Payal

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Payal

Pronounced PAH-yuhl /ˈpɑː.jəl/Medium

Meaning: Payal is an Indian girl's name from Hindi, meaning 'payal' — the ornamental anklet or ankle bracelet worn traditionally by women in South Asia, often strung with small bells. It carries connotations of grace, adornment and festive beauty, and entered the U.S. record with Indian immigrant families.Medium

In 30 seconds: Payal is an Indian name meaning 'anklet', the bell-strung ankle bracelet of South Asian tradition (said 'PAH-yuhl').

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Origin HighHindi, Sanskrit

MeaningPayal is an Indian girl's name from Hindi, meaning 'payal' — the ornamental anklet or ankle bracelet worn traditionally by women in South Asia, often strung with small bells. It carries connotations of grace, adornment and festive beauty, and entered the U.S. record with Indian immigrant families.

U.S. rank (2015)#18477 ↗ Rising

2015 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1981

Total births (all-time)≈ 674

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

Payal comes straight from Hindi, where the word means the ornamental anklet or 'ankle bracelet' worn by women across South Asia, often hung with tiny bells. As a given name it evokes beauty and adornment, and it appears in the American record chiefly among Indian immigrant families from the later twentieth century.

In the U.S. it has always been rare, present from the mid-nineteen-seventies with a faint high point around 1981 and a long quiet presence since — a heritage name carried by a small Indian-American community rather than a mainstream pick. In India itself Payal remains a familiar and well-loved name.

Did you know? A payal, the anklet the name refers to, is a cherished piece of Indian jewelry whose soft chiming announces the wearer's steps; the name grew familiar in the U.S. as Indian-American families settled in growing numbers.

Overall data confidence 80%

References — Payal — Hindi 'anklet / ankle bracelet'; Indian given name

Variations

PayelPaayalPayal

Nicknames

PayPaya

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Payal mean?

Payal is an Indian name from Hindi meaning 'anklet' or 'ankle bracelet', the bell-strung ornament worn in South Asian tradition.

How do you pronounce Payal?

It's said PAH-yuhl /ˈpɑː.jəl/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Payal a boy or girl name?

Payal is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Payal?

Payal has always been rare in the U.S., a heritage name carried mainly by Indian-American families.