Tulu Baby Girl Names with Meanings

Tulu parents in Mangaluru and Udupi often name a daughter after the goddesses of Kateel and Mangaladevi, Siri of the Tulu epic, or a river of Tulu Nadu. Tulu is mostly written in Kannada script, as below. Here are Tulu baby girl names with their meanings, from goddess names to classic and modern favourites.

1. Names of Tulu Nadu's Goddesses

Durgaparameshwari is worshipped on an island in the Nandini river at Kateel, and the Mangaladevi temple gave Mangaluru its name. Siri, heroine of the Tulu epic sung by women, is honoured at the Siri jatras, and every Tulu home keeps a tulsi plant.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Durga	The invincible goddess; Durgaparameshwari of Kateel (ದುರ್ಗಾ)
Parameshwari	The supreme goddess (ಪರಮೇಶ್ವರಿ)
Mangala	Auspicious; Mangaladevi of Mangaluru (ಮಂಗಳಾ)
Siri	Prosperity; the heroine of the Tulu Siri epic (ಸಿರಿ)
Tulasi	Holy basil (ತುಳಸಿ)

2. Names of Tulu Nadu's Rivers

The Netravati meets the sea at Mangaluru, and the Swarna and the Sita flow through Udupi district. The Gurupura river is also called the Phalguni.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Netravati	After the Netravati, the river of Mangaluru (ನೇತ್ರಾವತಿ)
Swarna	Gold; also the Swarna river of Udupi (ಸ್ವರ್ಣಾ)
Sita	Sita; also the Sita river of Udupi (ಸೀತಾ)
Phalguni	Born in Phalguna; also the Gurupura river (ಫಲ್ಗುಣಿ)

3. Classic Tulu Nadu Girl Names

These names were common among girls in Mangaluru and Udupi through the twentieth century and are still loved.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Amrutha	The nectar of immortality (ಅಮೃತಾ)
Chaitra	The spring month of Chaitra (ಚೈತ್ರಾ)
Divya	Divine (ದಿವ್ಯಾ)
Harini	A doe (ಹರಿಣಿ)
Lavanya	Grace, loveliness (ಲಾವಣ್ಯ)
Nayana	Eyes (ನಯನಾ)
Rashmi	A ray of light (ರಶ್ಮಿ)
Sowmya	Gentle, calm (ಸೌಮ್ಯಾ)
Veena	The veena, a stringed instrument (ವೀಣಾ)
Vidya	Knowledge (ವಿದ್ಯಾ)
Shwetha	White, pure (ಶ್ವೇತಾ)

4. Modern Tulu Nadu Girl Names

Modern parents on the coast favour short names with a bright meaning, many shared with Karnataka.

Names For Girls

Name	Meaning
Deeksha	Initiation (ದೀಕ್ಷಾ)
Shravya	Worth hearing, melodious (ಶ್ರಾವ್ಯ)
Spoorthi	Inspiration (ಸ್ಫೂರ್ತಿ)
Ananya	Unique (ಅನನ್ಯ)
Poorvi	Eastern; a classical raga (ಪೂರ್ವಿ)
Sukanya	A good maiden (ಸುಕನ್ಯಾ)
Kiranmayi	Full of rays of light (ಕಿರಣ್ಮಯಿ)
Kavya	Poetry (ಕಾವ್ಯಾ)
Pallavi	New leaves (ಪಲ್ಲವಿ)
Bhavya	Grand, splendid (ಭವ್ಯಾ)