Please name my child
I have a long obsession for names. I hated my name and hated my parents for not consulting me before naming me. Since then I have been selecting name for my daughter, but I have no clue why I didn’t bother with a boy name. My parents said that I named my little brother. They might have said that to shut me up. But I guess that one worked well, and that might have been the reason why I didn’t bother with a boy name (that I have named a boy already?). Mine was not a common name during my days, whereas my brother’s was/is a too common name that we have two of them in our family (close family circle) itself.
Now I live in UK, so I have one more narrowing criterion that it should be easily pronounceable and spellable. Preferably not distortable by the westerners. But not very pedantic about it, as they can even ruin Balan! Other criteria are: The short version shouldn’t sound silly. It doesn’t have to be all new and unique type. I am even ok with not very Indian too. I am not particular about language but too sanskriti makes it difficult to pronounce. Same with zha/la in Tamil. I would love to have it a Tamil name (but no zha/la in it), also would love if it is not sanskrit but not very pedantic about it. Short and sweet is fine. No no to numerology or any other luck based thinking (natchathiram/rasi etc). The name should sound ok for old age too, as some names sound very cool and cute when they are kids but may not suit very well for a old man or old lady with that cute name.
Please leave your choice of name(s) for both boy and girl, if possible with meaning or reason. Thanks.
The due date is January 21, 2008. So you will know the result in the new year. 
Thanks in advance.
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Had you found this site yet:
http://www.oferr.org/tamil_baby_name.htm
Comment by Mouse — July 12, 2007 #
@Mouse,
Thanks for the link. Though I have not come across this particular link (this has many tamil names, isn’t it!), I have seen some. But haven’t started the name-hunt seriously yet. I am interested in collecting personal favourites from others. Suggest some names that you would like and why. It will have a personal touch, and secondly I might miss some wonderful names as the lists in the websites are too long and tiring. mostly I end up looking at A and get bored after that.
Comment by Premalatha — July 12, 2007 #
My favourites would be Mitra for a girl, and Sumitra for a boy. Why? Because they are powerful, easy to pronounce in various countries, short, and they mean Friend. The names are not unwieldy in the UK, since they are spelled the way they are pronounced. I believe that there are versions with an h in them - Mithra and Sumithra… but that would potentially confuse pronounciation/spelling in the UK. The meaning, Friend, wouldn’t be too heavy or airy or too much of a threshold to live up to, it’s something that everyone needs and everyone wants to be.
Comment by Mouse — July 12, 2007 #
Girl Names: Heera (diamond), Deepthi, Deepali, Nethra,
Boys: Neeraj, Vivek, Gautham, Siddharth,
Comment by D the D — July 13, 2007 #
@Mouse
Thanks.
Did you mean Sumitra for girl and Mitra for boy?
I had an ex (sort of) with the name Mitra. I hate that guy. He was a real a****** :-)) anyway, Yes, I agree both are very sweet names. There is still time. Keep coming up with nice names. Thanks.
I liked Sidharth for boy and Sidhardhini (!) for girl, because I was hung up on the idea of my child introducing herself/himself to others “Hi I am Sid”, which sounded so cool to me, and it is Budha’s name. I am already vetoed!
Comment by Premalatha — July 13, 2007 #
@DtheD,
thanks. How have you been? Long time no see.
Comment by Premalatha — July 13, 2007 #
Heh. No, I meant Mitra for a girl — I had a girlfriend named Mitra when I lived in the Middle East. In Persian it means Sun if it’s given to a boy, or “bright” or Angel if it’s given to a girl.
But all that said, forget about it already because I *love* Sidharth and Sidhardhini, and “Hi, I’m Sid” is way cool!! Have you read Herman Hesse’s book called Sidhartha?
Comment by Mouse — July 13, 2007 #
Hi Mouse,
Balan is dead against Sidhardhini as it is too long he says. Anyway, there are six more months we have got. 
Sid is vetoed already, as someone told Balan that it is old type name in UK, Sid for Sidney. Sidney is like kamatchi meenatchi karuppayi velthayi, the tamil names and their periods!, or so I am told.
Comment by Premalatha — July 13, 2007 #
Hi Premalatha,
My personal favs are Anirudh for boy and Sahana or Kothai for girl… Don’t remember how I got the fixation on Anirudh
Sahana is the name of a raagam…if you remember K.Balachandar’s first tamil tele serial, the titel music “intha veenaiku theriyathu…” is of Sahana raagam…. Kothai…Andal is also called Kothai Nachiyar and such a nice tamil name
Regards,
Lalitha V
Comment by Lalitha — July 14, 2007 #
lalitha, i like Kothai
its just so incredibly romantic!
And I am not giving away my fav. names ..they are MINE! but I can’t wait…I want to know the gender asap! oh and like i always say -i am going to have so much fun being the fav. aunt and not the annoying mom :D!
Comment by sudha — July 14, 2007 #
Laitha, Sudha,
Poongothai was Balan’s ex’s name. Me not giving anyone any pleasure, however nice that name is.
Sudha, this is just 13th week. No one can know the gender yet. Aunts are always nice. Moms are always annoying. I know. I have been enjoying the former so for.
What is it with these ex-s and these names! Is the world determined to remind me of those pasts!
Comment by Premalatha — July 14, 2007 #
Lalitha, Thanks. Keep coming up with more names. Anirudh and Sahana are added to the list.
Comment by Premalatha — July 14, 2007 #
I don’t know any Tamil/Indian names except a friend I had in college - Jagruti.
I’m going to go with what I know.
The baby is going to be Aquarius, born at the end of the Fire-pig/Boar year. Pigs are cultured and kind, Aquarians are intellectual and individual. And born in a fire year? This kid will be unique, maybe even eccentric, but never in a “loud” way.
Pick a strong name for a girl - because she won’t tolerate a “girly” name. My Sister-in-law is named a man’s name after a famous ancestor. She loves that. She loves the fact she has a weird male name and the fact that this ancestor was famous. I also have a male Aquarius friend who was named after a 16th century poet. He loves that.
So your kid would be very happy to have the name of any ancestor or historical person - if this person was also unique and/or amazing.
Ok.. for a boy I’m picking Kambar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kambar%2C_Tamil
for a girl.. I have no idea!
Comment by Michelle — July 15, 2007 #
//maybe even eccentric, but never in a “loud” way.
Pick a strong name for a girl - because she won’t tolerate a “girly” name.//
So, I can blame it on her stars and planets! Saves me hugely.
Kambar is added to the list.
Thanks for the research. impressive. 
Comment by Premalatha — July 16, 2007 #
Michelle…I read somewhere recently that girls with strong names …(and not girly girly names) will do good in Science and Maths and the girly named girls kind of shy away from them it seems… I second your idea of giving strong names for Premalatha’s daughter
Premalatha, I like Rebecca too.. pl include that to you list
Comment by Lalitha — July 16, 2007 #
Michelle and Lalitha,
(Balan will kill me if I dare to suggest this name).
Kundhavai will be a very suitable name for the kind of person Michelle is describing. My fav woman in the history and I love that name. But it is very old and obselete name.
For Michelle, Kundhavai was the elder sister of Rajaraja cholar and she was the brain behind the Chola empire, which they (sister and broher together) built from unstable political situation to a very powerful empire, not by capturing more lands, but purely by strategies and intelligent policies. The next king, Rajendra Cholan, son of Rajaraja and nephew of Kundhavai did the capturing part and extended the empire upto Indonesia. They ruled Indonesia and neighbouring islands, not by imposing new culture and new things, but by letting different cultures to co-exist… which is considered as the golden period in the Indonesian history. Very strong character, very famous personality, famous for her brains… But very old and obselete name.
Lalitha, Rebecca is added to the list. thanks.
Comment by Premalatha — July 16, 2007 #
Kundhavai sounds a great role model, is there any more modern version or variation of her name?
Ok, got one for a girl.
Maritrayee
http://www.astr.ua.edu/4000WS/MARITRAYEE.html
Comment by Michelle — July 17, 2007 #
Ps.. this is fun!
Comment by Michelle — July 17, 2007 #
Too big names means too much to live upto too.
Maritrayee is a nice name. I have heard about Maithreyee, but Maritrayee is a new one for me. Added to the list. Thanks.
Comment by Premalatha — July 17, 2007 #
I think we have more girl names… Need to come up with more boy baby names…hmm…How about Rohit,Pranav,Sailesh?…hmm…thats it for the moment…
Comment by Lalitha — July 17, 2007 #
Booma - for a girl. I dont even know the meaning of the word; now no reasons for that name. I was saying it in my mind and it felt nice
It could be the short name for Bhoomadevi or Bhumika.
If Booma is the long name then Boo could be the short name! wow! That sounds nice, no, great.
If you find my comment frivolous, relax madi, smile maadi and enjoi maaadi.
Comment by Visitor — July 18, 2007 #
Booma of course can be used to call affectionately too, long on the Boo as in Booo..maa (பூ….மா)?
The problem is that the name can be wrecked when written in Tamizh -பூமா, with people calling her Pooma. Or they can pun on the word and say ப்பூ…மா.
Comment by Visitor — July 18, 2007 #
Why didn’t I think of it before?
பூ - of course means flower in Tamizh, and anyone would want to treat his/her daughter like a flower ‘ பூ’ போல. I am not sure if Latha akka agrees.
Comment by Visitor — July 18, 2007 #
Just now went thro the other suggestions - Siddharth and Gautham are dime a dozen now.
Kothai - lovely one Andal too - But would there be a problem in pronunciation in England?
I like Udaya(n) - could be used for both girl/boy - not a very ’strong’ name. Pronunciation could be a problem.
Booma can be considered a strong name or mild name depending on the perspective.
I like Suzy
Comment by Visitor — July 18, 2007 #
as well as Sam - but both are pretty old I guess.
Comment by Visitor — July 18, 2007 #
Come to think of it please look at your blogroll, starting from Ammani….there are quite a few names I like there..
Comment by Visitor — July 18, 2007 #
Ammani is not a name, no?
Comment by sudha — July 19, 2007 #
Latha - see alpha’s post on unisex names
Everything’s in a name
Comment by V — July 22, 2007 #
I have read it.
Read this one. Kalai bloged for sometime and then deleted her blog and left the blogworld. http://tatooines.blogspot.com/ was her original blog. Kalai’s that particular post did email rounds and some people somehow recreated and saved it in their blogs.. one of the finds is what I have given you above.
Comment by Premalatha — July 24, 2007 #
You got the post at last! I tried to access the last time, but I got the Page not found error. Thanks.
Comment by Visitor — July 24, 2007 #
Hey, what about more names? Visitor, where your enthu has gone now? more names please.
Comment by Premalatha — July 24, 2007 #
புஸ்ஸ்..ஸு னு போயிடுச்சு
Comment by Visitor — July 26, 2007 #
why?
your suggestions are added to the list, (not my blogroll names). think or create. come up with some names.
Comment by Premalatha — July 26, 2007 #
Hmmm, tough one but here goes:
for a girl, if you are looking for a proper tamil name, you could go with Ambai. (AMbai, Ambigai, Ambaalikai etc - you get where I’m going, am sure!) Or even Aadirai. Something that means beginning. generalised one, then Sahana is a raaga and a perinneal favourite. Arthika is one name I saw recently that sounded nice.
for a boy, I like the name Nithin. Not too short, not too long and best of all, cannot be truncated to some meaningless wreck. Or you could go with Pavan - Vaayu. (Not gas - but Wind!) Prathyush - sounds too close to my little one’s, I know! Roshan means light so that’s a nice meaning as well.
Please tell me when to stop!
ps: big hello to you both! sorry haven’t been in touch. will mail pix soon! take care.
Comment by Desigirl — August 10, 2007 #
DG,
Don’t stop. Come back. Saw the pix. I am jealous. Will talk to you when you are back.
Comment by Premalatha — August 19, 2007 #
Congratulations Premalatha on you pregnancy! I read your blog often and this is the first time I am delurking.
Now that we know it is a girl, I am giving you a list of girl names that we had chosen for our baby when we did not know HIS gender:
1. Tara (star)
2. Aditi (Mother of Sun, metaphorically meaning source of all energy)
3. Megha
4. Jhaanvi (name of river Ganges)
5. Varsha (varsham means rain, i luvvvvvvvv rain)
will come back if i remember some more names.
Comment by Anitha — September 21, 2007 #
Thanks Anitha. Added to the list
Do come back.
Comment by Premalatha — September 23, 2007 #
Maya?
Comment by Broom — November 4, 2007 #
Broom,
Thanks. Maya is a very nice name. Added to the list.
Doesn’t it remind you of our Maya memsaab
Comment by Premalatha — November 5, 2007 #
Mugdha
Sudha
Vasudha
Sumedha
Prachi
Ruta
Pradnya
Comment by Dadoji — November 21, 2007 #
Dadoji, thank you.
Comment by Premalatha — November 30, 2007 #
அத்துழாய் என்ற பேர். பாரம்பர்ய மிக்கது (ஸ்ரீரங்கனுக்கு உகந்தது).
கூப்பிட்டால் புண்யம் கிட்டும். “அத்தூ” என்று செல்லமாக கூப்பிடலாம். பரந்கிகராரும் அப்படியே கூப்பிடலாம்.
நிறைய கிருஷ்ணர் பாடல்கள் கேளுக. கர்பத்தில் இருந்தே ப்ரகலாதர் அப்படி கேட்டு தான் பெறான்தாறு என்றது நிஜமுங்க.
அதிதி என்று யாரோ மொழிந்தங்க. அது வேணாங்க. (ஸ்ரீமத் பாகவதம் இல் அவுக நல்லவுக ஆனால் கொஞ்சம் தப்பு பண்ணிடாங்க)
முன்னமே, அட்வைஸ் எல்லாம் நமக்கு நடக்காது என்று சொல்றிஹ. அத வெச்சி இதோட நிர்த்திகேறேன்த.
- பசுப்பி
Comment by Pasuppi — December 14, 2007 #
அதிதி பத்தி தப்ப சொல்லிட்டேனுக. மிகவும் மன்னிக்கமுக.
முதலா மொழிண்தவருகும் கூட சிரசு தாழ்த்தி தண்டம் சமர்பிகேறேங்க
- பசுப்பி
Comment by Pasuppi — December 14, 2007 #
பசுப்பி,
நான் சாமி கும்பிடுவதில்லை.
Comment by Premalatha — December 15, 2007 #
Akila. Never heard a more beautiful name than that!
Comment by neha — January 8, 2008 #
and Adya. That’s a lovely name too.
Comment by neha — January 8, 2008 #
did u finalise a name? How about these?
1. Aziza – Dear one
2. Inayat – Kindness
3. Tehzeeb – Elegance
4. Arshia – Heavenly
5. Kasturi – Musk
6. Khyati – Fame
7. Manaasa – mind
8. Mahi/ Mahika – Earth
9. Meher – Beloved
10. Mehek – fragrance
11. Naaz – pride
12. Nadira – pinnacle
13. Nazm / Nazima – Song
14. Seerat – Inner beauty
15. Shama – Flame
16. Simrit – rememberance
17. Suhaila – glow of the moon
18. Waheeda – Beautiful
19. Zarine – Golden
20. Kausar – Oasis in paradise
21. Naira – Shining, glittering
22. Sana – Brilliant, majestic
23. Adna – Pleasure, delight
24. Ada – Happy, ornament (Persian)
25. Alizah – Joyful
26. Adena – delicate, sensual – Hebrew
27. Ahava – Love – Hebrew
28. Ailsa – consecrated to God – hebrew
29. Amissa – friend – Hebrew
30. Azalia – protected by God – Hebrew
31. Zahava – Golden/ gilded – Hebrew
32. Cara – Darling – Italian
33. Naida – Water nymph – Greek
34. Naysa – Miracle of God – Hebrew
35. Neysa – greek – pure
36. Nissa – fairy - Scandinavian
37. Zaira – rose – Arabic
38. Inara – Illumination – Arabic
39. Tiesa [tee-eh-sah] Truth. w (Lithuanian)
40. Zara: Arabic: A blossom or flower. Hebrew: The bright dawn. Also see Sarah.
41. Sumaira - female Arabic beautiful face
42. Mia – mine - italian
43. Parisa – face of an angel
Comment by the mad momma — January 9, 2008 #
I require the name should start as MO
Comment by Mo — February 1, 2008 #