Tamil Names

Talking about names one day, PB and I decided that some very pretty ones like Kannal (Tamil, meaning sugarcane) were simply not popular enough. That led to a ramble about how there are so many beautiful names in Tamil, but so few of them are in use any more, with Sanskrit-derived ones having edged them out.

So we decided to compile a list of Tamil names for both girls and boys, hoping to persuade at least a few of our (oh-so-) many friends who are planning/having babies to pick from this pile, but the response has been…umm…less than enthusiastic. I’ve decided, therefore, to present the list to the wider world, trusting in the wisdom of crowds to see the importance, not only of being Suresh, but also Sengalvarayan or simply, Selvam.

I’ve included the few meanings that I know, but they could be wrong–I’m putting my appalling ignorance of Tamil on public display here! Corrections and inputs on meanings are most welcome!

Girls

1. Thangamani – golden bead
2. Thenmozhi – words like honey?
3. Kanimozhi – sweet words (like ripe fruit)
4. Poongothai – garland of flowers
5. Poonkuzhali – flower-like locks (should be a more elegant way to phrase that!)
6. Kaarkuzhali – dark-haired
7. Kannal – sugarcane
8. Mukil – dark cloud
9. Thaamarai – lotus
10. Roja – rose
11. Malli – jasmine
12. Malar – flower
13. Thenmalar – nectar-bearing flower?
14. Manimekalai – literary heroine
15. Manonmani – a form of Shakti
16. Amuda – nectar
17. Nila – moon
18. Vennila – full moon
19. Maasila – blemishless
20. Azhagu – beautiful
21. Selvi – wealth/wealthy
22. Mangai -
23. Maragatham – flower (marigold?)
24. Valli -
25. Shenbagam – flower (Michelia champaca)
26. Kalaiselvi – artistically gifted
27. Thangam – gold
28. Chellammal – beloved
29. Kannammal – beloved
30. Yogam – fortune
31. Ezhilarasi – queen of beauty
32. Thendral – breeze
33. Madura – queen of Madurai
34. Kurinji – a flower that blooms once every 12 years (Strobilanthes kunthiana)
35. Vaigai – name of a river
36. Kaveri – name of a river
37. Dharani – earth
38. Oviya – painting
39. Raasathi – beloved
40. Iniyaazh – sweet-spoken
41. Kayalvizhi – of fish-shaped eyes

Boys

1. Sengalvarayan - 
2. Pitchumani -
3. Chidambaram – a sacred place/name of a god
4. Pandian – king (of the Pandian line)
5. Cheran – king (of the Chera line)
6. Arasu – king
7. Anbarasu – king of love?
8. Anbu – love
9. Anbumani -
10. Mani – jewel
11. Muthu – pearl
12. Maanikkam – ruby
13. Maaran -
14. Vairam – diamond
15. Manikandan – mythogical character/name of a god
16. Selvam – wealth
17. Kaarmegam – black cloud
18. Tamizharasu – king (of Tamil?)
19. Kannan – beloved (also name of a god)
20. Arul – divine grace
21. Valluvan – accomplished one
22. Kovalan – literary hero
23. Kalaimani -
24. Mannan – king
25. Nedunchezhiyan – a just and famous king (from literature)
26. Kalamegam – storm clouds
27. Kamban -
28. Ilangovan – youthful?
29. Nakkeeran – fearless?
30. Bharani – name of a star?
31. Chenthil -
32. Ezhil – beauty
33. Silamban -
34. Silambarasan -
35. Azhagan – handsome
36. Kathir – rays of the sun
37. Karikalan – a brave and famous king
38. Navukkarasan – king of words
39. Paari – a famous king (from mythology)

This list barely skims the surface of the vast ocean of potential Tamil names, with their silken syllables and elegant meanings. I have tried to leave out names of gods and goddesses, with the exception of those that have other (preferably pretty!) meanings. In this too, I’m sure to have made errors of both omission and commission, and do welcome corrections.

While this is meant to be a list of Tamil names, it is not intended to be so rigid as to exclude words that have some association with Sanskrit/other languages – names with the ‘megam’ suffix are a good example. As long as the word is used in formal, written Tamil, it will qualify. Contributions are welcome!

Upated to add some meanings.

Appada

Appada. The word escaped amma’s lips as the ghetti melam faded. Both daughters married. Her duty done. All that is left is to die a sumangali.

Appada. Amuda put the receiver back, kissed the cross on her chain, sat down and sent up a small prayer of thanks. He was unhurt, the AC compartment had not derailed.

Appada. She set down her basket in a corner of the room that sheltered seven. Today had been a good day, only three measures of kadambam left unsold. And that Selvam had not turned up to demand his cut.

Appada. Sixty three votes. Narrow but clear. He would no longer be ‘former’ MLA. He stood up, somehow taller, somehow stronger, somehow more frightening, and marched out to address the cameras.

What makes you say it?

Naturalla pesum Tamil

Tayathula saaptu, tayathula thoongu*, came amma’s voice over the phone.
I had heard that bit of advice all my life. I thought nothing of it until the day a friend and I were leaving home for a long trip away. As we stepped out Amma called out her usual line. My friend looked totally puzzled. When the door closed he asked, What did your mom say? I repeated her chant, and after a moment’s incomprehension he burst out laughing.

What’s so funny?
Tayathula! Hahahaha!

It was then that it hit me. Tayathula was a total Tamilisation of the word ‘time’, in which the final ‘m’ sound is omitted to make it fit the Tamil system of affixing prepositions.

And since then I have met actualla, idealla and best of all – systeth. In the same way that the ‘m’ was removed from time, it is removed from system (usually referring to a computer) to make way for Tamil word-endings. Photo enga da? Systethla paaru! (Where is the photo? Look in the ’system’!) Other words ending with the ‘m’ sound have suffered similarly: Poeyatha manapadam panniya? (Have you memorised the poem?)

Tamil has adopted and modified many English words to suit its purposes. ‘Comedy’ and ’super’ come to mind. As do yescape (escape) and rouse. But these words have been lucky to retain (at least a semblance of) their original meanings. Words like assalt (from assault) now mean fearlessness or sometimes impunity. Assalta vandhu rouse vuttaan, saar! (He boldly came and caused a stir!)

And sometimes, words acquire a whole wealth of significance when used in Tamil: Avanga yenna pursnalty-aa irukkanga! (roughly: What a personality she has!) but here the word goes far beyond its English meaning. In Tamil, pursnalty is an adjective, not a mere noun!

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Postscript:
Like every self-respecting Tamilian I called it ‘cool drink’ until the day a someone pointed out that it should be ‘cold drink’. I was about to respond somewhat hotly (sorry! couldn’t resist!), when I realised she was right, but in Tamil Nadu ‘cool’ is far more accurate – by the time the bottle travels from the refrigerator, carried by warm, sweaty hands to your table, it is somewhat less jill than you might like!

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* Eat on time, sleep on time.

For more on systeth see this and this.

For other words from English that have taken on colourful Tamil avatars, see here.

Written with key inputs from PB.