Indie
Meaning
possibly a diminutive of India or Indiana; also likely inspired by indie, short for independent
The story
Indie is a name Behind the Name refuses to pin down, and we pass the honesty along: possibly a diminutive of India or Indiana, but also likely inspired by the term indie, short for independent, the word for music and film made outside the mainstream. The records treat it as brand new either way: single digits for decades, about 170 girls in the 2000s, about 1,400 in the 2010s, and with about 2,800 so far this decade it has already passed its full 2010s total with years to run. A small boys' line has appeared alongside. Two syllables that sound like a record label and a road trip at once; whichever origin a family hears in it, the name says out loud that this kid does her own thing.
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Indie peaked in the 2020s.
When you meet Indie
Most people given the name Indie in the United States are children or teenagers today. The name belongs to this generation.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Indie deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Indie truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Indie fits with your family’s names and surname.
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