A collection of Tamil Names for New Born Babies (compilation of Bala Swaminathan)

Webpages of Tamil Electronic Library (C)K. Kalyanasundaram

A collection of Tamil Names for New Born Babies
(compilation of Bala Swaminathan)

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Acknowledgement:
Our sincere thanks go to Mr. Bala Swaminathan for giving permission to present this collection of Tamil Names in machine readable /Tamil Script font format.

Tamil Baby Names

Here is possibly the biggest collection of Tamil Baby Names (male and female) with meanings. A name is not merely an arbitrary designation, a random combination of sounds. The name conveys the nature and essence of the thing named. It represents the history and reputation of the being named. If people understand the meaning, significance of these Tamil names, we hope they will use them more extensively.

copyright  1993 Bala Swaminathan (bs@cs1.wustl.edu)

 19,   2024

           e .

Permission to use, copy, modify and distribute this article, at your own risk, for any purpose is hereby granted without fee, provided that the above copyright notice and all of the 14 pages in this article appear in all copies and that both that copyright notice, this permission notice, and the notice about the Tamil Chair at Univ. of California, Berkeley endowment appear in any modified articles.

Bala Swaminathan makes no representation about the suitability of this article for any purpose. It is provided without express or implied warranty, for any type of usages.

Bala Swaminathan disclaims all warranties with regard to this article, including all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness, in no event shall Bala Swaminathan be liable for any special, indirect or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, fame, name or profits, whether in an action of contact, negligence or other tortious action, arising out of or in connection with the use of this article.

This document was compiled during the spare time sacrificing extracurricular activities and the like. If you appreciate the effort, please donote to your favorite Tamil cause. One such, the Tamil Chair at Univ. of California, Berkeley is described at the end. You are encouraged to contribute toward the endowment and further the cause of Tamil. Thank you.

   

 

                x   .         ,  2         . ,         x,     .

,          .            ()     .  x  .

           .           ,       .   ,                     .        .       .    x,       2 (  )    .  , ,   ,      . 2           ,           .   ,  .

"   ,     "                .

transliteration scheme used:
vowels: a aa/A i I /ee u U e E ai o O au q
consonants: k ng c nj t/d N th/dh n- p m y r v z R L n

  /Names for Girls

 ati
, ,   
Ornament

,  amirthini, amizhthini
 ,  ,    
sweetened ambrosia; she brings things to life; sweet spoken.

,  amirthaa, amizhthaa


 amuthA
  ,    ( =)

 - wealth of ambrosia, lively

 anbarasi
 ,  
queen of compassion

 angayarkarasi
 - ,  ,  ,  
>> 
Queen of Pandiyaas, queen among women, leader of women

 angayarkaNNi
  ,   
Important woman in the Pandiya Kingdom, woman with beautiful fish shaped eyes.

 angayarkanni
()  ,     
Queen of virgins, virgin queen (purity, leadership)

 angai
 

 annakiLi
 + 

 annam
   , 
swan (meaning someone who can winnow value from vice)

 annammA
 x   
>> 

 aRam
  
righteous woman.

 aRivazhaki
 , x   
>> 
   - 
intelligent and beautiful woman.

x aRivu
,  
wise, understanding woman.

 aruL
  ,. 
compassionate, mercy

 aruLmozhi
  
compassionately eloquent, mercy

 azhaki
  ,  
>> 
beautiful lady

 Akkam
, , 
wealth

 Athi
 
mother of Sage Valluvar.

 Ananthi
 ,    
( = ,  =  )
>> 
happy young woman, symbol of productivity

 incol
  
kind and soft spoken

 iniyAzh
  
>>

 inimai
, 
sweetness, perfection

 inbam

happiness

 indumathi
 x,  
the moon of Hindus

 ezhil


,  OvyA, OviyA
    ,  ,  
women who adores painting, one who is beautiful

 kadal
  () 
sea

,  kaN
 ,  
Eye >> long sighted

 kaNaiyAzhi
    (  +  )
Ring (best match), also forceful speaker

 karumbu
  ,  
sugarcane
>>

 kani
  
kind and soft spoken, fruit

 kanimozhi
  
sweet spoken (has the ability to choose right from wrong)

,  karuNA, karuNai
  
woman with unity or harmony in her actions

 kAvEri
  ,    
great river of chola kingdom

 kAmAtchi

 kalAmathi
 
leader of art

 kalai
 , 
art/artful

 kalaiselvi
 ,  
woman enriched with art

 kalaimagaL
 ,  
daughter of art, knowledge (goddess of art, knowledge)

 kanRu
, 
young and brave

 kaNNammA
      
generic name of a favourite woman

 kaNmaNi
  , 
precious

 karuppammA
  
alternate name for cloud
>> 

,  kavithA, kavithai
   
poetess or the poem itself

 kayalvizhi
  ,     
woman with beautiful fish shaped eyes

 kiLi
      
parrot

 kirupai


 kodi
 ,  
slender stem of a creeper (beautiful woman)

 koRRavai
 
mother of Lord Muruga
>> 

 kOlam
  ()  

a form of tamil art

 kOmagaL
 ,  
Emperor's daughter, Princess, god of Emperors

 kOlamayil
 + 
>> , 

 kumutham
   ,   
a kind of flower, also gregoreous

 kumuthavalli
 +  ,   
>> 

 kunju

young

 kuRinji
12     , 
a flower which blossoms once in 12 years (so, rare and likable !)

,  kutti, arichikutti


 kuyil
  
cuckoo

 kuzhali
  ( = )
>> 

 sarasu
x,  
goddess of education

 chellakiLi, sellakiLi
>> 
   , 
 means parrot,  means lovely or wealth

 chellam
   
loveable, likeable, wealthy friend

 chellammA
  ,  +  (, )
mother's favorite child

  selvanilA
 + 
rich moon (means a full moon)

 sitA
 
Raman's wife, submissive wife

 sevvAnam
 ,  
red morning sky, symbol of hope

 cinnakkiLi
>> ,  ,   
little parrot

 cinthAmaNi
  (),   ( >>  )
pure jewel, woman who does not talk unnecessarily

 sindhu
 ,   ()
>>  short for  name of a 

 chitrapathi
 
>> 

 civakAmi
 ,      ( )
Siva's lover (also a warrior woman of history)

 chorcelvi
 ,  
>> 
eloquent woman

 sundari


 suthanthirA

independent person

 cutAmaNi
  ()
>>  , pure jewel

 thAmarai
 
>>  , 
source of knowledge

  thaiyalnAyaki

Leader of women (also, name of a Goddess)

 thamizh
 , 
>> 
beuty or ambrosia

 thamizharaci
   
queen of Tamil

 thamizhini
 
>> 
women with sweet words

 thamizh celvi
 
woman enriched with Tamil

 thangam


 thangammA

 thEnmozhi
  ,  
sweet spoken, keeps her cool during hard times

 thirumakan

God of wealth

 thInkarumpu
 

 pAlnilA
  ,   
white moon (purity and pleasant)

 pAvai
Pavai =  
>> 
woman

 pAtimA
 
Mother Fatima

 pakkiyam, Baghyam


 paNpu

>>
righteousness

x parivu


 pon
,   
gold

 ponmaNi
  , 
golden beauty, golden jewellery

 ponnammA
 + 

 ponni
 
>>
name of an ever flowing river (flourishing, helpful)

 ponnumaNi


 pU

flower

 pUngkuzhali
 
woman with tender (like a flower) tousle

 puVatthi
x 
woman with flowers

 pukazh
  
fame

 nayam

>> 
worthy

 nakai, nagai
 , 
smile, jewel

 narumalar
  
>> 
caring flower

 nEcamalar
x 
>> x, 

 neelA
  ,      
moon like looks and a strong mind

 nilA
  

 gnalam
  (  , ...)
the world, symbol of patience

 mAcilA
,  
flawless, great understanding person

 mAlai
 , 
garland, pleasant evening

 mAthavi
,    
chaste woman, great sage woman

 makizh
  
a kind of flowering tree

 malar
   
generic name for flower

 malarvizhi
     
beautiful (like a flower, hence pleasanta) eyed

 mangai
,  
generic name for a woman

 mangaiyarkaraci
 
queen of women

 maNi
,    ( =  )
beauty, woman who voices for good deeds

 maNikkoti
 
>>

 maNimEkalai
 ,      .
daughter of mAthavi, great sage, model for woman, maNimEkalai sacrificed her life
to eradicate hunger from society


 
jasmine

 mallikai
   ,  
jasmine, denotes fragrance and purity

 malaimakaL
 ,  
goddess of valor, courage (courageous woman)

 maNimozhi
   
woman of beautiful words

 maruthANi
     , ,   
flowers/leaves of a tree that adds color and beauty

 marutham

honey

 mathivathani
   
woman with the body of intelligence (or of moon)

 mathuram
 , 
good natured

 mayil
, x  
peacock

 mayUri
  ( +  )
an expert in "dances"

,  mEkali, mEkalA
 
>> 
great artist, daughter of mAthavi

 mEkam
   
>> 
cloud symbolizing gratuituous rain

 mukil


 mullai
    ,   
a white flower, woman with a good heart

 muyal
  
endeavoring woman, also hare

 lakshmi
 
goddess of wealth

,  yAzhini, yAzh
    
>> 
melodious as the yaaz (or a sweet person from yaazpaanam)

 vANi


x vadivu
() , ,   
figure, trait, characteristic

x vadivukaraci
x + 

 vaLam
 
wealthy

 vaLaththakkAL
  x 
a woman spending within her means


  (x, x)
>> 
waxing moon (always growing,spirited, likeable)

 vayyam


 vAnmathi


 vAcuki
 , , 
vaLLuvan's wife, model of Tamil chaste woman

 vaigai
   
great river in the Pandiya kingdom (madurai)

 vanji
  
>> 
the "kodi" of Cheras, also a tender creeper

 vacIkari

>> 
enchanting woman

 veNNilA


 veNmaNi
    
pearl

 vetRi
   
victory

 viRali
  (  )
victory

 ulaku


  /Names for Boys

 Arumukam
 x,    
Lord Murugan, man with a comforting face

 arivoLi
x,  
x
light of understanding, knowledgeable man

x arivu ()

 aracu


 agaththiyan
   
Tamil and Himalayan sage

 akilan
 
man who commands everything

,  amaran, amar

heavenly

 anpu
x, 
love

 anbaracan
 
king of love / affection

 anbazhakan
 
beautiful lover

x arivu
x ()

 arungEdan

man secure from ills

 adiyamAn
  ,    
  , 
great king who sacrificed for poets

 azhaku
 ()
beauty

 azhagan

beauty

 aNdi

Lord Murugan

 Anandan
 ()

 Arvalan

person filled with love and affection

 ilankO
,    
prince, who sacrificed throne for Tamil

 iLamurugu
 

young Lord Murugan

 iRaikumAran
 ,   
son of God

,  inbacelvan, inbacelvam
 
happy and wealthy man

 iniyan

sweet person

 irAvaNan
 
man who is very strong in his principles

 iruthayarAcan
 

king of hearts

2 Ezhumalai


 ulagu
 ()

 uthayaNan
 
rising man

 uthayacUriyan
   
rising sun

 Oris
  
a munificent King

 oLi
,  x, 
>> 
light

 kalAparan
   ( + )
man whose world is art

  kalaiccelvan
 ()
man rich with art

 karumbu
  ,  
>> 
sugarcane

 kani
 ()

,  karuNA, karuNan
 ()
 ()

 karuNanithi
 + 

 kaNNan
 ()
friend, philosopher and guide

,  kanthan, kanthar

Lord Murugan

 kapilan
 
great tamil poet

 karikAlan
    
Tamil King known for his grit, bravery and scholarly acts

 kathir
 
sun rays

 kathiravan
, 
sun

,  kavi, kavinjan
,  
generic term for a poet

 kAvalan
, ,   
protector

 keeran
 ,  
Tamil poet (stands by his principles)

 kO
, 
King or an Emperor

 kuNA / guNA
  
man endowed with rectitude

 kumaNan
  
one of the generous kings known for his munificence

 kumaran


 canthOsham / santhosam


 cavarimuthu
 

 celvA / Selva
 ()

 celvan / Selvan


 celvam / Selvam


 celvamaNi / Selvamani
 +  ()  

 celvin

rich man (rich in everything)

,  cemiyOn, cemiyan
, 
good man

 celvam


,  centhil, centhUr / Senthil, Senthur


 cenni / Senni
, 
a Chola King

 cennimalai
  ,     

 cezhiyan
,  
wealthy man, a pANdiya king

 cEran
 
one of the three Emperors of Tamil country

 chidambaram
x 
God's palace

 chidambaram piLLai
 
son of a god (chidambaram natarAjan)

 cUcai
2 
Father of Jesus Christ, Joseph

 cUcainAthan
2  
follower of Christ

 Subramanian / cupramaNiyan
  
a crude variant of Lord Murugan

  cudalai mAdan
 ,  
God who protects the wealth, god who protects souls of dead.

 cundaran
 ()
beautiful man

,  thamizharacan, thamizharacu
   
King of Tamil

 thennan
  
man with command of good language

 thEvanEcan
 
man who is loved by gods or who loves gods

 thileepan / thilIpan
 ,    
a brave man from Tamil Eelam who sacrificed his life for Tamil and the country.

 thInkarumpu
 

 pazhani
   
Lord Murugan

 pANan
 
man of music

 pANdiyan
  ,  
great King of early Madurai

 pAri
 
munificent King

 padiRil

man without vices

 pagavan
 , 
>> 
father of Tamil sage Valluvan

 paraNi


 pirapAkaran
 ,   
courageous man, voices against oppression

 porkEz
  
>> 
man enriched with gold

 pulavan
 , , 
>> 
poetically talented man, God

 nakkIran


 nayan
 ()

x, x nAvukkaracan, nAvukkaracu
 ,  
>> 
king of words, man who has greater command of words

 nEcan

man who loves

 nEcamaNi
 + 

 nilavan
 ()

 nithi


 neelavan
 ()

 nithi
, 
justice

 malarvEnthan
 + 
king with soft nature (also King of flowers)

,  mallan, mallaiyA
 
man with wealth (virtue)

 mannan


 maNi
, ,  
ornament, man who voices an opinion

 mariyathAcan
 
follower of Mary

 mAthavan
  
>>   
great sage

 mathi
 ()
intellect (also moon)

 mayilan
 ,  
Lord Muruga's bird, compassionate man

 mayUran
  ( = )
 ()
expert in dances

 mAN
, 
God

 mAcilan
 ()

 mARan
, 

 murukan
x
Tamil God

 muthu
  ,  ,  
pearl

 muthumARan
 + 

 yEcurAcA
2  
Jesus Christ the King

 yEcuthAcan


 yOceppu
 
father of Lord Jesus

 yOvAn
John

 vadivEl
 (x +  )

 vaLLuvan
 
Tamil Lawgiver

 vAn
, , 
sky, rain, symbol of equity

 vaikO
 
>> 
king of river vaigai (Pandian)

 vacIkaran
 ()
attractive

,  vElu, vElan
  ()
Lord Murugan's weapon, The Lord Himself

 veluppiLLai
 
son of Lord Murugan

 vEnthan
, 
King

 veeran / vIran
, 
>> 
brave man

 vehhAn
,  
man who is not greedy after delights

 veRRi
 ()

 vikatakavi
  ,  
poet cum jester

 vikatan
 , 
jester, thinker

 viRkO
    ()
emperor of Chera country

 rathinam


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