Most Popular Indian Last Names to Make Your Baby Smile

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Last names in India that have been passed down from ancestors are commonly based on the caste or occupation of the family.

Indian surnames provide information about a person’s background and family history. These last names often reveal details like caste, economic status, culture, and occupation. It is significant to understand the reputation associated with someone’s surname. In India, last names are typically handed down through generations, helping trace the family lineage back to ancestors. Some surnames also indicate the birthplace of individuals, adding to their importance in Indian society. If you are from India or acquainted with Indian traditions, you are likely familiar with this concept. Below is a compilation of the most commonly used last names in India where you can learn more about them.

Most Popular Indian Last Names

  1. Acharya

Acharya is a popular Indian name commonly used among Hindu Brahmins. This surname originates from the Sanskrit term ‘acarya’. It is also used as a title for a knowledgeable man.

  1. Agarwal

Agarwal is a family name commonly associated with the Jain community in India. The Agarwals are well-known for their involvement in business and trade. The surname originated from the word Agroha, the capital of the ancient city Agar Sen. It is a popular Indian name among Indians.

  1. Ahluwalia

Ahluwalia is a common surname originating from the Punjab region of India. Ahluwalia is a last name that comes from a village near Lahore called Ahlu.

  1. Ahuja

Ahuja is a popular Indian name that comes from the name of an ancestor named Ahu, who belonged to the Arora community in Sikhism.

  1. Akkineni

Akkineni is a popular Indian name in Telugu that comes from the words akki and nine, which mean rice and region. Therefore, the last name indicates a person from an area where rice is grown.

  1. Amin

Amin is a last name in the Muslim tradition that comes from the Arabic word ‘amin’, which means ‘trustworthy’. It is often used with other names to create longer compound names.

  1. Anand

Anand is a last name in Hindu culture that comes from a Sanskrit word meaning joy. Originally used as a first name, it is now commonly used as a family name.

  1. Anthony

The last name Anthony is common among Christians in South India and comes from the first name Anthony.

  1. Arora

The popular Indian name Arora is a well-known last name in India, commonly found in Hindi and Punjabi communities. The surname comes from the historic city of Aror, now in the Sindh province of modern-day Pakistan. It is thought that the city’s name is based on the Hindi word aur, which means ‘more, also.’

  1. Apte

Apte is a popular Indian name commonly found among people from Maharashtra in the Konkan region. The surname is derived from the Marathi term ‘apta’, which refers to the Bauhinia tomentosa tree.

  1. Arya

Arya is a popular Indian last name in various Hindu communities. The surname originates from the Sanskrit name ‘arya’, which means ‘respectable person’.

  1. Azad

The Indian surname Azad is well-known in Bengali and Urdu, and comes from Persian roots. The name means ‘free’ in Persian.

  1. Babu

Babu is a popular Hindu last name that means ‘father’. The name comes from the name ‘bappa’, which is a polite way to address a man. It is also a sweet term used for a baby boy.

  1. Bajwa

The name ‘Bajwa’ is commonly used by people belonging to the Jat tribe who are Sikh. It is a well-known surname in North Indian states such as Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana.

  1. Bakshi

Bakshi is a popular Indian name that is common among Hindus and Punjabis. The surname comes from the Persian word ‘bakhshi’, which means ‘paymaster’. Initially, Bakshi was a title given to officials in Muslim armies who were in charge of distributing pay to soldiers.

  1. Balakrishnan

The popular Indian last name Balakrishnan comes from the Sanskrit name balakrishna which means ‘child Krishna’. It is a popular surname in southern India.

  1. Bandyopadhyay

Bandyopadhyay is a last name in Bengali that comes from the village Bandoghat and the name ‘upadhaya’, which means teacher or priest.

  1. Banerjee

Banerjee is a popular Indian last name that comes from Bengal. The first part, ‘Ban,’ comes from a village called Bandoghat. The second part, ‘jee,’ comes from ‘jha,’ which means ‘teacher.’

  1. Basu

Basu is a last name in the Bengali culture, derived from the Sanskrit name ‘vasu’ meaning wealth, gem, and radiance. The surname Basu is also used as a title for Lord Shiva in Hindu mythology.

  1. Basumatary

Basmati is a last name from India that comes from the Sanskrit word Vasumati, which is another name for the Hindu goddess Bhuma. It is believed that she is seen as the mother of the Bodo community.

  1. Batra

The popular Indian surname Batra comes from a specific group within the Arora community in Punjab.

  1. Bawa

Bawa is a popular Indian last name in the Sikh community that comes from a specific Jat clan. It is also used as a title for male descendants of the initial three Sikh leaders.

  1. Bedi

The last name Bedi comes from a specific group within the Khatri community. Bedi comes from the word ‘vedi’ in Sanskrit, which means ‘someone who is knowledgeable about the Vedas’.

  1. Bhasin

Another Sikh last name for you is Bhasin, which comes from the Khatri community clan. This popular Indian surname comes from the Sanskrit name Bhasin, meaning ‘sun’.

  1. Bhatt

The popular Indian last name Bhatt comes from a group of goldsmiths in Punjab, and it means someone who is knowledgeable.

  1. Biswas

Biswas is a popular Indian last name from the Bengali Kayastha community. The name originates from the Sanskrit name ‘visvasa’, which means ‘trust’.

  1. Burman

Burman is a last name of Rajbanshi origin that comes from the Sanskrit name ‘varman’ meaning ‘protection’. Burman is also similar to the surname Verma commonly found in North India.

  1. Chabra

Chabra is a popular Indian name commonly used by people of Hindu and Sikh faiths, derived from the Arora clan.

  1. Chadha

Chadha is a popular Indian last name associated with the Khatri Hindu community, derived from the name of a clan within that community. The Ramgharia Sikhs also have a clan called Chadha.

  1. Chakrabarti

The Bengali last name Chakrabarti originates from the Sanskrit name cakravarti, which means ’emperor’. This term also describes a leader whose chariot is able to move freely without any hindrance.

  1. Chandra

The common last name Chandra originated from the Sanskrit name ‘candra’, which means ‘pleasant or moon’. It is often found at the end of a full name like Ramachandra.

  1. Chauhan

The last name Chauhan is very old and respected. The Chauhan rulers were in charge of ruling over Rajasthan and nearby states.

  1. Chawla

Chawla is an Indian last name that is common among Hindus and Sikhs. The name comes from a specific group within the Arora community.

  1. Chopra

Chopra is a popular Indian last name commonly used by Hindus and Sikhs as part of a family group known as Chopra.

  1. Chowdhury

Chowdhury is a popular Indian name that has been passed down through generations as the leader of a community. Initially given to prominent individuals, it is now a common last name for both Indian Muslims and Hindus.

  1. Das

Das is a popular Indian last name from Bengal, originating from the word ‘das’ which means ‘follower’ or ‘devotee’. It is often used at the end of first names.

  1. Dalal

Dalal is a clan in the Jats community in Northern India. According to Wikipedia, the clan got its name from a king named Dalal.

  1. Dara

Dara is a last name of Parsi origin. This Indian name comes from the ancient Persian name Darayavahush, which means ‘possessor’.

  1. Datta

Datta is a last name that comes from Bengali and Punjabi backgrounds. The last name comes from the Sanskrit name ‘datta’, which means ‘gift’.

  1. Dayal

Dayal is a popular Indian last name commonly used by people in the Kayastha community. Similar to the last name Chandra, Dayal is often found at the end of a full name.

  1. Debbarma

The Debbarma surname of Tripuri origin is a combination of two Sanskrit names, Dev and Varma. Dev comes from Deva, which means God, and Varma comes from Varman, which means armor and protection.

  1. Deshmukh

The Indian last name Deshmukh is commonly used in various Hindu communities. This name comes from the Marathi name ‘desmukh’, which means ‘district chief’.

  1. Deshpande

Deshpande is a Brahmin last name that comes from the Marathi name ‘despande’. It was used to refer to the district accountant who held a position that was passed down through generations.

  1. Deol

The popular Indian last name Deol of Sikh origin comes from a group known as the Jat clan.

  1. Dewan

The popular Indian last name Dewan originated from the Arabic name ‘diwan’, which referred to a royal court or treasury. During the Mughal period, a Dewan was the most senior official in a state.

  1. Dey

Dey is a popular Indian surname that comes from Assamese, Bengali, and Odia backgrounds. It is thought to have come from Sanskrit words like deva, which means God, or deya, which means suitable for a gift.

  1. Dhar

Dhar is a last name from the Kayasth community, which comes from the Bengali word ‘dhar’ that means ‘credit’.

  1. Dhawan

The last name Dhawan is derived from a group within the Khatri community. The surname originates from the Sanskrit name ‘dhav’, which means ‘runner’ or ‘messenger’.

  1. Dhillon

Dhillon is a last name that belongs to the Sikh or Jat community. The Dhillon tribe is one of the most common Jat tribes found throughout India.

  1. Dixit

Dixit is a last name that originates from the Sanskrit name ‘diksita’, which means a priest who performs initiation ceremonies.

  1. Dubey

Dubey is a last name from North India that is pronounced as two syllables. The name means ‘someone who has studied the Vedas’. The last name Dubey is related to the Gujarati last name Dave.

  1. Gadhavi

Gadhavi is a common Gujarati last name that is associated with the Charan community in Gujarat.

  1. Gandhi

Gandhi is a popular Indian last name that means ‘perfume seller’ in languages from India. In the state of Gujarat, ‘gandha’ can also refer to a ‘pharmacist’ or a ‘grocer’.

  1. Garg

Garg is a popular Indian last name that belongs to the Bania and Jain communities. Both Oswal Banias and Agarwal Banias have divisions known as Garg. It was also the name of a wise Hindu sage in ancient times.

  1. Gayakwad

Gayakwad is a popular Indian last name from the Marathi language, which combines the words ‘gaay’ for cow and ‘kavad’ for door.

  1. Ghosh

Ghosh is a popular Indian last name from Bengal. It comes from the Sanskrit name ‘ghosa’, meaning ‘cowherd’ and is often associated with the Kayasth community.

  1. Gill

Gill is a last name that originates from Punjab and is derived from the word ‘gil’ in Punjabi, which means ‘prosperity’. Additionally, there is a Jat community with the surname Gill.

  1. Goel

The last name Goel is derived from a clan in the Agarwal community in India. It is commonly found in the northeastern states of the country.

  1. Gokhale

The surname Gokhale is commonly associated with Hindu Konkanasth Brahmins. The name originated from the Marathi name ‘gokhla’ which means ‘cow eye’.

  1. Goswami

Goswami is a popular Indian last name for some people in the Brahmin Hindu community. The name comes from a Sanskrit word ‘gosvami’, which refers to someone who is religious and begs for alms.

  1. Grover

Grover is a last name that is common among Hindus and Sikhs. Many people from Punjab have this surname.

  1. Gupta

Gupta is a last name commonly used by people of the Jain and Bania communities. It originates from the Sanskrit name ‘gupt’, which means ‘protected’. This surname has been in use in India for a long time.

  1. Haldar

Haldar is an Indian last name originating from the Sanskrit name ‘haladhara’, which means ‘one who holds a plow’. The name is associated with Balarama, who is known by this epithet.

  1. Iyer

Iyer is a common last name among Hindu-Brahmins in the Tamil Nadu area of India. The Iyer community is significant in Tamil Nadu.

  1. Jain

The Indian last name Jain comes from the Sanskrit word ‘jaina’, which means ‘triumphant’. This word is derived from Jina, which means ‘follower of Jina’.

  1. Jha

The last name Jha is common in Northern India. It comes from the Sanskrit word ‘upadhaya’, which means ‘teacher’.

  1. Joshi’

The popular Indian last name is a shortened version of the Sanskrit last name ‘jyotshi’, which means someone who studies astrology. This last name is used by people of the Brahmin caste.

  1. Kamble

The Indian surname Kamble comes from the Sanskrit word Kambala, which means blanket. It is used to describe someone who weaves blankets or carries blankets.

  1. Kapadia

Kapadia is a common last name in Rajasthan, Bombay, and Gujarat. The surname originates from the Parsi term ‘kapad’, which refers to a person who sells cloth.

  1. Kapoor

Kapoor is a popular Indian last name commonly used by Sikhs in the Khatri community. It originally comes from the name ‘karpura’, which means ‘camphor’.

  1. Karmakar

Karmakar is a last name in Assamese and Bengali that is associated with someone who does metal work, like a blacksmith or someone who works with iron.

  1. Kashyap

Kashyap is a popular Indian last name commonly used by Brahmins who belong to a specific lineage or clan. The name comes from a respected Hindu sage named Kashyap and is associated with the creatures tortoise and deer.

  1. Kaur

Kaur is a common last name for Sikh and Punjabi women. It can be used at the end of their first name or as their family name.

  1. Khan

Khan is a last name that is often seen in Urdu, Pashto, and Bengali, and it means a king or ruler. This popular Indian name likely comes from Mongolia, but it is also seen in various other languages.

  1. Khanna

Khanna is a popular Indian last name that comes from a group within the Khatri community. It is believed that they are the descendants of Khan Chand.

  1. Khatri

The last name Khatri means the same as Kshatriya. Kshatriya is one of the five main categories in the Hindu caste system.

  1. Khatun

Khatun is a popular Indian last name in languages such as Bengali, Hindi, Assamese, Odia, and Nepali. This name comes from a Persian title that means lady or noblewoman.

  1. Khurana

The last name Khurana of Sikh origin comes from a specific group within the Arora community.

  1. Kohli

Kohli is a popular Indian last name that comes from a group of people in the Khatri community who follow Hindu and Sikh beliefs.

  1. Korrapati

Korrapati is a common Indian last name mostly seen in Telugu-speaking regions. It comes from a place called Korra or Korrapalem and the word ‘Pati’ which means ‘belonging to’. So, it refers to someone from Korra or Korrapalem.

  1. Kulkarni

Kulkarni is a last name in Marathi that comes from a village clerk. This last name was given to village officials who worked under the village headman.

  1. Kumar

Kumar is a common last name in many Indian groups. It comes from the god Kartikeya, who is the son of Lord Shiva. Kumar can also be part of someone’s first name.

  1. Laghari

Laghari is a commonly seen last name in India, and it originates from the Laghari tribe in Balochistan.

  1. Lal

Lal is a common Hindu last name that is used in various communities. It originates from the Sanskrit word ‘lala’, which means ‘darling’. The name is associated with the God Krishna and is a popular surname in India.

  1. Laskar

Laskar is a popular Indian last name that comes from Persian and is commonly used by people from Bengal and Assam. It means someone who is part of the army, navy, or military.

  1. Madan

The last name Madan is derived from a family name Madan, which means ‘god of love’. It is also the name of a group within the Arora community.

  1. Mahajan

The last name Mahajan, which originated from the Hindi word ‘mahajan’, which means ‘banker’ or ‘money lender’. In Sanskrit, Mahajan refers to a ‘great person’.

  1. Mahto

Mahto is a surname that is similar to Mahato and comes from the Sanskrit word Mahat, which means great or large. This name was traditionally used for village leaders and wealthy farmers. It is a popular surname in languages like Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Odia, and Nepali.

  1. Majumdar

Majumdar is a well-known Bengali last name that has its roots in Arabic and Persian. The name means someone who is responsible for keeping records or preserving documents.

  1. Malhotra

Malhotra is a popular Indian last name that comes from a specific group within the Khatri community. It is a slightly different version of Mehrotra.

  1. Mallick

Mallick is a popular Indian last name that can be both Hindu and Muslim. It originates from the Arabic word ‘malik’, which means king.

  1. Mandal

Mandal is a last name that comes from the title given to the village leader or the Sanskrit word mandala, which means a ‘circle,’ ‘wheel,’ ‘disk,’ or ‘halo.’ This surname is often seen in Bengali, Hindi, Assamese, Odia, Marathi, and Nepali-speaking communities.

  1. Mangal

Mangal is a popular last name in Hinduism that comes from the Sanskrit name ‘mangala’. The Agarwal Banias belong to a group called Mangal within their clan. This last name means something that brings good luck.

  1. Mani

Mani comes from the South Indian last name Subramanian, and it is also used as a first name in Kerala.

  1. Mannan

Mannan is a popular last name used by both Hindus and Muslims that comes from the Tamil word for ‘king’. The surname Mannan originates from the Sanskrit name ‘mannan’ which means ‘the bountiful’.

  1. Mehra

The surname Mehra comes from Hindi and Punjabi and has different meanings. In Middle Persian, it means ‘friendship’ or ‘sun’, while in Punjabi, it means ‘master’ or ‘chief’.

  1. Mehta

The surname Mehta originates from Rajasthan and in modern Indian languages it means chief. In Gujarati, the name means a person who is both a teacher and an accountant.

  1. Mhasalkar

Mhasalkar is a popular last name that comes from the town of Mhasla in the state of Maharashtra, India.

  1. Mishra

Mishra is an Indian last name in Hindi and Marathi, which means mixed, mingled, and honorable in Sanskrit. Another way to spell this name is Misra.

  1. Modi

The popular Indian surname Modi is used by people from the Gujarati and Parsi communities. There is a group known as Modi within the Oswal Banias.

  1. Mukherjee

The Mukherjee surname is derived from the Sanskrit term Mukhopadhyaya. This name is made up of the words ‘mukhya’, which refers to principal, and ‘upadhaya’, which means teacher.

  1. Naidu

The Indian last name Naidu is commonly found in communities in Andhra Pradesh. It comes from the word ‘naya’, which means leader or chief. The addition of ‘du’ is a suffix used for third person masculine in Telugu.

  1. Nagarkar

Nagarkar is a last name from India that comes from the town of Nagar in the state of Maharashtra.

  1. Narang

Narang is an Indian surname that comes from a town in Pakistan that used to be part of India.

  1. Nayak

Nayak is an Indian last name that comes from the Sanskrit word Nayaka, which means ‘a hero’ or ‘leader.’ Two other common versions of this surname are Naik and Nayaka.’

  1. Nibhanupudi

Nibhanupudi is a last name that comes from a village in Andhra Pradesh, India, and has Telugu roots.

  1. Panda

Panda is a last name used in the Odia and Bengali cultures, originating from the Sanskrit word Panda which means intelligence, wisdom, and education.

  1. Pandey

The popular Indian last name Pandey originated from the Sanskrit word ‘pandita’, which means scholar. It is used to describe a Brahmin who is either a teacher or a cook.

  1. Parekh

Parekh is a variation of the name Parikh and in Gujarati, it means ‘assayer’. The Parekh clans can be found among the Porwal Banias and Oswal communities.

  1. Patel

Patel is a popular last name in the Gujarati community, and it means ‘village headman’ in the Gujarati language.

  1. Pathak

Pathak is a last name that is often seen in Indian communities like Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Nepali. The name comes from the Sanskrit word Pathaka, which means someone who reads or learns.

  1. Pawar

Pawar is a last name that comes from Hindi and Marathi and is a variation of Parmar. Parmar is actually derived from the Sanskrit phrase para mara, which means ‘slayer of enemies’.

  1. Pradhan

Pradhan is a popular Indian last name in India that is used in languages like Odia, Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, and Nepali. It comes from the Sanskrit word Pradhana, which means leader or main person.

  1. Prasad

Prasad is a popular last name in India that comes from the name Prasad, which means ‘bright,’ ‘clear,’ ‘gracious,’ or offering in Sanskrit. The name Prasad is often connected to the food given during religious ceremonies.

  1. Pratap

Pratap is an Indian last name in Hindu culture that comes from a first name with the same name. The name means ‘heat,’ ‘splendor,’ and ‘glory’ in the Sanskrit language.

  1. Puri

The name Puri comes from a family in the Khatri community. In Punjabi, ‘puri’ means ‘small town’.

  1. Purohit

Purohit is a popular Indian last name that belongs to the Brahmin caste. This term is used to refer to the priest of a Hindu group. The name means ‘one who is positioned at the front.

  1. Rana

Rana is a last name that sounds royal in Bengali, Odia, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi, Nepali, and Urdu. The name comes from Sanskrit and typically means king.

  1. Ranganathan

The Hindu surname Ranganathan means ‘lord of mirth’ and is used as a title for Lord Krishna.

  1. Ray

The last name Ray is a different form of Rai. It is derived from the Sanskrit name ‘raja’, which means ‘king’. Ray is also the surname of the Bunt group.

  1. Rao

The surname Rao is well-known in states like Orissa, Maharashtra, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh in western India.

  1. Reddy

Reddy is a common surname in Southern India. People belonging to the Reddy caste are recognized for their expertise in administration. In addition to administration, many individuals from the Reddy community are also farmers.

  1. Roshan

Roshan is a common last name in many Indian languages like Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Nepali, Bengali, Punjabi, and Gujarati. The name comes from Persian and it means ‘light’ or ‘bright’.

  1. Sachdev

The Indian surname Sachdev comes from a group in the Arora community and it means ‘true god’.

  1. Sahu

Sahu is a common Indian last name that typically belongs to someone involved in business or finance in Sanskrit. Another way to spell this last name is Sahoo.

  1. Saini

Saini is a popular Indian last name in India that comes from an Arora family. It is pronounced as SAY-NEE.

  1. Sardar

The surname Sardar comes from Persian and means ‘chief leader.’ This surname can be found in languages like Bengali, Hindi, and Urdu, and has spelling variations such as Sarder, Serder, and Serdar.

  1. Sarkar

Sarkar is a popular Indian last name in Bengali and Assamese that comes from the Persian word Sarkar, which means ‘lord,’ ‘supervisor,’ or ‘overseer.’

  1. Sawant

The surname Sawant comes from the Sanskrit word Samanta, which means ‘universal,’ ‘complete,’ or ‘entire,’ in Marathi.

  1. Saxena

Saxena is a subgroup within the Kayastha community and they were awarded this title by the kings of Srinagar.

  1. Seth

Seth is a surname commonly used by Parsi and Jain people, especially among those in business. The name Seth means ‘banker or merchant.’

  1. Shah

Shah can be a last name for both Hindus and Muslims. This name comes from Persian and means ’emperor’. In Jain and Gujarati cultures, Shah means ‘merchant’.

  1. Shankar

The surname Shankar is well-known in India and is commonly found in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada communities. It comes from the Sanskrit name Shankara, which means fortunate or auspicious. Shankar is also a name for the Hindu deity Shiva.

  1. Shastri

Shastri is a popular Indian last name in Hindi and Marathi that comes from the Sanskrit word Shastrin, which refers to someone knowledgeable in ancient Indian texts called Shastras. Over time, the last name began to represent a scholar.

  1. Sharma

The surname Sharma means ‘joy or shelter’ and is highly respected among the Indian community.

  1. Shinde

Shinde is a common last name in the Marathi language, originating from a historical Indian ruling family in the state of Maharashtra.

  1. Singh

Singh is a last name commonly used by Hindu Kshatriya groups and is now being used by other communities as well. The name Singh means bravery or importance.

  1. Sinha

Sinha is a last name that is commonly found in India among people who speak Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, and Nepali. The surname originates from the Sanskrit word simha, which means ‘lion’ in English.

  1. Suryavanshi

The Indian surname Suryavanshi comes from two Sanskrit words, Surya and Vansha. The name means ‘sun’ and vans means ‘clan’ or ‘lineage.’ Therefore, Suryavanshi means a person from the sun clan or lineage.

  1. Tamboli

Tamboli is a common surname in India, particularly among Marathi speakers. The name originates from the Sanskrit word ‘Tambula,’ which refers to betel leaves. People with this surname were traditionally those involved in the cultivation or sale of betel leaves.

  1. Thakur

The popular Indian name Thakur means ‘deity’ or ‘lord’. Thakur is a last name commonly linked to the Kshatriya caste but can also be found among Brahmins and other groups.

  1. Thapa

Thapa is a well-known last name in countries like Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. It originated from a title used in the Khasa Kingdom in South Asia between the 11th and 14th centuries.

  1. Tiwari

Tiwari is a popular Indian last name that is similar to Trivedi or Tripathi and is common in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Odia, and Nepali speaking communities. The surname comes from the Sanskrit word Tripathi, which means ‘someone who has studied three Vedas.’

  1. Tripathi

Tripathi is a popular Indian last name that is often seen in India among Hindi, Odia, Marathi, Bengali, and Punjabi people. The surname comes from the Sanskrit name ‘tripathin’, which means ‘someone who has learned the three Vedas.

  1. Tyagi

Tyagi is a common last name in Hindi that comes from the Sanskrit word for ‘leaving/abandoning’ or ‘sacrificing.’ It is said that this surname started with those who stopped working in agriculture and turned to teaching or other educational jobs.

  1. Vaidya

Vaidya is a popular Indian last name in Marathi that comes from Sanskrit and refers to someone who is a physician or doctor.

  1. Varma

Varma is a common last name in North India. The name comes from the Sanskrit word ‘armor’, which means ‘protection’. Originally, it was only used by the Kshatriya caste, but now people from other communities also use it.

  1. Vemulakonda

Vemulakonda is a last name in Telugu that shows someone is from the town of Vemula in Andhra Pradesh, India.

  1. Waghmare

The Indian surname Waghmare comes from the Marathi words for ‘tiger’ and ‘to kill,’ making it mean ‘a tiger killer.’

  1. Zacharia

Zacharia is a Hebrew last name that is common among Christians in Kerala. It is also commonly used as a first name by families in Kerala.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the naming convention for Indian first and last names?
Naming customs in India vary based on an individual’s religion and where they come from. In India, first names are usually given at birth. In certain communities, a priest or religious leader selects the first letter of the name based on the birth date and time. The actual name is then chosen using that letter. Surnames in India typically come from the father’s name or family name on the father’s side.
2. Why do Indian surnames tend to be lengthy?
Indian last names are often lengthy. Some individuals want to include their grandfather’s and father’s names in their own names, making their full name longer. In addition, certain regions in South India have a tradition of adding four names that symbolize their ancestors or family history.
3. How do Indian women who have recently tied the knot change their surnames?
After getting married, an Indian bride can decide whether to take on her husband’s last name or keep using her own.

The last name can tell a lot about a person and their family history. That’s why some people might call you by your last name. In India, there are many different last names that are well-known around the world. Everyone has probably heard of popular Indian last names like Sharma, Kapoor, Singh, Reddy, and Khanna. Look at our list to learn about the most common Indian last names and where they come from.

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