Indian names are as diverse as the country itself. Each caste, religion, family, and community has its own set of naming conventions and customs. In South India, a baby is named after much thought and discussion. The first names in the South Indian community are influenced by the culture, religion, and virtues that parents desire for their children.
The surname convention of South Indians is very different from the naming practices found in other parts of India. In South India, the ancestral town or village or the father’s name is generally used as the last name. Another thing to note is that all the names (ancestral town, village, or father’s name), expect the given name are abbreviated. Also, a person is identified only by his given name. Only in the legal documents, the last name or names are fully expanded.
A South Indian girl takes her father’s surname name at the time of birth. After the wedding, she sheds that to take her husband’s family surname name. But the woman also has a choice of retaining her maiden surname. Have a look at MomJunction's glossary of South Indian baby names with meanings.
NAMES | MEANING | GENDER | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abhinavan (अभिनवन) | Young, fresh or modern | Boy | |||
Abhinayan (अभिनयन) | One who is an actor, one who acts | Boy | |||
Abhiseka | The method of purifying and cleaning | Boy | |||
Abhitha | A fearless or a courageous woman | Girl | |||
Abijith | The one who conquers, or victorious | Boy | |||
Abirami | A pleasant and beautiful girl | Girl | |||
Achyutam | One who cannot be destroyed or decayed | Boy | |||
Adalarachan | The monarch or king of dance | Boy | |||
Adalarasen | The master of dance or king of dance | Boy | |||
Adaleru | A brave man, on who never been destroyed | Boy | |||
Adhibhan | A leader or one who is born to win | Boy | |||
Adhibu | One who is superior of all | Boy | |||
Adhiyamaan | The king of the sun, a solar king | Boy | |||
Adithan | The leader who belongs to the Sun | Boy | |||
Asistha | Very quick | Girl | |||
Bhaanumati | Full of luster | Girl | |||
Bhaanupriya | Beloved of the sun | Girl | |||
Eashwari | A name of Goddess Parvati | Girl | |||
Jeyasilan | A victorious warrior; Lord Shiva | Boy | |||
Kaalappan | The father of time or the Lord of time | Boy | |||
Koyilkani | Beautiful voice like koyal, gift from God | Boy | |||
Krishna-dwaipayana | A dark wise or sage Vyasa | Boy | |||
Kuppuram | The princely state, or the highest king | Boy | |||
Meyappan | A true person, who always honest and true | Boy | |||
Mooppan | A prime person, a head of community | Boy | |||
Moorthy | An idol, mainly of a God | Boy | |||
Moovendan | A ruler of the rulers, one who rule the other kings | Boy | |||
Nakkiran | A brave poetess who writes against evils of society | Girl | |||
Nalladurai | Who possess love for mankind, honest person | Boy | |||
Nallaiyan | An honest person, having disposition of good | Boy | |||
Nallalagan | A very handsome and smart man | Boy | |||
Nallamuthu | A gracious pearl | Boy | |||
Nallanban | A pleasant forest | Boy | |||
Nallannan | Gracious brother | Boy | |||
Nallaperumal | The gracious Lord Venkateshwara | Boy | |||
Nallappa | A graceful father or parents | Boy | |||
Nallappan | Father who is very graceful | Boy | |||
Nallarasan | The great taste juice, tasty juice | Boy | |||
Nallasivan | The graceful Lord Shiva | Boy | |||
Nallathambi | Graceful young brother | Boy | |||
Nallavan | A generous person | Boy | |||
Nallenan | A person with good deeds | Boy | |||
Nalli | A healthy person, free from diseases | Girl | |||
Nallisami | The possessor of good health | Boy | |||
Nallusami | One who is always free from illness | Boy | |||
Namberuman | A colored person, referred to Lord Shiva | Boy | |||
Nambi | Self-confident person, also a curative herb | Boy | |||
Nambiyandan | A well known or renowned person | Boy | |||
Nambu | The God, the creator of mankind | Boy | |||
Nambudiri | One who has completed all the Vedas | Boy | |||