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The indian names on the list (I checked a few, not exhaustively) are not unisex: in the cases I checked the male and female names are distinct in Indian scripts and are pronounced differently in most of India, but are often transliterated into the same spelling in Roman letters. Sanskrit is strongly gendered and it would be odd to have Indian names of Sanskrit origin that are truly unisex in most parts of India. One exception to the general rule is Punjabi names, often of Sanskrit origin, that are truly unisex.
I would prefer in the usual case the database have two entries (e.g. Bala m and Bala f rather than Bala m & f), even though the names are obviously related (the female name is the male name + a feminine suffix). That way the truly unisex names like Ravinder stand out. I have no idea what do with names like Kirti that are the exact same word that are used as male and female in different parts of India (or unisex in some parts and only one sex in other parts). This last problem arises from treating India as a single cultural tradition for onomastic purposes, which is far less true than similar assumptions we make in most of the rest of the world.
I would prefer in the usual case the database have two entries (e.g. Bala m and Bala f rather than Bala m & f), even though the names are obviously related (the female name is the male name + a feminine suffix). That way the truly unisex names like Ravinder stand out. I have no idea what do with names like Kirti that are the exact same word that are used as male and female in different parts of India (or unisex in some parts and only one sex in other parts). This last problem arises from treating India as a single cultural tradition for onomastic purposes, which is far less true than similar assumptions we make in most of the rest of the world.
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I forgot another category of pseudo-unisex names from India. This is the problem of Bengali "first" and "middle" names. Traditionally, Bengalis had only one name (with the addition of the last name when that custom started a few hundred years back). But it often was a two-part name with a set of very common second parts. Thus, for example, Durgaprasad means "pleasure of Durga" (the idiomatic expression corresponding to English "by the grace of goddess Durga") is a typical male name, but it was often shortened to Durga. This shortening is different in usage from, say, Bob for Robert; many Bengalis would have a totally unrelated set of names for use by family members, friends, and in familiar circumstances: i.e., people often have one or more "petnames" to fill the role of both the hypochoristic and the familiar forms of English; the shortening to the first part can always be used except in extremely formal settings, overlapping the usage pattern of the first name instead of the formal first+middle name in English. Under the influence of English (and, today, American) usage, many men with this name now parse it as "Durga Prasad", use the initials "D.P.", and describe "Durga" as the first name and "Prasad" as the middle name.
But, "Durga" is the name of the goddess, and is still used as a female name. This is actually not an uncommon occurrence. But thinking of Durga as a unisex name would be mischaracterizing the Bengali situation.
But, "Durga" is the name of the goddess, and is still used as a female name. This is actually not an uncommon occurrence. But thinking of Durga as a unisex name would be mischaracterizing the Bengali situation.
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