167 Malayalam Boy Names Reflecting Traditions

Malayalam is a beautiful language spoken predominantly by the people in the state of Kerala in Southern India. Malayalam baby boy names are typically inspired by the names of Hindu deities. Malayalam is a Dravidian language that has deep, significant, and sonorous names that capture the essence of the culture. These names have deeper spiritual or philosophical meanings. They are more than identifiers and symbolize the family's wishes and blessings for the child's future. The names may refer to virtues, supernatural traits, natural components, or even reflect ancestor or family ties. They may also emphasize the philosophical foundation and spiritual values. It's interesting to note that Malayalam names frequently follow an inheritance pattern, where the child's first component is drawn from the paternal grandfather's name, and the second part may be a special choice of the parents. The child is typically given a personal name often accompanied by a surname, mostly caste titles like Nair, Menon, Pillai, or the name of the father. This custom honors the family's elders while preserving the lineage. A particular letter of the Sanskrit alphabet connected with the child's solar birth sign (Surya Rashi), which is considered lucky for the newborn, is chosen based on the date and time of birth. Then a name that begins with that letter is given to the infant. Typically, the grandfather says the baby's name into his right ear four times. However, it may change depending on the caste and tribes. Additionally, many Malayali parents incorporate traditional and modern elements into the name to make it unique while mingling with the culture. They might opt for simple terms while maintaining a close link to their background, ensuring their children's names are meaningful in a multicultural society. For instance, Matthew is represented by Matthai, Mary by Mariamma, George by Varghese, Jacob by Chacko, Anna by Anna, and Sarah by Sara (1). Malayalam newborn boy names are profoundly significant, connecting with spirituality, ancestry, and cultural richness. Regardless of whether it invokes a deity, every name choice exemplifies a noble quality or conveys a complex philosophical idea. It represents the family's history, the cultural diversity of the community, and their hopes for the baby's future. Continue reading for the list of Malayalam names that stood the test of time.

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Name		Gender	Meaning
Hardin		Boy	Brave; Strong; Hardy; Valley of the hare; Affectionate
Nikhil		Boy	Perfect; Complete; Whole; All-inclusive; Intact
Arjan		Boy	From Hadria; Procuring; Earning; Acquiring; Gaining; Golden life
Akhil		Boy	World; Whole; Perfect; Entire; Complete
Kiyaan		Boy	Royal; Kingship
Advith		Boy	One who is unique; Without a second
Anand		Boy	Joy; Happiness; Bliss; Delight; Pleasure; Harmony
Moosa		Boy	One who is saved out of the water; The name of a prophet of Almighty
Sanjay		Boy	Completely victorious; Triumphant
Sandip		Boy	Blazing; Lamp
Yohanan		Boy	God is gracious
Mohan		Boy	Charming; Infatuating; Bewitching
Vivek		Boy	Wisdom; Discrimination; Distinction
Shyam		Boy	Dark blue; Black; Hindu god Krishna
Sarath		Boy	Autumn
Devam		Unisex	Divine; Celestial; Supreme presence; Shining
Nithin		Boy	Guidance; Moral conduct
Het		Boy	Love; Adore; Care for
Pradeep		Boy	Light; Lantern
Revanth		Boy	Horse rider; Brilliant; Wealthy; Opulent; Splendid; Handsome; Son of Lord Surya
Priyan		Boy	Beloved; Loved one
Praveen		Boy	A person who is an expert in something
Santhosh		Boy	Happy; Satisfaction; Contentment
Vidharth		Boy	Creator; Supporter; Legend
Girish		Boy	God of mountains; Lord of the mountains; One of the many names of Lord Shiva
Ishay		Unisex	Refresh; Strengthen; Animate
Dinesh		Boy	God of the day; Another name for the sun God
Mahesh		Boy	A great ruler; One who is supreme
Prem		Boy	One who gives love and affection to others
Neerav		Boy	Quiet; Calm
Shankar		Boy	Lord Shiva; Maker; Auspicious
Siva		Boy	Benign; Kind; Auspicious; Gracious
Ajith		Boy	Invincible; Unconquerable
Vineeth		Boy	Humble; Courteous; Trained
Amrith		Boy	Immortal; Nectar that promises immortality; Food of the Gods
Dishan		Boy	One with sacred knowledge; An ibex
Abhilash		Boy	Desire; Wish; Appetite
Idhant		Boy	Bright and luminous
Hemanth		Boy	Winter
Lohith		Boy	Red; Mars; Blood; Copper; Battle; Saffron
Manish		Boy	Thought; Wisdom
Mathai		Boy	Gift of the Lord
Krishnan		Boy	Dark or black; All-attractive
Nishanth		Boy	One who ends the dark night; Dawn
Nithilan		Boy	Forehead; Guidance; Moral conduct
Nish		Boy	Night
Manoj		Boy	One who is born of the mind
Srihari		Boy	One who brings wealth and prosperity; Belonging to Lord Vishnu
Sreeram		Unisex	Lord Ram
Aswin		Boy	Spear-friend; Friend of Gods; From the land of ash trees; Strong; Knowledge; Powerful
Arjun		Boy	White; Clear; Made of silver; Lustrous; Dazzling
Sankara		Boy	Lord Shiva; Giver of bliss; Maker of luck; Beneficent; One who causes prosperity
Aadvay		Boy	Unique; Nondual; Without second
Ajeesh		Boy	One who cannot be defeated by anyone; Unconquerable; Invincible
Ammu		Boy	Mother; To exhibit valor; To reprimand; Obscuring the rays of the sun
Amul		Boy	Priceless; Valuable; Precious; Hope; Radical; Rootless
Archana		Boy	Honoring; Praising
Aswath		Boy	A sacred fig tree
Ayyappan		Boy	Lord father
Balakrishnan		Boy	Strength; Might
Biju		Boy	Victory
Chandrakanth		Boy	Beloved by the moon; Moonstone
Chethan		Boy	Intelligence; Spirit of life; Life; Full of consciousness; Perception
Damodaran		Boy	Rope around the belly; A name of Lord Krishna
Dhanish		Boy	Money; Prosperity; Wealth
Dharshan		Boy	Vision; Knowledge; Observation; Philosophy; Paying respect; To look at; Glimpse; View; Seeing; Observing; Understanding
Dikshith		Boy	One who is initiated; Pupil; Prepared
Esh		Boy	God; Lord; Master; Head; Wish
Gopalakrishnan		Boy	Protector of cows; An epithet of Krishna
Gopinath		Boy	Leader of the Gopis
Goutham		Boy	The best ox
Govindaraj		Boy	The king of cowherds
Madhavan		Boy	Honey; Sweet; Lord Krishna
Maheem		Boy	Great; Glorious; Powerful; Might; Ability to become huge
Manikandan		Boy	One with a bell around his neck
Medan		Boy	Strife; Govern; Field
Raaj		Boy	Kingdom; King or prince; Rule
Rajal		Boy	King; Prince; Royal
Raju		Boy	King; Prince; Ruler; Monarch
Abijith		Boy	Victorious; Conqueror; Who wins
Aish		Boy	Divine; Supreme; Regal
Ajish		Boy	Not defeated by anyone; Lord of the unborn; Another name for Shiva
Ambili		Boy	Moon; Moonlight
Aswathi		Girl	Sacred fig tree
Awadh		Boy	One who can never get killed; Indestructible; Irresistible
Chakor		Boy	Greek partridge, fabled to survive on moonbeams
Chakrapani		Boy	Discus-handed; Chakra-handed
Dileep		Boy	Protector of Delhi; Threshold
Dilip		Boy	Protector of Delhi; Threshold
Dipak		Boy	Inflaming; Exciting
Haridas		Boy	Servant of Lord Hari
Jayasurya		Boy	Victorious sun
Kurian		Unisex	Of the lord
Manith		Boy	Respected; Honored; Esteemed
Manivel		Boy	A spear or a sword made of gems
Manjunath		Boy	Lord of pleasantness and affability; Lord Shiva
Manvit		Boy	A human being; Human-like
Nair		Boy	We will light up; Leader of the people
Narayanan		Boy	Path of man; Lord Vishnu
Navaneeth		Boy	Eternally new; Like butter

Infographic: Enchanting Malayalam Baby Boy Names With Meanings

From the land of God's own country, Malayalam baby boy names represent Kerala's cultural heritage and spiritual essence. These names often mirror spiritual and philosophical concepts and share a deep religious connection while maintaining a balance of ancestral lineage. Read the infographic below to explore some lovely Malayalam baby boy names with their meanings.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team