Place names in India are usually in Indian languages. Other languages include Portuguese, Dutch, English and Arabic.
Since Indian Independence, several Indian cities have adopted pre-English names, most notably Chennai (formerly Madras), Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), Visakhapatnam (formerly Waltair), and Pune (formerly Poona).
Common place names Most place name suffixes denote after prominent geographical features, such as rivers and lakes. Others are named after personalities such as kings or historical figures. Although Hindu history was a main influence, Islamic and Christian influences are present, particularly in central and northern India.
-abad - "city" - from Persian ābād (آباد) -garh - "fort, castle" - Hindi gaṛh (गढ़) -nagar, -nagara, -nagaram - "town" - from Sanskrit nagara (नगर) -prayag, -prayaga - "confluence" - from Sanskrit prayāga (प्रयाग) -pore, -pur, -pura, -puram - "city" - from Sanskrit pura (पुर) Cognate with Ancient Greek πόλις f (pólis) and Lithuanian pilis. -pattinam, -pattanam, -patnam - “harbour” - from the Tamil word for sea portal towns -kot, -kota, -kote, -kottai - “fort” - from Tamil "*kōṭ-ai" -palli, -halli, -palle - "hamlet" - from Proto Dravidian "*paḷ-" -oor, -uru, - "village" - from Tamil "*ūr-"
Anglicized names Some anglicized names have been officially changed to reflect native pre-colonial spellings. The names of the cities, towns, and villages are usually in Indian languages, while most street names carry English names. Examples: Washermanpet, George Town, Chennai
Variations Certain names have variations in different languages. Oor/Ooru is a common Dravidian name which means a place, also known as Oor in Tamil and Malayalam, whereas it is called Ooru in Telugu and Kannada.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Common suffixes include, -ooru, -palli, -pudi, -peta, etc.
{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Suffix !! Meaning !Etymology!! Examples |- | -abad ||city |Urdu آباد < Persian ـآباد/آباد < Middle Persian ʾp̄ʾt''' (ābād, “populous, thriving, prosperous”). < Proto-Iranian *āpāta-, < Proto-Indo-European *peh₂- (“to protect”)|| Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Nizamabad |- | -bagh ||town |Urdu باغ ("garden") < Persian باغ bâğ < Middle Persian 𐭡𐭠𐭢 (bāɣ, “garden, orchard”) < Proto-Indo-Iranian *bʰāgá- (“portion, share, allotment”) < Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂g- (“to divide, distribute, allot”)||Suryabagh, Nausena Baugh |- | -cherla || town |Telugu చర్ల (charla "town")||Macherla, Chengicherla |- | -guda/-gudem/-gudemu || village |Telugu గూడ (gūḍa "village. hamlet") < Telugu గూడెం (gūḍem) గూడెము (gūḍemu)|| Tadepalligudem, Galigudem, Dumbriguda |- | -kot/-kota || fort |Telugu కోట (kōṭa "fort, fortress") < Proto-South-Dravidian *kōṭṭay ("fort, castle).|| Samalkot, Kasimkota, Sriharikota |- | -nagar/-nagaram/-nagaru ||town |Telugu నగర్ (nagar), నగరం (nagaraṁ), నగరు (nagaru) < Proto-South-Dravidian *nakar ("town, city").||Karimnagar, Mahabubnagar, Vizianagaram, |- | -ole/-olu ||town |Anglicized Telugu -ole < Telugu ఓలు (ōlu "town") < Old Telugu ప్రోలు (prōlu "city, town")||Ongole, Nidadvolu |- | -ooru/-oor/-ore/-ur/-uru |village |Anglicized Telugu -ore < Telugu ఊరు (ūru "village") < Proto-Dravidian *ūr ("village, habitation") |Guntur, Nellore, Chittoor, Eluru, Anantapur |- | -palem/-palemu/-palle/-pallem/-pallemu/-palli |village |Telugu పాలెం (pāleṁ), పాలెము (pālemu), పల్లె (palle), పల్లెం (palleṁ), పల్లెము (pallemu) < Telugu పల్లి (palli "village") పల్లీ (pallī "village") < Proto-Dravidian *paḷḷi ("(small) village") |Maddilapalem, Peddapalli, Madanapalle, Nadimpalle |- | -patnam/-patnamu |port city |Telugu పట్నం (paṭnaṁ "patnam") |Vishakhapatnam, Machilipatnam, Krishnapatnam |- | -pedu
|Yerpedu |- | -pudi |village |(Old?) Telugu పుడి (pudi "village") |Kuchipudi |- | -pur/-puram/-puramu/-puri |city |Telugu పూర్ (pūr) పూరం (pūraṁ) పూరము (pūramu) పూరి (pūri) < Sanskrit पुर (pura) < Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁- (“stronghold”) |Markapur, Hindpur, Atchutapuram |- | -put/-puttu |village |Telugu పుట్టు (puṭṭu "village, put") < Proto-Dravidian (?) |Manchingiput, Jalaput, |- | -seema |region |Telugu సీమ (sīma "region, kingdom") < Sanskrit सीमा (sīmā "border, region") |Konaseema, Rayalaseema |- | -vada/-wada |area, place |Telugu వాడ (vāḍa "area, place") |Vijayawada, Vemulawada |- | -vaka/-waka |town |Telugu వాక (vāka "town") |Gajuwaka, Hanumanthavaka |- | -valasa |town |Telugu వలస (valasa "town, migration") |Thangarapuvalasa, Palavalasa
Arunachal Pradesh Namdapha National park, Roing, Tezu, Sakteng Wildlife sanctuary, Namsai, Parsurum Kund, Bhairabkunda, Khonsa, Jairampur, Bhismaknagar, Changlang, Hawai, Nampong, Koloriang, etc.https://www.google.com.au/destination/compare?q=places+in+arunachal+pradesh&site=search&output=search&dest_mid=/m/018ckn&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjUyu-G777fAhXGuI8KHSDcDiYQ6tEBCDEoBDAA
Assam SuffixMeaningEtymologyExamples -gā̃o village Sanskrit (ग्राम, grāma) Bongaigaon, Chaygaon, Morigaon, Nagaon -hāṭ/hāṭī market Sanskrit (हाट, hāṭa) Guwahati, Jorhat, Moranhat -pāṛā neighbourhood Sanskrit (पद्र, padra) Bilasipara, Goalpara, Rangapara -pur settlement Sanskrit (पुर, pura) Badarpur, North Lakhimpur, Tamulpur, Tezpur
Gujarat +Common suffixesSuffixExamples -padraVaṭapadra, Vaḍapadra -vadraJaravadra, Phalavadra -pallī/-pallīkāĀbhīrapallī, Āśāpallī -valī/-valli/-vallikāKacchāvalī -sthalī -hrada -drahaVaṭa-draha -saraJaṁbu-sara -pāṭakaAṇahila-pāṭaka -vāṭaka -ijya/-ijjaAvayānijya,, Karkijja -vasaṇaCaṇḍāvasaṇa -vasahikā/-vāsaka -vāḍāĀdhivāḍā -vaḍa -pura/-purī/-nagara/-paṭṭanaĀnandapura, Nāndipurī, Girinagara -siddhi/-sāḍhi
Karnataka Common endings are Ooru, Palaya, Halli, Pete, Seeme. Less common are prefixes such as Sri.
Suffix meaning Common place names Bhavi well Arabhavi, Sulibhavi, Bilebhavi, Nagarbhavi, Thondebhavi Gud habitation Nanjangud, Handigud Halli village Kanchamaranahalli, Arehalli Keri colony Madikeri, Tallikeri Kote fort Bagalakote, Jangamakote Ooru/uru village Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Kitturu. Emmiganuru, Pete town Chikkupete, HosapeteNagaratownVijayanagara, Jayaprakashanagara Pura city Kundapura, Narasimharajapura, Kanakapura
Kerala Common suffixes include Angadi, Athani, Ur, Cheri/Shery, Kulam, Kad, Nad, Pally, Kode/Code, Kara, Mangalam, Kal, Puram, Kunnu, Parambu/Paramba and Puzha. Suffix Meaning Common place namesUr ShireNilambur, Tirur, Thrissur, Kannur, North Paravur.Cheri/Shery Street Thalassery, Cherpulassery, Kalpakanchery, Manjeri, Thamarassery, Kozhenchery.Nad Village Eranad, Kuttanad, Wayanad, Thondernad.Kulam PondErnakulam, Kunnamkulam, Kayamkulam, Mararikulam, Mankulam, Unnikulam, Punnayurkulam, Muthukulam.Angadi Market Street Parappanangadi, Tirurangadi, Pazhavangadi, Melangadi.-Athani Porter's restAthani, Puthanathani, KarinkallathaniKad ForestPuthukkad, Purakkad, Thalakkad, Palakkad, Vadakkekad.Kunnu HillKottakkunnu, Vallikkunnu, Konathukunnu, Kudappanakunnu, Pulinkunnoo.Parambu/ParambaGround/PlotThaliparamba, Koothuparamba, Madathiparambu, Kizhuparamba, Thunchan Parambu.PuzhaRiverAlappuzha, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Cherupuzha, Noolpuzha. Kode/Code - Kozhikode, Puthucode, Alamcode, Areekode, Veliyankode. Kara - Mavelikkara, Edakkara, Mullurkara, Anakkara, Ramanattukara. Mangalam - Kunnamangalam, Chathamangalam, Kunhimangalam, Chendamangalam, Enadimangalam, Chadayamangalam,
Pally - Karthikappally, Puthuppally, Kanjirappally, Vadanappally, Pulpally. Kal - Kottakkal, Chirakkal, Pothukal, Pulikkal, Edamulackal. Puram - Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, Angadipuram, Sivapuram, Kadampazhipuram.
Maharashtra Common suffixes include Pur, Ner, Gav, Abad, Khed, Oli, Wadi, Nagar, Tur, Vali, and Ra. Pur - Nagpur, Solapur, Chandrapur, Kolhapur, Badlapur, Achalpur, Ballarpur, Pandharpur, Malkapur, Indapur, Jaysinghpur, Tulijapur, Murtijapur, Shirpur, Shirampur Ner - Sangamner, Jamner, Parner, Amalner, Saoner, Ner Gaon - Jalgaon, Malegaon, Khamgaon, Kopargaon, Tasgaon, Majalgaon, Shegaon, Koregaon, Varangaon, Chalisgaon Abad - Aurangabad, Osmanabad, Khultabad, Dharmabad, Daulatabad Khed - Sindkhed, Jamkhed, Mudkhed, Narkhed, Gangakhed, Umarkhed Oli - Gadchiroli, Hingoli, Dapoli, Saoli, Sakoli, Wagholi, Biloli, Khopoli, Padoli Wadi - Hinjawadi, Vaibhavwadi, Kurduwadi, Sanaswadi, Sawantwadi, Wadi, Yewalewadi, Ghulewadi, Darewadi Nagar - Ahmednagar, Rajgurunagar, Ulhasnagar, Urjanagar, Shivajinagar Tur - Latur, Patur, Partur, Jintur Vali - Borivali, Kandivali, Karivali Ra - Bhandara, Rajura, Nandura
Orissa In Odisha (formerly known as Orissa) common suffixes are Pur, Garh, Gada. Suffix Meaning Common Place names Pur City Sambalpur, Berhampur, Rairangpur, Subarnapur, Puri Garh Fort Bargarh, Debagarh, Sundergarh, Nayagarh
Tamil Nadu In Tamil Nadu, common suffixes are Oor, Nagaram, Puram, Kudi, Cheri, Paakkam, Pattinam, Palayam, Kaadu, Pettai, Mangalam, Seemai, Naththam, Palli and Kuppam. One common prefix is Thiru. The majority of names are in Tamil language. Telugu and Kannada place names can be seen in border areas. Sanskrit names are found because of the historical relationship of Sanskrit with Hinduism. Suffix Meaning Common Place names Oor/ur/oreVillage Ambattur, Thanjavur, Karur, Hosur, Tirupur, Coimbatore, Vellore. Kaadu Forest Yercaud, Pattinam Coastal area Nagapattinam Patti Village Kovilpatti, Andipatti, Palli Jain Temple Thiruchirapalli Puram ectal Kanchipuram, Ramanathapuram, Viluppuram Nagaram City Vanagaram Ni bee Theni Kal paving stone Namakkal Kudi settlement Karaikkudi, Paramakudi, Thoothukkudi Palayam Camp Gobichettypalayam, Mettupalayam Madai Lock Karamadai, Ettimadai, Kallimadai Odai/Odu River Erode, Chithode Thurai settlement Alandurai, Perundhurai, Sengathurai Adam settlement Ukkadam, Palladam, Kundadam Mutthur Pearl City Thondamuthur, Kuniyamuthur Pudur New Town Ondipudur, Kovaipudur Nallur Good Town Singanallur, Sholinganallur Kadavu Pass Kinathukadavu, Manakadavu Kurichi valley Kallakurichi, Modakurichi Medu Upper city Kasimedu Pettai Town Udumalpet, Parangipettai kodu line Thiruchengodu Pakkam/Vakkam Portcity Valasaravakkam, Madipakkam Padi Settlement Vysarpadi, Tharangambadi, Koil Temple Vellakoil, Nagarkoil Kottai Palace Pudukottai, Gandarvakottai, Pattukottai Chery/Serry Coastal town Pondicherry, Velacherry Giri Hill Krishnagiri, Nilagiri Kulam Pound Vilathikulam, Sathankulam Mangalam Settlement Sathyamangalam Samudram Settlements Ambasamudram, Balasamudram
Tripura Common suffix include -mura. suffix meaning common places assa Ambassa, Bagbassa bari house Churaibari, Jolaibari chhara streamLaxmanchhara, Nabinchhara, Karaichhara, Bagaichhara, Dhanichhara, Sanichhara mura Teliamura, Sonamura pur Udaipur, Amarpur, Madhupur, nagar town or city Ampinagar, Dharmanagar, Jubarajnagar
West Bengal Common suffix include -mura. suffix meaning common places abad Murshidabad bari house Churaibari, Jolaibari tala Maheshtala, Taratala pur Durgapur nagar town or city Bidhannagar
Global Indian influence in place names
In the Indianised cultures outside India, places were given Sanskritised names to make them sound more noble. Examples include:
Ayutthaya in Thailand, named after Ayodhya, Rama's hometown. Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, named after "bhagavān", a title for gods. "Seri Begawan" was used as a title for Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III after he abdicated from the throne. Jayapura in Papua, Indonesia named from two Sanskrit words Jaya meaning "victorious" and Pura meaning "town". The name was given by the first president and founding father of the country, Sukarno. Yogyakarta in Java, Indonesia named after the city of Ayodhya in India, the hometown of Sri Rama. "Yogyakarta" means "fit to prosper". Siak Sri Indrapura in Sumatra, Indonesia named after the disbanded Sultanate of Siak Sri Indrapura. "Indrapura" means "town of Indra". Nakhon Si Thammarat in Thailand, from the Pali words "nagara srī dhammaraja", or "city of the lord and king who rules by dharma".