India, Hindustan, Bharat, and Aryavarta have all been used to refer to this country. The word India comes from Greek literature, where it means "country of the Indos," or "those who live near the Indos" (Iatin Indus). The name Sindhu - 'the rivers' – was derived from the Indus by Persians and Greeks. As a result, it was given the name Hindustan, which means "country of Hindus" in Persian and other West Asian languages. Sindhu is the root of the word Hindu. Because the Persians pronounced 'S' as 'H,' Sindhu was given the name Hindu. Hindustan was the name given to the land to the east of Sindhu. In Hindu mythology, the entire subcontinent is referred to as Bharat or Bharat - Varsha, the kingdom of the legendary King Bharata, who envisioned the country's basic unity.

However, some academics believe the name comes from the Bharath tribe, who lived in the area along with others. It is commonly referred to as India in European languages. The word Aryavarta refers to the Aryan race's homeland. Only India and Bharat are officially recognised at the moment, while Hindustan is widely used.