In Gujarati homes, choosing a baby's name is a family affair. The foi (father's sister) traditionally gets to name the baby at the naamkaran, the family priest suggests a starting letter based on the rashi, and everyone from Ba to the cousins has a favourite.
To help you shortlist, here's an A to Z list of Gujarati baby names with meanings — a mix of modern and traditional names you'll hear in Gujarati families from Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot to Mumbai, London and New Jersey.
Many names have more than one meaning depending on the source. We've shared the most commonly used meaning.
Gujarati Baby Names A to Z
| Letter | Boy names | Girl names |
|---|---|---|
| A | Aarav (peaceful) Aayush (long life) Ansh (a part, portion) |
Aastha (faith) Aarya (noble) Avni (earth) |
| B | Bhargav (Lord Shiva) Brijesh (Lord of Braj, Krishna) Bhavya (grand) |
Bhakti (devotion) Bhumi (earth) Bansari (flute) |
| C | Chintan (thought, reflection) Chirag (lamp) Chetan (consciousness) |
Chandni (moonlight) Charvi (beautiful) Chhaya (shade, shadow) |
| D | Darshan (sight of the divine) Dhaval (white, pure) Devansh (part of God) Dhairya (patience, courage) |
Dhara (stream; the earth) Disha (direction) Dhwani (sound, melody) Dhruvi (firm, steady) |
| H | Het (love, affection) Hardik (heartfelt) Harsh (joy) Hemang (one with a golden body) |
Hetvi (love, affection) Hiral (diamond) Heer (diamond) Hetal (friendly, loving) |
| J | Jay (victory) Jash (fame, glory) Jigar (heart; dear one) Jeet (victory) |
Jhanvi (the river Ganga) Juhi (jasmine) Jyoti (light) |
| K | Kahan (Lord Krishna) Kunj (Krishna's garden grove) Kaushal (skill) Krishiv (Krishna and Shiva) |
Krupa (grace, kindness) Kinjal (river bank) Khushi (happiness) |
| M | Mihir (the sun) Maulik (precious, original) Meet (friend) Mann (mind, heart) |
Mansi (wish; a woman) Mitali (friendship) Megha (cloud) |
| N | Nirav (quiet, calm) Nishant (dawn) Nayan (eye) |
Nidhi (treasure) Nisha (night) Nupur (anklet) |
| P | Parth (Arjun) Pranay (love) Pratham (first) Parv (festival) |
Palak (eyelash) Pooja (worship) Prachi (the east; dawn) |
| R | Ronak (brightness, splendour) Rudra (Lord Shiva) Ruchit (bright, pleasing) |
Riddhi (prosperity) Rupal (silver) Radhika (Radha) |
| S | Sahil (shore) Smit (smile) Saurabh (fragrance) |
Siddhi (achievement) Shreya (auspicious, fortunate) Sneha (affection) |
| T | Tirth (holy place) Tejas (brilliance) Tanmay (absorbed, engrossed) |
Tanvi (delicate, beautiful) Tulsi (holy basil) Trisha (desire) |
| U | Urvish (lord of the earth) Utsav (festival) |
Urvi (earth) Urja (energy) |
| V | Vraj (Braj, the land of Krishna) Viraj (resplendent) Vatsal (affectionate) Vansh (lineage) |
Vrunda (tulsi) Vidhi (destiny; ritual) Vaidehi (Goddess Sita) |
| Y | Yash (fame) Yug (era, age) Yatin (devotee) |
Yashvi (famous) Yamini (night) |
Krishna-Inspired Gujarati Names
With Dwarka and the deep love for Shrinathji and Thakorji in Gujarati homes, Krishna-inspired names are especially popular.
- Boys: Kahan, Vraj, Kunj, Madhav, Gopal, Keshav, Brijesh, Krishiv
- Girls: Radhika, Bansari, Vrunda, Meera, Rukmini, Tulsi
Popular Names in Gujarati Script
| Name | ગુજરાતી | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Aarav | આરવ | Peaceful |
| Het | હેત | Love |
| Dhairya | ધૈર્ય | Patience, courage |
| Vraj | વ્રજ | Land of Krishna |
| Krupa | કૃપા | Grace |
| Khushi | ખુશી | Happiness |
| Nidhi | નિધિ | Treasure |
| Riddhi | રિદ્ધિ | Prosperity |
How Gujarati Families Choose a Name
- Rashi akshar: many families ask the priest for the baby's rashi and choose a name starting with the suggested letters.
- The foi's role: traditionally, the father's sister announces the name at the naamkaran — a sweet moment for the whole family.
- Meaning first: Gujarati families often prefer names connected to Krishna, Shiva, virtues like patience and love, or nature.
- Short and global: many families living abroad choose short names like Het, Mann, Jay, Heer or Riya that are easy to say everywhere.
- Say it with the surname: try the full name out loud — “Het Patel”, “Krupa Shah” — to check that it flows.
The naamkaran is traditionally held around the 12th day after birth (the “barsa” in some families), though customs vary. Many Gujarati babies spend those first weeks sleeping in a traditional ghodiyu, with Ba singing halardu (lullabies). Read why Indian parents still trust the ghodiyu for infant sleep, or see how to turn a traditional ghodiyu into an electric one.
Getting Ready for the Naamkaran
Attending a naamkaran? See our top gifts for newborn babies in India, or choose a ready-to-gift set from Combos & Gifts like the Newborn Snuggle Set. Want more ideas from across India? Browse our list of trending Indian baby names A to Z.
Getting your home ready for the new arrival? Explore newborn essentials and our baby cradles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some modern Gujarati baby boy names?
Modern Gujarati boy names include Het, Dhairya, Krishiv, Vraj, Kahan, Mann, Aarav, Parv and Jash.
What are some modern Gujarati baby girl names?
Popular modern Gujarati girl names include Hetvi, Dhwani, Krupa, Heer, Vrunda, Riddhi, Dhruvi and Khushi.
Who names the baby in a Gujarati family?
Traditionally, the father's sister (foi) announces the baby's name at the naamkaran ceremony, often using a starting letter suggested by the family priest based on the baby's rashi.
What are some Gujarati names inspired by Lord Krishna?
For boys: Kahan, Vraj, Kunj, Madhav, Gopal and Keshav. For girls: Radhika, Bansari, Vrunda and Meera.
When is the naamkaran done in Gujarati families?
The naamkaran is traditionally held around the 12th day after birth, though the date varies by family and community. Many families consult a priest for an auspicious date.
