Are there any guidelines for naming conventions in Tamil culture?

Tamil names follow the convention of having their father’s first name as the last name or the initial before the personal name. These names follow the pattern of having the village name in initials followed by the patronym and the first name. Certain families may also use the caste name as the surname.

Do Tamil names have specific meanings related to gender?

While not all Tamil names are gendered, certain names tend to have gender-specific honorifics such as Tiru, Selvan, Arasan, Arasi, Tirumati, and Selvi attached to ensure gender distinction. For instance, Tamilarasi, meaning ‘queen of Tamil,’ is a feminine name, while Aadalarasan, meaning ‘one who attracts with his dance,’ is a masculine name.

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4 Tamil Baby Names with Meanings, Starting With O

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Praggya Joshi holds a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's in Ancient Indian History from University of Delhi. She has a robust knowledge of literature, society, and ethics. Praggya has been a content writer since 2021, researching and writing on education, health and wellness, and travel.

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Last Updated on Oct 3, 2023

Illustration: MomJunction Design Team

Name	Gender	Meaning
Oviya	Girl	Painting; Artist; Beautiful drawing or art
Oviyan	Boy	Artist; Painter
Oliveanthan	Boy	The ruler or the emperor of the light
Oogy	Boy	Full of or showing high spirits