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Indiana

♀ Girl

Pronounced in-dee-AN-uh /ˌɪn.diˈæn.ə/High

Meaning: land of the IndiansHigh

In 30 seconds: Indiana is an English place name meaning land of the Indians, used as a given name with adventurous associations. It gained global fame through the Indiana Jones film franchise.
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Origin HighEnglish, Latin
Meaningland of the Indians
U.S. rank (2024)#2249 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births83 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2021
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,006

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202218802024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Indiana derives from the US state name, formed from Indian plus the Latin suffix -a meaning belonging to. The state was named for its Native American populations. As a personal name, it carries a spirit of adventure and frontier exploration.

Indiana surged in popular consciousness through the Indiana Jones franchise beginning in 1981. As a given name it has grown for both boys and girls since the 1980s, with increasing use for girls in the 21st century as adventurous place names gained fashion.

Did you know? The name Indiana was chosen for the fictional archaeologist hero in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) after the dog of screenwriter George Lucas — making a pet dog indirectly responsible for one of cinema's most iconic names.
Overall data confidence 82%
Behind the Name: Indiana — name etymology referenceUS Social Security Name Database — U.S. popularity dataOxford Dictionary of Place Names — reference for Indiana

Variations

IndieIndiana Jones (fictional)

Nicknames

IndieIndiAna

Famous Bearers

  • ★Indiana Jones (fictional)
    Fictional archaeologist-adventurer hero of the Lucas/Spielberg film franchise that began with Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
  • ★Indiana Evans (1990–present)
    Australian actress known for Home and Away, H2O: Just Add Water, and Blue Lagoon: The Awakening.

If you like Indiana…

Savannah— US place name used as a feminine given name
Georgia— US state name used as a classic feminine name
Dakota— Native American place name used for girls
Sierra— geographic nature name with adventurous feel
Aurora— four-syllable Latinate name with similar grandeur

Frequently Asked

What does Indiana mean?

Indiana means land of the Indians, from the US state name formed from Indian plus the Latin suffix -a.

How do you pronounce Indiana?

Indiana is pronounced in-dee-AN-uh (/ˌɪn.diˈæn.ə/), with four syllables.

Is Indiana a girl's name?

Indiana is used for both boys and girls, with growing use for girls in the 21st century.

How popular is the name Indiana?

Indiana has grown in popularity since the 1980s, fueled by the Indiana Jones franchise, and is increasingly used for girls.