117 South Indian Baby Names From The Indian Peninsula

From the virtuous Abhiseka to the blooming Yutika, the name choices come in a plethora.

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

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Last Updated on Nov 12, 2024

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Indian names are as diverse as the country itself. Each caste, religion, family, and community has its own set of naming conventions and customs. South Indian baby names have a unique charm and identity. 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.

An interesting naming tradition in South India is to include the name of the birthplace in the personal name to indicate a connection (1). Many South Indian names are also inspired by Gods, deities, nature elements, mythologies, holy scriptures, cultural and regional impacts, and language. These names reflect grace and usually remain evergreen through generations. Names like Bhanupriya, which means ‘beloved of the sun,’ reflect the connection with nature. Eashwari, a classic Goddess name, celebrates the deep connection South Indian names have with holy figures. The name Moovendan, meaning ‘rulers of rulers,’ reflects power, strength, wisdom, and courage and explains the connection South India has with its cultural tales revolving around the kings and queens back in the day.

Another interesting aspect of South Indian names is the double-barrel names. These names combine two separate names into one. Both names often have melodious sounds and lovely meanings. For example, the name Krishna-dwaipayana means ‘a dark wise’ or ‘sage vyasa.’ More such intriguing names with fascinating meanings can be found in South Indian culture. Have a look at this post for a rich list of South Indian baby names with meanings.

Name	Gender	Meaning
Iniyan	Girl	Sweetness; Sympathy; Agreeableness
Somi	Unisex	Bright; Illustrious; Beautiful; Pleasing; King; Lord
Pranitha	Girl	Put forward; Presented; Agreeable
Annamalai	Boy	One of many names of Lord Shiva
Abhinavan	Boy	Young; Fresh or modern
Abhinayan	Boy	One who is an actor; One who acts
Abhiseka	Boy	The method of purifying and cleaning
Adalarachan	Boy	The monarch or king of dance
Adalarasen	Boy	The master of dance or king of dance
Adaleru	Boy	A brave man; One who has never been destroyed

Adhibhan	Boy	A leader or one who is born to win
Adhibu	Boy	One who is superior to all
Adhiyamaan	Boy	The King of the sun; A Solar king
Adithan	Boy	The leader who belongs to the Sun
Amata	Girl	Beloved; Imperceptible
Jeyasilan	Boy	Victorious warrior; Lord Shiva
Kaalappan	Boy	The father of time or the Lord of time
Koyilkani	Boy	Beautiful voice like koyal, gift from God
Krishna-dwaipayana	Boy	A dark wise or sage Vyasa
Kuppuram	Boy	The princely state, or the highest king

Meyappan	Boy	An honest and true person
Mohith	Boy	Infatuated; Fascinated; Charmed; Attracted
Mooppan	Boy	A prime person, a head of community
Moovendan	Boy	A ruler of the rulers; One who rules the other kings
Nakkiran	Girl	A brave poetess who writes against evils of society
Nalladurai	Boy	Lover of mankind; Honest person
Nallaiyan	Boy	Honest person; Having good disposition
Nallalagan	Boy	Handsome and smart man
Nallamuthu	Boy	Gracious pearl
Nallanban	Boy	Pleasant forest

Nallannan	Boy	Gracious brother
Nallaperumal	Boy	Gracious Lord Venkateshwara
Nallappa	Boy	Graceful father or parents
Nallappan	Boy	Graceful father
Nallarasan	Boy	Tasty juice
Nallasivan	Boy	Lord Shiva
Nallathambi	Boy	Gracious young brother
Nallavan	Boy	Generous person
Nallenan	Boy	Person with good deeds
Nalli	Girl	Healthy; Free from diseases

Nallisami	Boy	Possessor of good health
Nallusami	Boy	Always free from illness
Namberuman	Boy	Colored person; Lord Shiva
Nambi	Boy	Self-confident; Curative herb
Nambiyandan	Boy	Well-known person
Nambu	Boy	God; Creator of mankind
Nambudiri	Boy	One who has mastered the Vedas
Namirthan	Boy	Wealth of popularity; Lord Shiva
Nammurthi	Boy	Respected by name
Nandil	Boy	One with the power of a bull

Nandin	Boy	Delightful person
Nandishwara	Boy	Lord of all bulls
Nanjaiah	Boy	Mercy of God
Nanjaiya	Boy	Merciful God; Lord Shiva
Nanjappa	Boy	One who is merciful; Lord Shiva
Nanjappan	Boy	Lord Shiva; The merciful
Nanjayyan	Boy	The great Lord Shiva, who mercy others
Nanjeyan	Boy	The greatest lord; Lord Shiva
Nanjundan	Boy	Divine God Shiva
Nanjundeswar	Boy	Lord Shiva; One who consumes poisonous liquid to safeguard the world

Nanjundewsar	Boy	Lord Shiva; One who consumes poisonous liquid to safeguard the world
Nanmaaran	Boy	Compassionate and fearless
Nanmani	Girl	Resembles an outstanding gemstone
Nanmoliyan	Boy	Flamboyant
Nanmugan	Boy	Precious individual
Nanmuthu	Boy	Precious gemstone
Nannan	Boy	Bold and daring
Nathasami	Boy	Supreme Lord
Nayar	Boy	Who belongs to the Malabar coast
Nayath	Boy	A leading person; A leader

Neelmegam	Boy	The colored skin of Lord Krishna
Nerrivaanan	Boy	The one who is straightforward and open hearted
Niauppama	Girl	A beautiful or pleasant person
Nithilesh	Boy	The God of pearls
Nivedhana	Boy	A humble request
Padmanaban	Boy	The lotus-naveled; An epithet of Lord Vishnu
Padmapriya	Girl	Beloved like a lotus; Lotus lover
Puneeth	Unisex	Purified; Cleaned; Auspicious; Sanctity
Tokka	Girl	One who is united or joined
Tungabhadra	Girl	Highly auspicious or blessed; Name of an Indian river

Asistha	Girl	Very quick
Bhaanumati	Girl	Full of luster
Bhaanupriya	Girl	Beloved of the sun
Eashwari	Girl	A name of Goddess Parvati
Parushi	Girl	She who is beautiful and intelligent
Prahasini	Girl	A girl who loves smiling
Prasoona	Girl	A Flower
Ranamita	Girl	A friend in need
Reepal	Girl	Love
Ridhushni	Girl	Season

Romini	Girl	Pretty
Roshita	Girl	Illuminated
Sahita	Girl	The Lord Saibaba Message
Sampreeti	Girl	Real love and attachment
Sanheeta	Girl	A compilation; A bunch of Vedic hymns
Sanithi	Girl	Obtainment
Sanjushree	Girl	Beautiful
Semanti	Girl	Indian white rose
Sendhen	Girl	She who is as sweet as honey
Sevandhi	Girl	Chrysanthemum

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South Indian baby names are a beautiful blend of cultural legacies and significant meanings. Taking inspiration from nature, spirituality and goddesses, these names are traditional yet unique on their own. Whether you belong to Andhra, Kerala, or Karnataka, these names have a beautiful essence and positive attributes. Although these names are South Indian, their usage is not restricted to this region. If you are genuinely interested in South Indian culture and would like to honor it, you may bestow a name from this region on your bundle of joy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the significance of South Indian baby names?

South India comprises five states, all with different languages and cultures. However, baby names in all the states are deeply rooted in their respective culture and religion. Naming customs vary, with particular surnames depicting their regional heritage in one state, while family names play a significant role in another (1).

2. How are South Indian baby names chosen?

Names in Southern India, specifically among the Tamil, Malayali, and Kannada-speaking communities, typically follow a specific structure. They usually consist of 'place of origin + father's personal name + personal name + jati/community name.' However, in the Telugu-speaking community, there is a different pattern observed, where names are formed as 'family name + personal name + jati name.' (3)

3. What are some gender-neutral South Indian baby names?

Arya is a gender-neutral name in South India that means 'noble.' Kiran is another unisex name that means 'dust,' thread,' or 'sunbeam.' Vijaya means 'victory' and is a popular South Indian name.

4. What are the origins and common themes or motifs of South Indian baby names?

The Dravidian and Sanskrit languages strongly influence South Indian baby names. For Hindus, most names are drawn from the Hindu mythology. Names will mostly be inspired by Gods and Goddesses. Names would also be based or inspired by nature and concepts like love, success, wisdom, and truth.

5. How do South Indian baby names differ from other parts of India?

South Indian baby names differ from other parts of India because they contain four names in this order; place of origin, father's name, given name, and caste name. While baby names in North India mostly have three names (1).

6. How have South Indian baby names evolved?

South Indian names generally do not follow the concept of using surnames or last names. Still, with the British colonization, South Indians were subjected to a naming system that was in tune with the British naming system (4).

7. Why is the surname written first in South India?

In India, surnames are sometimes written before personal or given names to indicate a person's place of origin, caste, trades, or prominent positions of their ancestors (2).

Infographic: Marvelous South Indian Names For Your Baby

South Indian baby names are deeply rooted in the region’s vibrant culture and traditions. These names are inspired by mythology, languages, nature, and scriptures. They are diverse in nature and often classic in style and manage to mesmerize the parents. Check out the infographic below and pick a trendy South Indian name for your little one.

lively south indian baby names (infographic)

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

Understanding Indian Names in Naming Conventions, Discovery, and Standardisation
https://www.las.org.sg/wp/blog/bulletin/understanding-indian-names-in-naming-conventions-discovery-and-standardisation/
India Personal Names
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/India_Personal_Names#:~:text=In%20India%2C%20surnames%20are%20placed
What do Hindu names mean? https://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/what-do-hindu-names-mean
Indian Names: A Guide for Science Editors
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=ebc1bf59be0edffb0cde7facb44cc466d1ac367a

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.