brothers, and it does give you space to pick a western middle name that is just your favorite overall, without worrying if your husband’s side can pronounce it.
I also wonder if you might like Archan with Archer as a nickname and a promise to your husband that nobody would ever call him Archie. Archan strikes me as a really handsome name.
Or, Kian strikes me as a good crossover name. I think its both Indian and Irish? And I don’t see Neel on your list of easy crossover names that you hate. Have you thought about Neel? (Also, ironically, both Indian and Irish. I wonder why that happens so often?) Or Dev/Devon?
It looks like Ryan and Neel (Neal? Neil?) are both popular names in India. Both would work with Rowan. But I do think Rishi is cute!
I was going to suggest Neel as well (or Neil in the US)
I like Kieran.
It’s too bad about Reece. Would the more traditional (and masculine) spelling Rhys help your husband warm up to it? Though Rishi is also fine. I don’t see a problem with one child having an Indian name while the other doesn’t. I’d probably use a Western middle name with any Indian name. It’s give the child the same options for flexibility as his brother and I also like the symmetry of hem both having a name from each culture. I think there are Indian names that are easy for English speakers. The previously mentioned Ravi. Rajesh, Anil, Deo maybe?
I hope this isn’t inappropriate, because I know almost nothing about Indian names, but maybe Nathan for Nithin?
Rowan & Nathan Gupt@, Rohan & Nithin?
I have two girlfriends who are Indians married to Americans so they named their babies under the same conditions you’re working with. One friend’s sons are Ravi and Vadin (I can’t recall how Vadin is spelled, but that’s how it’s pronounced). Both are Indian names but very easy to say in English and Vadin in particular fits right in with current American naming style for boys. I like Rowan and Vadin together quite a bit.
My other friend’s sons are Narayan and Devin, although spelled differently. She dropped the middle a from Narayan and it’s pronounced Na-ryan. And then my understanding is that Devin (which she pronounces the American way) is very similar to a Hindi name pronounced more like Day-vahn. Her father and some other extended family pronounce it the Indian way. Devin and Rowan are nice together without seeming quite as covertly Celtic to me.
Maybe one of those appeals? I should add that I don’t know many details of Indian names and realize some of these may not work if you/your family isn’t Hindu.
I do think Kieran is good too, although I actually know yet another half Indian family (half-Indian half-Colombian) and they have a daughter named Kieran. Of course it’s much more commonly used for boys though.
Overtly Celtic that should sauy, not covertly! :-)
What about Adi?
Speaking as a person who works in software development, I don’t think there’s anything hard about pronouncing Indian names. If teachers can pronounce Tchaikovsky, they can pronounce Jaikumar. I personally work with a Jai and a Rahul, and both have American counterparts.
I love Rishi.
Well, I know next to nothing about Indian names, so I looked it up on Behind the Name, and here are some western names that sound similar (at least for me) to some of the Indian names listed on that site:
Asher (Abshay) [could also work as an alternative for Archer!]
Chandler (Chander)
Ethan (Chetan)
Daniel (Danyal)
Harris (Harith/Harish)
Jayden (Jaidev)
Gavin (Javed)
Lachlan (Lochan)
Xander (Shandar)
I also really love the suggestion of Aidan (which sounds similiar to Adnan)!
Side note: Damian is also a common name here in Poland (according to one of my name books, it has Greek rather than Indian origins and means “healer”) and I like it too – it would work well with Rowan as well as your last name.
I absolutely love, love, love the above suggestion of Harris. I know a boy named Harish and he is such a friendly, happy person, and Harris seems like the perfect name if you wanted to “Western-ize it” a bit.
I also like the suggestion of Xander. But PLEASE, please, use Harris! Almost too wonderful.
Rowan and Harris
Rowan and Xander
I like Rishi. It is fun to say and sounds great with Rowan. I also like that you can then pick any middle you want.
I like Ravi and Ashwin as options for Indian names that are very usable in English speaking countries.
I think Rishi is adorable, but I was going to suggest Rahul (I see someone else mentioned it above). It wouldn’t work with Rohan, but Rowan frees it up and I think Rowan and Rahul both sound like strong masculin names.
Another Indian name I love that I think would work well is Sachin (for transparency purposes, I was so close to naming my own little guy Sascha).
Of course Nathan and Jonathan are also Indian names, obviously wearable internationally.
Good luck! Can’t wait to hear your choice.
I could see going with name that matches Rowan in style, Kieran being my favorite of those, or with an Indian name. The first initial of Rishi ties it together with Rowan. I know brothers Amrit and Rayhan. Amrit is pretty easy to pronounce.
Another vote for Kieran! I like how it mirrors Rowan in style and the Kieran/Kiran Rowan/Rohan aspect seems like a perfect match and a great way to bridge the 2 cultures. I don’t think it’s weird for a non Irish kid to have an Irish name especially because Celtic style names are very mainstream and popular here in America. Maybe it would be a bit odd if you choose a *very* authentic Irish name with a *very* Irish spelling such as Ruairidh or Pádraig but I don’t think anybody would raise an eyebrow at a more mainstream Irish pick such as Ryan, Shane, Kelly, Liam, Erin, Aidan etc.
I know it has weird connotations here, but how do you feel about Aryan? It would work, no one would be confused on how it was pronounced, and would be relatively normal both here and in India.
Another commenter mentioned Neil/ Neel, which I thought about as well. I would also push Rami which is both a name in the US and in India.
You could add Josh/ Joshi as an option.
I really really really would not use Aryan right now in the U.S. The association with the Nazi party is well known, and it is a fraught time to have that connotation.
You could do Arian, maybe.
Agreed – no Aryan, especially not on a multiracial child. Just no.
Ooh, or Niall (apparently pronounced Neel in Ireland) if that spelling is more your speed than Neil.
I agree with Genevieve; I don’t think Aryan is usable right now.
What about Sean/Shaan?
I think Rishi would be terrific – it goes well with Rowan because of being another r-letter name starting with R, it’s easily pronounceable, and an attractive name.
Kieran is another good option, definitely. If its Celtic-ness would bother you, Kiran itself would work well. and is pronounced just like it’s spelled and just like Kieran, so it’s easy.
And I agree that Ravi is another good option.
oops, I meant 5-letter name, not r-letter name.
Have you considered using Aria for a son? I know two male Arias, and, despite having previous associations with it as a “girl” name, I now find it very pleasing on boys/men. Rowan, too, is a somewhat unisex name, and I think Aria parallels that very nicely. I think this name could be perfect. Unless, of course, you’re saving it for a future daughter.
If not Aria, I support Harris (Harish/Harith), as another commenter suggested.
Best wishes to your family
If you can let go of Aria, I really like just Ari for a boy. Rowan and Ari sound lovely together.
For some reason I like Kiran better than Kieran for you.
I LOVE Rishi! I like sibling names to “match” and sound good together, and sometimes that means they need to be the same style, but not always. I think Rowan and Rishi sound perfect together despite one being Irish and one being Indian. If you had a couple of boys with Celtic sounding names – or even just English names popular in America and then decided on Rishi it might be different (ex. Rowan, James, Miles, and… Rishi) but since this is your second baby and it’s “only” Rowan, I think that gives you a lot of room style-wise. I keep saying “Rowan and Rishi” and am loving just the cadence of it, plus Rowan is, to my ear anyway, kind of spunky and offbeat enough to go well with Rishi (which I find equally pleasing, offbeat, at least in America). Both are familiar but not overused, easy to pronounce when you look at the spelling, fun, “cool” names (but also real names that can be worn by grown men just as easily as little boys). I also really like that they start with the same letter and have the same amount of syllables and letters, and yet are SO different in the actual sounds.
And I think pairing it with a more Western middle name is a good option, and that also balances out Rowan’s name since he’s got an Indian middle. Actually, even your idea of Kieran works well. Rishi Kieran, Rowan and Rishi, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Kieran. My only hesitation would be that you’d then have a pattern of each name including one Indian name and one Celtic name, and if you have more kids you might feel obligated to continue that pattern, which might restrict you? Not sure! Unless you absolutely love Celtic names :) If not, there are so many western names that sound great with Rishi! Of the names you listed I think Damian works great – Rishi Damian Gupt@, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Damian. Actually, typing it out I think that might be my favorite option. The names you listed also make me think of names like Beckett, Felix, Finn, Declan, Leo, Jude, Sebastian, Theo, Oliver, and Damian kinda makes me think of Dexter. (And I know I used Miles as an example before but I actually think that gives a similar vibe to some of the names you mentioned, too!) I don’t know if any of these names are problematic in Indian (either just pronunciation, or the name combined with Rishi or your surname meaning, or anything like that, etc.), but if not I like the sound of them:
Rishi Beckett, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Beckett, Rishi Beckett Gupt@
Rishi Felix, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Felix, Rishi Felix Gupt@
Rishi Finn, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Finn, Rishi Finn Gupt@
Rishi Declan, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Declan, Rishi Declan Gupt@
Rishi Leo, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Leo, Rishi Leo Gupt@
Rishi Jude, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Jude, Rishi Jude Gupt@
Rishi Sebastian, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Sebastian, Rishi Sebastian Gupt@
Rishi Theo, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Theo, Rishi Theo Gupt@
Rishi Oliver, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Oliver, Rishi Oliver Gupt@
Rishi Dexter, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Dexter, Rishi Dexter Gupt@
Rishi Miles, Rowan Aayan and Rishi Miles, Rishi Miles Gupt@
I think Rishi Archer could also work, since you love Archer! Rishi Archer. Also then there’s no chance of him being called Archie. :) Far and away my favorite is Rishi Damian, though. Rishi Beckett is a close second for me. :) And Declan! Declan might be a good bridge between your Archer and your husband’s Damian. Rishi Declan, swoon.
For me Kieran (Indian middle name) Gupt@ mirrors Rowan Aayan Gupt@ maybe too much? Of course I know it’s subjective, but I don’t love the sound of Kieran here and I think you’re probably right that brothers Rowan and Kieran are very Celtic sounding… I don’t know if I’d call it “odd” but I do think both of those names are so thoroughly Irish/Scottish sounding that it’d be surprising in a family that isn’t at all Irish. (Whereas if there’s one Irish name in a group of siblings I wouldn’t normally assume that – brothers named Rowan and Damian don’t make me immediately think “Irish” – or any other ethnicity/culture, nor would a group of brothers named Rowan, Samuel, Damian, and Kieran, etc. But brothers Rowan and Kieran would definitely make me think the family is very Irish. Again, not a bad thing at all, but just something to think about.)
Sorry for the essay!!!! 100% hope you end up using Rishi, but I’m sure whatever you all decide will sound fantastic! Congrats on your little boy!
I would go with Kieran or even just Kiran.
I do like the suggestion of Ravi. Or how about Dev? He could also be Devon, nn Dev, which is a great stylistic match with Rowan.
I think Kieran, Rishi, Archie, Kian, Devon & Ashwin could all be perfect.
Others that I think could work:
Parker, Alan, Jasper, Finn, Idris, Chet, Camden, Anton, Nash, Gavin, Damon, Cameron, Raj, Alfie, Krishan, Avi
Let me say first, I love the idea of Rishi with a Western middle name. I think Rishi is very handsome and would be well-balanced next to Rowan. I also like that it doesn’t force you into a pattern, i.e., you won’t HAVE to use an Indian name, or a Western name, or a word name, for any other kids (people might argue that two R names make a pattern, but I think it’s usually only significant if there’s three+ children with the same initial).
Is your family of any particular ethnicity? It might be nice to simply choose a name from your heritage; after all, his last name will be Gupta, and you could use a truly Indian middle name that you love and not feel like you didn’t honor that part of the family or have to worry about misspellings and pronunciation.
For what it’s worth, I think of the rowan tree first when I hear Rowan, so it’s more of a nature/word name to me. Aria is also a word name, technically (very pretty!) Maybe you could find another word name that you love and would be easy for his Indian family to pronounce? Ash/Ashe, River, Fox, Reed? That’s to say, only if you DO want the names to “match” or have some pattern.
I’m Caucasian/American married to an Indian as well! We’ve thought a lot about cross over names and I agree, boys are definitely harder! BUT we have stumbled upon a few we like: Asher/Ashwin/Ashlar (nicknamed Ash), Sidney (nm Sid which is also an Indian nickname), Neel/Neil, definitely Kiran/Kieran, Ori (very rare in India but love the sound, Bodhi/Bodie (my favorite and gaining popularity here even in the Indian spelling), Aric/Auric (great Indian twist on Eric, like it much bettter than Eric too!), Chetan (nm Chet, which is a classic southern name in the US), Arthur (nm Arth – Indian name), Niam (Indian name so similar to Liam).
Asher, Kieran, Bodie, and Chetan would all go particularly well with Rowan. Good luck and have fun! You have great options already.