In Kerala, giving an adorable name to a baby is the most crucial task of a guardian because it reflects a person’s identity, ancestors’ cultural traditions, and heritage.
In today’s post, we will walk you through the best Malayalam names for baby boys or girls along with their local meanings. After all, who wouldn’t want to be named after something that has a deeper meaning, right? If you are up for that, then let’s start learning.
Here’s the thing: Native Malayalam speakers follow a specific structure of baby-naming conventions. Unlike the names in other parts of India, the first name is not the original name, but the family name followed by the father’s name. In English Malabar, the format starts with a surname, followed by the first name, then caste, and then the title name (if applicable).
Another trend observed among Malayalam-speaking people is that they take the first two letters from the parents’ names and create a unique name for their children. Some people from Kerala or Malays also add the name of the village they came from or their mother’s name. Interesting stuff, right? Let’s get to know more about all the information on this topic in the next part below.

Top Trending Malayalam Names For Girls And Boys
When it comes to naming conventions, we cannot deny that traditional names are basically influenced by a number of factors, which is why finding the right name will take effort on the part of the parents. As with any other nationalities, names are considered important in the sense that it helps build your identity and will carry meanings related to your family and cultural connection. If you are unsure of the best names to use, be sure to check the tables below.
Malayalam Names For Girls
Below is a list of some of the best Malayalam names for your reason to smile – your baby girl. These baby girl names are unique and popular, and some are incredibly creative.
Look at the following Malayalam names that are available in English and Malayalam with their meaning.
Name | Malayalam | Meaning |
Abhisarikaa | അഭിസാരിക | The beloved one. |
Aami | ആമി | One who is dearly loved |
Dhanyata | ധന്യത | Successor fulfillment |
Dharti | ധാത്രി | Earth |
Ijaya | ഇജയ | Sacrifice |
Iksha | ഇക്ഷ | Sight |
Ila | ഇല | It means earth. |
Indrakshi | ഇന്ദ്രാക്ഷി | The one with beautiful eyes |
Indukala | ഇന്ദുകാല | The moonlight |
Induma | ഇന്ദുമ | Malayalam term for the moon. |
Indumukhi | ഇന്ദുമുഖി | A woman with a moon-like face. |
Noshi | നോഷി | Sweet |
Pujya | പൂജ്യ | A person who is worthy of worship and respect |
Reneeka | റെനിക്ക | A woman who is like a song |
Jini | ജിനി | A Malayalam variation of Jenny. |
Uditi | ഉദിതി | Rising |
Udvita | ഉദ്വിത | A river filled with lotus flowers. |
Udyati | ഉദ്യതി | Elevated |
Ujas | ഉജാസ് | Bright or shining. |
Ujhala | ഉജ്ഹല | Light or bright |
Ujjayini | ഉജ്ജയിനി | It means rising. |
Ujjwala | ഉജ്ജ്വല | A woman with a bright personality. Bright or lustrous |
Prarthna | പ്രാർത്ഥന | Prayer |
Sandaryaṁ | സൗന്ദര്യം | Beauty |
Roshini | വെളിച്ചം | light |
Pari | മാലാഖ | Angel |
Lakhsmi | ദേവത | Goddess |
Khushi | സന്തോഷം | Happiness, joy |
Urja | ഉർജ | One with high levels of energy |
Urmi | ഉർമി | A wave of the sea. |
Urvasi | ഉർവ്വശി | The most beautiful of all the apsaras (angels) |
Ushakiran | ഉഷാകിരൺ | Rays of the morning sun. |
Vijayalakshmi | വിജയലക്ഷ്മി | The Hindu goddess of victory. |
Malayalam Names For Boys
In Malayalam culture, Malayalam’s surname and initials play an essential role in the baby’s name. Hence, here is a list of some of the most beautiful and popular names for boys in Malayalam.
Name | Malayalam | Meaning |
Dhaval | ധവൽ | The fair one, a fair child |
Tara | നക്ഷത്രം | star |
Nadi | നദി | river |
pratīkṣikkunnu | പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കുന്നു | hope |
Barkat | അനുഗ്രഹം | blessing |
Samdaar | കടൽ | sea |
Shiv | ശിവ് | Hindu lord shiva |
Dheeman | ധീമാൻ | An intelligent man. |
Ijay | ഇജയ് | A name of Lord Vishnu |
Ikshan | ഇക്ഷാൻ | Sight |
Ikshu | ഇക്ഷു | A Malayalam word for sugarcane. |
Indeevar | ഇൻഡീവർ | A blue lotus |
Ipsit | ഇപ്സിറ്റ് | Desired, the desirable one |
Iravan | ഇരവൻ | The king of the ocean. |
Nair | നായർ | A leader or a soldier |
Pranal | പ്രാണൽ | A waterway, estuary, creek |
Reman | രെമാൻ | One calming and beautiful as a Song |
Sampatt | സമ്പത്ത് | wealth |
Shardool | ഷാർദൂൽ | A man brave as a lion, lion |
Shreeya | ശ്രീയ | A name of Hindu Goddess Lakshmi. It means luck. |
Thakshak | തക്ഷക് | Name of a cobra |
Udayan | ഉദയൻ | Uprising |
Ulhas | ഉല്ലാസ് | Delight or joy. |
Upanshu | ഉപാംശു | Chanting the mantras or hymns in a low tone |
Upendra | ഉപേന്ദ്ര | It means an element. A name of Lord Vishnu. |
Ushapati | ഉഷപതി | Husband of dawn or sun |
Utpal | ഉത്പാൽ | Beginning, or a water lily |
Uttam | ഉത്തം | The best of the rest. |
Vachan | വച്ചൻ | Speech or promise |
Vachaspati | വാചസ്പതി | Lord of speech |
Vadish | വദീഷ് | Lord of the body |
Vanita | വനിത | A lady or woman |
Vibhaakar | വിഭാകർ | The moon |
Vagindra | വഗീന്ദ്രൻ | Lord of speech |
Vagish | വാഗീഷ് | It means God of speech. Vagish is the name of Lord Brahma. |
Vaidyanaath | വൈദ്യനാഥ് | Master of medicines |
Iravan | ഇരവൻ | The king of the ocean. |
Malayalam Nicknames Based On Personality
Did you know? There are also Mayalam names that you can use as an adjective to describe your kids. And who wouldn’t want great nicknames that mean beautiful, unique, talented, or wise? Check out some of these Malayalam nicknames based on personality.
Nickname | Malayalam | Meaning |
Daksha | ദക്ഷ | Talented |
Eka | ഏക | Unique |
Gaura | ഗൗര | Fair |
Gudiya | ഗുഡിയ | Doll |
Kamya | കാമ്യ | Beautiful |
Laboni | ലബോണി | Grace |
Garv | ഗർവ് | Proud |
Gaya | ഗയ | Wise |
Jitu | ജിതു | Winner |
Raja | രാജ | King |

Master Malayalam By Using Ling
As we reach this part of the post, we hope that you were able to get the best meanings for some of the most popular Malayalam names. If you’d love to learn more about this complex but unique language, then be sure to check out our previous posts like how to wish someone a happy birthday, love words and phrases, and transportation vocabulary.
Apart from Malayalam names, are you interested in learning more about the Malayalam language? If your answer is yes, please feel free to search and read about some best practices for learning Malayalam by downloading and using the Ling app.
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So what are you waiting for? Download Ling at the Play Store or App Store and develop your language skills in Malayalam now!