Indy

♀ Girl

Pronounced IN-dee /ˈɪn.diː/High

Meaning: Short form of Indiana or Indira, or standing independently as a word name evoking independence and adventureMedium

In 30 seconds: Indy is a spirited two-syllable name standing as short for Indiana or Indira, or independently as a word-name invoking independence and adventure, with strong pop-culture energy from the Indiana Jones franchise.

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Origin HighEnglish, American English

MeaningShort form of Indiana or Indira, or standing independently as a word name evoking independence and adventure

U.S. rank (2025)#768 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births353 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,327

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Indy functions primarily as a short form of Indiana (a U.S. state name from the Latin Indus meaning India) or Indira (Sanskrit: beautiful, moonlike). As a standalone name it also evokes the English word independent and the Indie music scene. It carries a free-spirited, adventurous quality.

Indy gained traction as a given name in the United States and Britain in the 21st century, influenced partly by the Indiana Jones films and the cultural cachet of indie culture. In Australia and the UK it has appeared in the top 100 girls names in recent years. Parents are drawn to its short, energetic sound and positive associations.

Did you know? Indiana Jones, the fictional archaeologist played by Harrison Ford since 1981, actually got the name Indiana from his pet dog, a detail revealed in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The dog was named after the real Indiana Jones, a Siberian Husky owned by George Lucas.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Indiana — etymology of root nameU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

IndianaIndieIndiraIndia

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Indiana Jones (Indy) (1981–2023)
Indiana Jones, nicknamed Indy throughout all five films of the franchise, is a fictional archaeologist and adventurer created by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, first portrayed by Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and in four sequels through Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). The American Film Institute ranked him the second-greatest hero in American cinema history in its 2003 survey of the hundred greatest screen heroes and villains, and the five-film franchise has collectively grossed more than two billion dollars worldwide. His full name is Henry Walton Jones Jr.; he adopted the nickname Indiana from his own childhood dog, and the shortened form Indy became his universal identifier across all films and adaptations.

If you like Indy…

Indie— the closest variant, same sound and independent cultural feel

Indiana— the full form of which Indy is the nickname

Wren— same short, punchy nature-tinged girls name with modern energy

Remy— shares the two-syllable adventurous, gender-neutral modern feel

Explore names like Indy

By themeamerican word-name two-syllable pop-culture short-form adventurous

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Indy mean?

Indy most commonly serves as a short form of Indiana or Indira, and also evokes independence and adventure as a word name.

How do you pronounce Indy?

It is said IN-dee, two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Indy a girls name?

Indy is used for both boys and girls but leans feminine in modern American and British usage.

Is Indy short for Indiana?

Yes, Indy is most commonly used as a nickname for Indiana, though it also stands as a full given name on its own.