Names Of  Kerala Christians

ABRAHAM : Heb. " Father of many."

                      Var. Abe, Abee, Abey, Abi, Abie, Aby,Abeyson, Abraham, Abram,Avaram, Avara,                               Aveera, Avira.

                      Hebrew generations are descendants of Abraham, first of the patriachs. Abraham                       and his wife Sarah had a son, Issac. Abraham also had several children in                                       another marriage after Sarah's death. Abraham Lincoln, the assasinated U.S.                                 president made  the name popular.

ABRAM : Heb. " Exalted father."

                The original name of Abraham. God changed his name from Abram to Abraham.

ABRAO: Port. variant of Abraham.

ABSALOM: Heb. " Father of peace."

ACHAN: Mal. " Father."

                Sometimes means a respected man or a priest.

ACHANKUNJU: Mal. " Father's son."

                            Derived from Achan. Used as a pet name.

ACHAYAN: Mal. " Elder brother."

                     Var. Achachan.

                     Sometimes any older person is called by this name. More popular in the southern                        part of central Kerala. Not used as a name.

ADAI: Heb. Meaning uncertain.

            Var. Addai, Adhai

            Adhai was one of the 72 apostles of the second generation.

ADAM: Heb. " Son of the red earth."

             Var. Ad, Adams, Addams, Addie, Adham.

             According to the Bible, God created the first man, Adam out of the red earth and                          gave life to him. One of the first U.S. presidents, John Adams.

ADDISON: Eng. " Son of Adam."

ADOLPH: Ger. " Noble wolf."

                  Var. Ad, Adolf, Adolfus, Adolphus, Daulphus, Dolph, Dophin.

                  A German Royal name introduced in England in the 19th century. Rarely used after                     Adolf Hitler and World War II.

ADRIAN: Lat. " Man of the seacoast, from Adria."

ALAN: Ir. Possibly, " harmony."

            Var. Al, Alain, Alann, Alen, Allan, Allen, Allin, Alon.

            Very widely used now.

ALBERT: Ger. " Noble and bright."

                Var. Al, Alberto, Albertson, Albie, Alby, Bert, Elbert.

                Widely used during the time of Queen Victoria and also in Europe. Many still use                         this name.

ALBIN: Lat. " White."

ALEXANDER:  Gk. " Protector of mankind."

                          Var. Al, Alastair, Alec, Alek, Alex, Alexandro, Chandy, Lex, Sacha,

                          Sander, Sandor, Sandy, Saunders, Sikander.

                          The name became very popular because of Alexander the Great. Very widely                                used worldwide.

ALFRED: Eng. " Wise as an elf."

                Var. Al, Alfie, Alfredo, Fred, Freddie, Freddy.

                Widely used in medieval times and 19th century.

ALIAS: Gk. " The Lord is my God."

             Var. Aliyas, Elias, Elijah.

ALOYSIUS: Ger. " Renowned in battle."

                     Var. Allosius, Alois, Aloshious, Alosius, Aloysious,Lewis, Louis.

                     Latin version of Louis. St. Aloysius of Italy is patron of students.

ALPHONSE: Ger. " Prepared for battle."

                       Var. Alfie, Alfons, Alfonzo, Alfy, Alonzo, Alphine, Alphonso, Alphy, Fons, Fonzie.

                       Probably brought to Kerala by Portugese. Popular in Portugal and Spain.

ALVA: Heb. " Brilliance."

            Rarely used Old Testament name.

ALVIN: Eng. " Friend of all."

              Var. Al, Alvan, Alvyn, Alwin, Alwyn, Elvin.

AMBROSE: Gk. " Belonging to the immortals."

                     Var. Ambie, Ambros, Ambrosis, Amby, Brose.

AMOS: Heb. " A burden."

              Var. Amose.

ANDREW: Gk. " Manly."

                   Var. Anders, Andie, Andre, Andreas, Andro, Andy, Anthraper,                                                              Anthrayose, Anthrew, Antrose, Drew, Dru.

                   Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter and one of the apostles in the New                                  Testament. He is the patron saint of Scotland.

ANGELO: Gk. " Messanger."

                 Var. Angelose, Anjalose.

                 Angelo is the masculine form of Angel.

ANTHRAPER: Mal. version of Andrew-Pereira.

ANTONY: Lat. " Invaluable."

                  Var. Anthappan, Anthony, Anto, Antoine, Antone, Antoney, Antoni,                                                   Toney, Toni, Tonny, Tony.

                  Mark Antony was a friend of Julius Caesar in the Roman era. Saint Antony is a                               patron of the poor.

APPACHAN: Mal. " Father."

                       Var. Aappachan, Appy, Appa, Appan.

                       Sometimes  used as a name.

AQUINAS: Lat.

                    Famous saint St. Thomas Aquinas.

ARNOLD: Ger. " Strong as an eagle."

                   Var. Arnaldo, Arnault, Arne, Arnie, Arnoldo.

                   Normans introduced this name to England.

ARTHUR: Cel. " Strong as a rock."

                  Var. Art, Arther, Arthor, Artie.

                  King Arthur of England.

ASHLEY: Eng. " Dweller at the ash tree meadow."

                 More popular for girls than boys.

ATHANASIOS: Gk. " Immortal."

ATLEY: Eng. " Dweller at the meadow."

AUGUSTUS: Lat. " Worthy of respect."

                       Var. Augusthy, Augusty, Agustin, Agustino, August, Augustin,                                                              Augustine, Austin, Gus, Ostin, Ostyn.

                       Roman emperor Augustus. Also used by German Royal families. St. Augustine is a                        famous 5th century bishop.