India has been known by several ancient names, each carrying deep historical, cultural, and geographical significance. Bharata, one of the oldest and most enduring names, is found in ancient Sanskrit texts like the Mahabharata and the Puranas, referring to the kingdom ruled by the legendary King Bharata. Even today, Bharat remains an official name of the nation, symbolizing continuity with its ancient roots. Another name, Jambudvipa, appears in early cosmological descriptions, portraying the subcontinent as the “land of the Jambu (rose apple) tree” and situating it within the larger concept of the known world. The term Aryavarta, meaning “land of the noble people,” was used in Vedic literature to denote the northern and central plains inhabited by the Aryan tribes and associated with Vedic culture and traditions. Hindustan, widely used in medieval times, has its origin in the Sanskrit Sindhu (Indus River), which the Persians pronounced as Hindu and the Greeks later adapted to Indos. The ancient Greeks and Romans also referred to the region simply as India, meaning the lands east of the Indus. Together, these names not only map the evolving identity of the subcontinent through different ages but also reflect its central place in trade, culture, spirituality, and civilization over thousands of years.