Bollywood celebrity baby names that are rooted in culture and their meanings

Last month, Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja welcomed their baby boy but it was only recently that they shared a glimpse of him on Instagram. They shared an adorable picture of the family, colour coordinated in yellow and in the caption, announced the name they have given him—Vayu Kapoor Ahuja. 

Kapoor also elaborated on what the name means, which was quite wholesome. This brings us to the fact that when it comes to baby names, celebrities have been going back to ones that are unique and rooted in tradition. As we all know it, the name you give your baby is something they will carry for the rest of their life (unless they decide to change it!) 

The meanings of these celebrity baby names are deep and incredibly heartening. Curious? Keep reading…

Vayu Kapoor Ahuja

In Hindu scriptures, Vayu is one of the panch tatvas. He is the deity of breath, the spiritual father of Hanuman, Bheem and Madhav, and the incredibly powerful lord of wind. Vayu is also considered to be a guiding force of life and intelligence in the universe which we’re certain will be the same force that’ll guide the new mom and dad in this journey of parenthood. Vayu is said to be heroic, brave and mesmerisingly beautiful.

Malti Marie Chopra Jonas

Priyanka Chopra Jonas welcomed her daughter with Nick Jonas and the name is a unique mix of traditional Indian and western cultures. Malti is a Hindi word that means ‘tiny fragrant flower’ or ‘moonlight.’ The name is derived from two completely different languages, Sanskrit and Latin, which makes it a beautiful fusion of tradition and modernism.

Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi and Jehangir Ali Khan Pataudi

Kareena Kapoor Khan welcomed her first child, a boy, with husband Saif Ali Khan in 2016 and named him Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi. It is an ancient Persian name meaning iron, which displays qualities like strength and toughness which we are sure is instilled in the little one! In 2021, they also welcomed their second son, Jehangir Ali Khan Pataudi. Jehangir is a Persian word which means ‘One who conquers the world’. The parents also refer to him as ‘Jeh’ sometimes. “Jeh” in Latin means blue-crested bird. In Parsi, it means ‘To come, to bring.’ We’re sure he has brought a lot of happiness into the family!

Vamika Kohli 

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli became parents last year and named their daughter Vamika—which is the name of Goddess Durga. Durga is considered to be the feminine epitome of strength and displays feminine prowess, determination and wisdom. 

Avyaan Azaad Rekhi

Dia Mirza welcomed her first child, son Avyaan Azaad Rekhi, with her husband Vaibhav Rekhi last year. The name ‘Avyaan’ is also one of the names of Lord Ganesha, signifying being born with “a lot of luck”.

Inaaya Naumi Kemmu

Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu welcomed their baby girl in 2017. Inaaya is a name of Arabic origin and means help, care and protection from the almighty. It can also be interpreted as a ‘Gift from God.’