Shark Tank's Anupam Mittal breaks tradition: His daughter's name carries no man's legacy but her own... What does it mean?

In many Indian families, naming a child—especially a girl—follows a long-standing, unspoken custom. The daughter often carries her father's first name as her middle name, only to later adopt her husband's name after marriage. It’s a deeply rooted convention so normalized that few ever pause to reflect or challenge it. However, Anupam Mittal, the entrepreneur behind People Group and the matchmaking platform Shaadi.com, made a conscious decision to deviate from this inherited practice when it came to his own daughter.

Mittal opened up about this choice in a heartfelt message on LinkedIn, offering insight into the thinking behind his daughter’s name. “In a world where women are still introduced as someone’s daughter, someone’s wife, someone’s mother...we just wanted her to start as herself,” he wrote.

Recalling the moment their daughter Alyssa was born, Mittal explained that they deliberately chose her middle name instead of allowing tradition to dictate it. “In many Indian regions, the father’s name gets handed down automatically. And when it's a daughter, her husband's name eventually replaces it. It’s such a quiet pattern that most don’t even notice, let alone question. But we did,” he said.

Rather than following this conventional route, the couple decided on a name that symbolized freedom and wisdom: Alyssa Anantara. “Anantara means boundless. It draws from the word Ananta—another name for the goddess Saraswati, who represents knowledge and learning,” Mittal shared.

He acknowledged that while a name may seem like a small detail, it carries profound meaning. “It’s a small thing. A name. But also…not so small. For us, it was a way of saying - You don’t have to carry forward anyone’s legacy. You are not defined by the men in your life. - You are free to write your own story.”

Mittal emphasized that this wasn’t about making a bold proclamation. “It was simply the right beginning for us. A quiet way of expressing our belief in equality—in her, in her autonomy, and in her future. And for us, that was powerful enough,” he concluded.

His post struck a chord with many on social media.

One user applauded, saying, “You’re setting an example for parenting daughters by giving them the freedom to be themselves instead of molding them to societal molds. Your approach is inspiring and deeply moving.”

Another reflected, “In India, the tradition of using the father’s name in schools and legal documents continues unquestioned. What you've done is a meaningful and necessary step toward change.”

A third simply stated, “This is a beautiful and empowering act. Redefining traditions with such thoughtfulness is truly admirable.”