Indiana

Meaning of Indiana

Indiana, pronounced in English as in-dee-AH-nuh, bursts onto the baby-name map like a bright red pin on a road-trip atlas. Rooted in the Latin word “Indus,” filtered through Spanish “indiano,” and finally stamped on the American frontier as “land of the Indians,” the name carries the scent of campfire smoke and the rhythm of a mariachi guitar all at once. It’s defiantly unisex—equally at home on a fearless niña or a curious niño—and forever linked to pop-culture’s favorite whip-cracking archaeologist (fedora sold separately). Yet the real magic is its quiet rarity: after more than a century of steady but modest U.S. use, Indiana still feels like a hidden gem waiting just off Route 66. For parents craving a name that promises adventure, open skies, and a touch of Latin spice, Indiana points true north on the compass of the heart.