Like in any culture, names in Telugu hold significant meaning, heritage, and sentiment. Some choose names in remembrance of their elders, some according to numerology, some according to their astrological sign or star, and others according to their favorite deity.
In this blog, we’ll explore the process behind naming in Telugu and how people believe names affect their lives and everyone around them. Let’s start.
Table Of Contents
Names In Telugu And Their Significance
A lot goes on behind the scenes when it’s time to choose someone’s name. According to Hindu tradition, 16 customs are to be followed from the moment a child is formed in the mother’s womb until their death. A naming ceremony is the fifth custom.
As names are considered highly influential in a child’s life, much effort goes into choosing them. Typically, a baby is named after 11, 16, 21, or 100 days of birth, varying according to region.
On the day of the Naming Ceremony, a priest will be present to determine the Rashi (Zodiac Sign) and Nakshatra (Star Sign) and create the baby’s horoscope. This is when the parents and priests work together to determine the most suitable sound, letter, or deity’s name that the baby’s name should follow, ensuring it aligns with the child’s astrological influences.
Choosing The Right Telugu Baby Name
Now that you know the cultural process of choosing a name, let’s see how and what kind of names are chosen.
Names In Telugu Based On Astrology
Astrology is one of the major determinants in choosing a name in Telugu culture. In Telugu Astrology, there are 12 Zodiac Signs, 27 Star Signs, 9 Planets, Dashas (how planets affect a person at certain times during the day), Bhavas (houses), Tithi (lunar days), Significators, Lagnas (the sign rising on the eastern horizon at the time of birth), and Strengths (planetary placements and their influence).
With the above Astrology conditions in mind, priests and parents determine which name is good for a baby.
Here’s how the process of choosing a name for a baby born in May, according to the baby’s astrological signs, would look.
I won’t give you a list of all the signs here, but let’s say the baby is born on May 5th; the Zodiac sign of the baby would be Taurus – వృషభం (Vrushabam), which is known for its stability and material comforts. If, hypothetically, the baby is born on “Asrita” Dasha, with Taurus sign, with Sukhla Tithi, under the influence of Planet Sun and Ashvini Star, then the baby would be named Dharitri.
- Dharitri (ధరిత్రి) – Meaning: “Earth” or “Sustainer”
This name symbolizes stability and nurturing, aligning with Taurus’s qualities. It resonates with the Sun’s vitality (Surya) and the nurturing aspect of Ashwini Nakshatra while also reflecting the auspiciousness of the Sukhla Tithi.
Now, let’s assume the father’s family name is “Vigrahala.” In that case, the daughter would be named Vigrahala Dharitri.
And due to sentiment, if the child’s grandmother’s (the wife’s mother) name is Rani (meaning “Queen” ), they’d want to add that to the child’s name in her memory, making the child’s name Vigrahala Dharitri Rani.
Here are a few more names that are based on Astrological Signs and their meanings:
- Adithya (ఆదిత్య) – Sun; symbolizes energy, leadership, and vitality, reflecting positive traits of many zodiac signs.
- Kiran (కిరణ్) – Ray of light; represents brightness and hope, suitable for those influenced by the Sun and positivity.
- Chandrika (చంద్రిక) – Light of the Moon; embodies beauty and calmness, reflecting the emotional depth associated with lunar signs.
- సమీరా (Sameera) – A gentle breeze; signifies tranquility and harmony, aligning with the balance sought in astrological influences.
Names That Reflect Personality
Now, let’s assume parents are not into Astrology, but they’d still believe that a name can affect their child’s life. They want their child to be happy, victorious and inspired, so they will give their baby a name that represents those good traits.
Here are some examples:
- Vijay – Victory
- Abhay – Daring
- Anurag – Loving
- Divya – Divine
- Devi – Goddess
- Swarg – Heaven
Names That Are Inspired By Deities
What if the parents are devoted worshippers of Ram, Shiva, Durga, or other Hindu deities? They’d name their children after their favorite deity.
Also, in Telugu culture, families have a certain deity called their Kuladevatha, a clan’s tutelary deity in Hinduism. If a family does have one, every child in that family will have a part or some variant of that Kuladevatha’s name included in their name.
For Example, if lord Krishna is the Kuladevatha of a family, their children would be named Krishna, Krish, Krishnaraj, Gopal, Maadhav, etc.
All these names have their own meanings and significance for the family, and they would not name their children any other way.
Names That Are Based On Caste
You probably know about the caste system in India. It’s the segregation of people based on their work and social status. This segregation led to a naming convention that showed others which caste a person belongs to based on their name. I know this division is inherently bad, but unfortunately, this tradition is still alive.
If a person belongs to Kamma or Kapu Caste (agricultural farmers), their name would have a suffix like Naidu, Choudhury, Rao, Setty, etc., at the end. E For example, Raghu Naidu, Kumar Rao, etc.
If a person belongs to the Kshatriya Caste (royals at one point in history), their name would have Raju (meaning king) at the end.
This kind of caste-based suffix is present in all major castes. Some elders could even tell to which caste a person belongs to based on their family/surname.
Baby Names In Telugu
Now that you know how names in Telugu work, here’s a table with a few baby Names.
| Name | Telugu | Meaning | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Srinivas (Boy) | శ్రీనివాస్ | Sri = Prosperity Nivas = The one who resides in | Name of Lord Srinivas. |
| Venkatesh (Boy) | వెంకటేష్ | God of the Hill Venkata | Another Name of Lord Srinivas. Originated from the hills of Tirupathi in South India. |
| Ravi (Boy) | రవి | Sun | Parents prefer to give this name to sons who are born with Sun favour in their horoscope. |
| Sai (Boy) | సాయి | One who is divine | Devotees of Sai Baba of Shirdi (a revered saint and spiritual leader) name their kids Sai. |
| Ramu (Boy) | రాము | Another name of Lord Ram | This is an affectionate alternative of the name “Rama.” It’s popular among those who want a name that starts with R. |
| Devi (Girl) | దేవి | Goddess in Sanskrit | This one word can refer to many Goddesses in Hindu mythology, such as Durga, Saraswati, Sita, etc. |
| Madhu (Girl) | మధు | Honey in Sanskrit | A sentimental name preferred by parents who wish a sweet life for their child. |
| Radhika (Girl) | రాధిక | Successful | Name of the wife of Lord Krishna. Popular among devotees for their girl’s name. The name is also linked to the concept of fertility and abundance. |
| Lakshmi (Girl) | లక్ష్మి | Goddess of wealth | Along with being the name of a Goddess, this name signifies abundance in life. |
| Sailaja (Girl) | శైలజ | Daughter of the mountain | Associated with Goddess Durga, devotees who look for a name that starts with S will choose this name. |
The Structure Of Names In Telugu
Now that we’ve learned how Telugu names are chosen and created, let’s learn about their structure.
A person’s name typically consists of their family/surname or father’s name, caste, Kuladevatha’s name if any, and their name.
Due to this arrangement, some names can be 5 to 6 words long. For example,
- Chalimela Veera Venkata Siva Satyanarayana Naidu
Chalimela = Surname, Veera (Heroic) = Personality, Venkata + Siva + Satyanarayana = Names of Deities, Naidu = Caste.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are There Any Names That Assimilated Into Telugu From Other Languages?
There certainly are. Due to Mughal and British reign on the Indian subcontinent, Islam and Christianity spread among the regions, spiking Muslim and Christian populations and causing people to give their children Muslim and Christian names.
Nowadays, names like Akbar, Joseph, Anthony, and Jahir are common, and they have an extra surname or caste name. For example, Joseph Kota, Jahir Choudhury, etc.
2. What Are Some Traditional Surnames In Telugu?
Some traditional Telugu Surnames are: Naidu, Rao, Reddy, Varma, Setty, and Goud, which often reflect caste, community, or profession.
3. What Are The Various Dialects Of Telugu, And Do They Affect People’s Names?
Telugu has four major dialects: Godavari, Srikakulam, Telangana, and Rayalaseema. Regional dialects sometimes influence the choice of names due to their varying traditions, cultures, living situations, etc.
Wrapping Up
There you have it. We’ve completed a short course on names in Telugu. I hope you’ve gained some insights into our culture and language and how they work together. Remember to ask your Telugu friends about their names and find out how they are chosen. I’m sure everyone has a story behind it! It’s all about where the inspiration comes from and the innate belief that there’s much at play around us that influences our circumstances.
If you want to learn more about this language and culture, take a look at the Ling blog, where you’ll find articles on Telugu greetings, grammar, basic expressions, and much more.
And if you are looking for a meaningful and rewarding experience in learning Telugu, I recommend you watch lots of Telugu movies and practice regularly in language learning apps like the Ling app. It makes a difference!
