Indiana

At a Glance

Meaning

Named for the historic Indiana Territory, itself named for its Native American population

Origin

English (U.S. place name)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

in-dee-AN-ahListen

Indiana is a place-name-turned-first-name, taken from the historic Indiana Territory, which was itself named for the Native American population living there. It's used as a name for any gender and carries a romantic, storybook feel, pronounced in-dee-AN-ah. If you're weighing it for a child, it's worth knowing upfront that its story is geographic and historical rather than tied to a traditional word meaning.

Meaning & Origin of Indiana

Meaning: Named for the historic Indiana Territory, itself named for its Native American population.

Origin: English (U.S. place name).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Indiana

Popularity of Indiana

Indiana has actually grown rarer over time: it hit its highest point back in 1880, ranking #604 with just 9 babies given the name, and by 2024 it had fallen to #2154 with 68 babies — more babies than in 1880, but a much lower rank in a far larger pool of names.

Names Like Indiana

These names share Indiana’s style, era or origin.

• Adley
• Amory
• Arden
• Arlowe
• Arrow
• Ash

FAQ

What does the name Indiana mean?

Named for the historic Indiana Territory, itself named for its Native American population. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Indiana?

Indiana is pronounced in-dee-AN-ah (IPA: /ˌɪndiˈænə/).

Is Indiana a popular name right now?

Indiana peaked at #604 in 1880 and is ranked #2154 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Indiana Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Indiana, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.