Indian Named “India” Opens Up About Her Unusual Name: ‘I Was Teased in America But Questioned in India’
What is the meaning behind a name? For India Witkin, her name went from being a source of discomfort to becoming a symbol of pride. She says her identity was shaped on two fronts — being teased in the United States and repeatedly questioned inside India.
“I spent years feeling conflicted about my name. I faced teasing in the US, and constant questions every time I visited India. I overthought everything and never valued the originality of my name,” she wrote.
Everything changed around age 18. She even wrote her college entrance essay around her name. Today, at 29, she says she feels thankful to her grandmother — her “nani” — who suggested the name just a week before she was born.
Witkin added that her grandmother proposed the name “India” as a reminder of her roots. She considers her name a tribute to the culture and emotional connection she carries with her heritage — a culture she says she deeply loves.
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Add Hunterfly on GoogleThe creator shared a reel responding to a follower who asked: “What inspired your parents to choose the name India?”
Her parents were unsure what to name her until her grandmother casually mentioned the idea. After birth, they made the decision official.
Social media reactions
Users online praised her family’s choice:
• “What better way to honour your roots”
• “This is wonderful”
• “So beautiful”
• “What a powerful story”
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