30 Lord Ayyappan Names For Baby Boys With Meanings

As parents, we all want our kids to have names with a beautiful meaning, and on top of that, if it is in reference to a God or Goddess, the name wins a few extra brownie points. So here are some Ayyappan names for boys that we have listed out for your little one.

These names are especially popular in the Southern parts of India. They sound devotional, soothing, and have a strong meaning. Read on to find out more about these names and Lord Ayyappa.

In This Article

Who Is Lord Ayyappa?

Lord Ayyappa is one of the many deities worshiped in South India. But his story is quite unique. According to mythology,“Thousands of decades ago, deities and demons fought over the divine nectar (amrutham). That’s when Lord Vishnu transformed into Mohini (mythical enchantress), distributed the nectar and resolved the fight between the two groups. Lord Shiva, who was witnessing the event, was enchanted by the beauty of Mohini, and thus, Ayyappa was born from the union of Lord Vishnu and Shiva.”

Interesting, isn’t it? So, ready to pick a Lord Ayyappa name for your boy?

Lord Ayyappa Names For Baby Boys

Here are some divinely beautiful Lord Ayyappa names with meanings for baby boys:

1. Achankovil

Achankovil means father's temple
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Image: Shutterstock

Achankovil is the name of a river in Kerala. Achankovil Shashtha temple is one of the five famous temples dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. ‘Achan’ means ‘father’ and ‘kovil’ means ‘temple.’ Hence, the name means ‘father’s temple.’

2. Ayyappan

The name signifies Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. It means ‘ever youthful.’

3. Aryanathan

Arya means ‘one who is noble and honored,’ and ‘Nathanmeans ruler. The name’s variants include Arindam, Aranadhan, Arimdama, and Arumainathan.

4. Azhuthavasan

Azhutha is the name of a river in Sabarimala. It means, ‘one who resides on the banks of the river Azhutha.’

5. Bhoolokanathan

‘Bhooloka’ means ‘Earth’ and ‘Nathan’ means ‘ruler.’ It means ‘ruler of the Earth.’ Its other variant is ‘Bhoothanathan.’

6. Dharmasastha

The idol of Ayyappa shows him doing yoga, wearing a bell around his neck, which signifies that he is an epitome of ‘Dharma.’ ‘Dharmasastha’ means ‘protector of dharma.’

7. Erumelivasan

Erumeli, Ayyappan names
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The pilgrimage to Sabarimala on foot starts at Erumeli, which gets its name from the demon Mahishi, who attacked Lord Ayyappa in the form of Eruma (bull). The Lord Ayyappa killed Eruma in this forest. Erumelivasan means, ‘one who lives in Erumeli.’

8. Hariharan

As Ayyappa was born to Lord Vishnu and Shiva, he is called Hari (Vishnu- Mohini), and Hara (Shiva). The other variants are Hariharaputra, Hariharasuthan, and Hariharatmaja.

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Hariharan is an Indian musician, a Padma Shri awardee, who has sung over 15,000 songs in more than ten regional languages.

9. Irumudi

Irumudi is a common Tamil name for boys. Irumudi is also an important ritual for Lord Ayyappa pilgrims. It is the sacred travel kit, which a pilgrim carries on his head during the pilgrimage. Without ‘Irumudi’, pilgrims are not allowed to ascend the 18 holy steps in Sabarimala.

10. Kaliyugavaradhan

Ayyappa is known as the Lord of the Kaliyuga, which is the present age (Iron Age). The name Kaliyugavaradhan means, ‘protector in kaliyug.’

11. Kantimala

Kantimala means ‘tulsi necklace.’ It also signifies ‘courage’, ‘independence’, and ‘determination’.

12. Karunasagar

The one quality that deities have is being ‘constantly merciful.’ If you want your boy to imbibe that virtue, choose, ‘Karunasagar,’ meaning ‘an ocean of mercy.’

13. Karuppanna

Karuppanna, a pious Ayyappan name
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It means ‘one who is dark and beautiful.’ The worship of Ayyappa as ‘Karuppanna’ is an ancient ancestral clan-based worship.

14. Lokapujya

A profound name with significant meaning, Lokapujya means ‘one who is worshiped by the Universe.’

15. Manikantan

It’s believed that when Ayyappa was born, his parents Lord Shiva and Mohini abandoned him on the Pampa river banks. Then the king Rajashekhara, who had no progeny, found Ayyappa and adopted him and named him Manikantan, which means ‘one with a golden bell around his neck.’ Manivarman and Manikandan are its other variants.

16. Neelimala

Neelimala is the mountainous path that leads to Sabarimala, and it is considered to be a holy place. Lord Ayyappa is believed to reside in these holy mountains.

17. Pambavasan

Pamba is one of the longest rivers in Kerala. Sabarimala temple is situated on the banks of the Pamba river. ‘Pambavasan’ means ‘one who lives near the river Pamba.’

18. Pandalavasan

The king of Pandala in Kerala brought the idol of Ayyappa and sanctified it in the temple of Sabarimala. It means, ‘one who lives in the place called Pandala.’

19. Ponmala

Ponmala has a regional ring to it
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Ponmala is a name with a regional ring to it. It means ‘Sabari hills.’

20. Purushothaman

It means ‘God Vishnu’ or ‘the best among the men.’

21. Sastava

It means, ‘teacher,’ ‘guide, ‘lord,’ or ‘ruler.’ The other variants are Sasta, Sashta, and Sastra.

22. Shri Jagadeesh

This profound and magnificent name means ‘Lord of the Universe.’

23. Sabarinathan

Sabarinathan means, ‘one who lives in the Sabari hills.’ The other variants are Sabari, Sabareesh, Sabareeshwara, and Shabarish.

24. Sabari Gireesh

It means the ‘Lord of Sabari hills,’ who is the Lord Ayyappa.

25. Shar

It’s one of the names of Lord Ayyappa, and it means, ‘habit’ or ‘custom.’

26. Rajasekaran

Rajasekaran was the king who adopted and brought up Lord Ayyappa. It means ‘king of kindness.’

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According to Hindu astrology, Rajasekaran is also one of the many names of Lord Shiva.

27. Vavarswamin

Vavar was believed to be a warrior and pirate who was defeated by Lord Ayyappa. He then got inspired by the lord and became a close friend and later an ardent devotee of Lord Ayyappa. Lord Ayyappa then instructed his devotees to build a mosque for Vavar at Erumely hills near Sabarimala and named it ‘Vavarswamin.’

28. Vanapriya

Vanapriya can be used for both boys and girls
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‘Vanapriya’ can be used for both boys and girls. It means ‘beloved of the forest.’

29. Veeramanikanta

It means, ‘brave one with a bell around his neck’. The other variant is ‘Veeramani.’

30. Vishnusutan

This can be an apt name for your baby if you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. It means, ‘the son of the Lord Vishnu.

Discover More Names

When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I choose a name for my child based on Ayyappan?

When choosing an Ayyappan name for your child, ensure that it sounds good with the child’s fathers’ name or the family name. The Ayyappan name you choose should symbolize qualities you wish your child to imbibe. Ensure that the name is suitable for your child’s gender.

2. What are some popular Ayyappan names in South India?

Ayyappan names such as Ayyappa, Hariharan, Manikantan, Sastavu, Shasta, and Sabarinath are quite popular in South India.

If you have an inclination for holy names or worship Lord Ayyappa, these Ayyappan names are worth reading. Ayyappa names for baby boys are most popular in the Southern part of India and have a traditional and distinctive feel. Also, there is something appealing about divine names, and the mere sound of these names radiates sacred, positive vibrations. So, go ahead and select a name most appropriate for your baby. To help you further make a decision, we have detailed the importance of each name.

Infographic: Lord Ayyappa Names For Baby Boys

Many people may want to name their little one after the God they worship with the hope of instilling good values in them. So, if you are a believer of Lord Ayyappa and want to name your child after Him, this infographic presents some names along with their meanings.

names inspired by lord ayyappa (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Key Pointers

  • Lord Ayyapan is a revered deity in Hindu mythology, particularly prominent in South India.
  • Lord Ayyapan’s names combine the powers of two important Hindu gods, Shiva and Vishnu.
  • The popular name Ayyapan is associated with youthfulness while names like Hariharan and Sastava carry meaningful and devotional connotations.
  • These powerful names are used to offer prayers to the deity and help instill religious values in children.

Which one did you like the most? Tell us in the comments section below.

Lord Ayyappa is a popular Hindu God and names inspired by this deity are exceptionally meaningful. If you’ve been struggling to decide a name for your boy, use this video.

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