179 Timeless Telugu Baby Names With Cultural Significance

Preserving legacy, reflecting Telugu family pride.

Written by Kavita Kankani, MBA, BEd Specialty: Child education & activitiesExperience: 7 years

Kavita has a diverse background in finance, human resources, and teaching. She did her MBA in Finance and HR at Solapur University, and bachelor in Education at Pune University. After working for three years in the banking industry, Kavita took up teaching before moving to writing.

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Edited by Rohit Garoo, BSc, MBA Specialty: Baby Health and WellnessExperience: 9 years

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Last Updated on Aug 2, 2024

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Telugu baby names give us a peek into the diverse culture of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where the language is mainly spoken. The influence of this language is also visible in the nearby states of Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha, as well as the union territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry.

Telugu naming traditions are unique and deeply tied to their heritage, making them stand out in Asia. The names often take inspiration from Hindu gods and goddesses, showing the strong cultural and religious importance they hold. Given names are often made by combining words to create a pleasant and meaningful sound. In Telugu naming customs, the family name comes first, followed by the given name, following the format 'Family name, Given name.' This is different from North Indian traditions, where the family name usually comes last, and from other parts of South India, where family names are less common.

After the family and the given names, a caste suffix such as Goud, Shastry, Varma, Gupta, Choudhary, Naidu, Raju, Reddy, Rao, Yadav, or Setty may also be added. For instance, in the name Kolli Mahesh Reddy, Kolli is the family name, Mahesh is the given name, and Reddy indicates the person's caste.

For parents looking for names that hold deep meaning and connect to their heritage, Telugu baby names offer a meaningful link to their cultural roots and a tradition of respect and honor.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Jai	Boy	Victory; Supplanter; Healer
Leela	Girl	Play; Amusement; Princess of darkness
Hardin	Boy	Brave; Strong; Hardy; Valley of the hare; Affectionate
Josh	Boy	Jehovah is salvation; Pleasure; Satisfaction; Enthusiasm
Priya	Girl	Beloved; Loved one
Nikhil	Boy	Perfect; Complete; Whole; All-inclusive; Intact
Anjali	Girl	Offering with devotion to God; Salutation
Arjan	Boy	From Hadria; Procuring; Earning; Acquiring; Gaining; Golden life
Ashwin	Boy	Possessed of horses; A cavalier; Light
Raghav	Boy	Descendant of Raghu or Lord Ram

Akhil	Boy	World; Whole; Perfect; Entire; Complete
Madhav	Boy	Vernal; Of the springtime; Krishna; Descendant of Madhu; Honey
Advay	Boy	Unique; Without second
Arun	Boy	Red; Reddish brown; Dawn; Chariot of the Sun; Eagle secret; Successful secret; Morning sun
Livi	Girl	Olive; Writing; Manuscript; To envy; Blue
Divya	Girl	A divine luster; Heavenly
Advith	Boy	One who is unique; Without a second
Anand	Boy	Joy; Happiness; Bliss; Delight; Pleasure; Harmony
Rani	Girl	Queen; She is singing; Joyous song
Meenakshi	Girl	A girl with beautiful, fish-like eyes

Amogh	Boy	Lord Ganesh; Unerring; Invincible; That which has no alternative
Kamala	Girl	Lotus; Pale red
Adithya	Boy	Sun God; Son of Aditi
Priyansh	Boy	The dearest part; Part of one's beloved
Neha	Girl	Love; Tenderness; Rain; Wisdom
Kavan	Boy	Poem and water; Handsome
Ronav	Boy	A person who is an embodiment of charm and grace; Handsome
Chinmay	Boy	Name of Lord Ganesha; Intelligence; Consciousness
Akila	Girl	Intelligent; Wise; Logical; Eagle; Whole; Complete
Mohan	Boy	Charming; Infatuating; Bewitching

Kalyani	Girl	Beautiful; Auspicious
Pranshi	Girl	Another name of Goddess Lakshmi; Of great stature
Priyanka	Girl	Agreeable; Amiable
Nithya	Girl	Eternal; Always
Vijay	Unisex	Victory
Ramani	Girl	Beauty; Grace
Aniketh	Boy	One who has no residence; Homeless; One who is present in everything; Spirit of God; Lord Shiva
Krithik	Boy	Name of Shiva's son Murugan
Vidya	Girl	Knowledge; Science; Learning
Het	Boy	Love; Adore; Care for

Keerthana	Girl	Prayer; Hymn; Praise to God
Mahith	Boy	Greatness; Honored; Festivity; Esteemed
Mani	Boy	A jewel; Moon; God is with us
Pradeep	Boy	Light; Lantern
Revanth	Boy	Horse rider; Brilliant; Wealthy; Opulent; Splendid; Handsome; Son of Lord Surya
Bindu	Girl	Drop; Point
Praveen	Boy	A person who is an expert in something
Krunal	Boy	One who is a Constant Companion; Compassionate; Kind to others
Kani	Girl	Sound; Maiden
Niharika	Girl	Nebula

Ravindra	Boy	Lord of the Sun
Dinesh	Boy	God of the day; Another name for the sun God
Mahesh	Boy	A great ruler; One who is supreme
Maheen	Girl	Earth-ruler; King; Prince
Prakash	Boy	Light; Brightness; Shining
Prem	Boy	One who gives love and affection to others
Prathik	Boy	One who is a symbol
Madhuri	Girl	Sweetness; Mead; Charm; Amiableness
Akshath	Boy	Uninjured; Unimpaired; Celibate; Unhusked rice; Lord Shiva
Mahita	Girl	Celebrated; Greatness; Honored; Festivity

Ananth	Boy	Endless; Infinite; Eternal; Forever; Immortal
Swapna	Girl	Sleep; Dream
Gayathri	Girl	A type of song or hymn; Knowledge; Mother of Vedas
Ashok	Boy	Without sorrow
Amrith	Boy	Immortal; Nectar that promises immortality; Food of the Gods
Dishan	Boy	One with sacred knowledge; An ibex
Janaki	Girl	Daughter of Janaka; Goddess Sita
Nirmal	Boy	Clean; Pure
Lalitha	Girl	Charming; Desirable; Playful
Keertana	Girl	Religious narrating; Reciting; Devotional singing

Kalyan	Boy	Beautiful; Blessed; Auspicious
Hemanth	Boy	Winter
Arathi	Girl	Worshipping ritual
Lohith	Boy	Red; Mars; Blood; Copper; Battle; Saffron
Lakshman	Boy	One with lucky marks; Fortunate; Focused
Kishore	Boy	Colt
Nitin	Boy	Guidance; Moral conduct
Aashrita	Girl	One who gives shelter
Lokesh	Boy	Lord of the world; Lord Brahma
Ramesh	Boy	God of Lord Rama

Nishanth	Boy	One who ends the dark night; Dawn
Nish	Boy	Night
Chinmayi	Girl	Intelligence; Consciousness
Manoj	Boy	One who is born of the mind
Nini	Girl	To lead, carry or bring towards; Apostle; Melody; Fish
Srinivas	Boy	Abode of wealth
Kavitha	Girl	Poem; Poetry
Venkat	Unisex	One who removes sins; Lord Vishnu
Swetha	Unisex	Fair; White
Shiva	Girl	Benign; Kind; Auspicious

Kasi	Girl	Shining; A holy city; Proclaimer of peace; Pure
Joshitha	Girl	Pleased; Excitement; Enthusiasm
Dhruti	Girl	Fortitude; Steadfastness; Determination; Goddess Laxmi
Java	Girl	China rose; Saffron
Divija	Girl	One who is born in heaven
Rashmi	Girl	Sun rays; Ray of light; Brilliance of sunshine
Durga	Girl	Unattainable; Hindu warrior goddess
Kumari	Girl	A young, unmarried girl
Rashmika	Girl	Sun rays; Ray of light; Radiance and brightness; Brilliance of sunshine
Madhavi	Girl	Woman of the race of Madhu or Yadu; Subhadra; Spring; Honey-sugar; Sacred basil; Earth

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Telugu baby names are deeply rooted in the cultural heritage and religious beliefs of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They blend words to create beautiful and meaningful names. Each name holds special meaning and family pride. The tradition of placing the family name first and sometimes adding a caste suffix highlights the community's strong sense of social identity. Choosing a Telugu name isn't just a tradition but a way to respect ancestors and ensure that future generations stay acquainted with essential cultural values.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Telugu baby names be modern and unique?

Most Telugu names go back centuries but remain relevant today. They also have meanings or connotations that resonate with modern values. For instance, Arun means ‘dawn' and could signify new beginnings, while Jaya means ‘victory’ and could signify triumph.

2. How important are ancestral names in Telugu naming traditions?

Telugu people place a significant emphasis on names that highlight their familial and ancestral roots. These include toponymic and topographic names such as Adawi, meaning ‘of the forest,’ and Samudrala, meaning ‘of harbor village.’ These names also highlight their tribal roots and heritage.

Infographic: Enchanting Telugu Baby Names With Meanings

Telugu baby names, rooted in Hindu traditions, combine spiritual meanings with family pride. They emphasize social identity by placing the family name first. These names reflect the beauty and richness of South India's diverse culture and spiritual beliefs. Each name resonates with beauty and serves as a testament to the enduring values cherished within these vibrant communities.

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.

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