Kerala to become Keralam: What it means, the history and significance of the word

The Union Cabinet has cleared a proposal to officially rename Kerala as “Keralam”, a move that has brought a long-standing linguistic demand back into focus months before the state Assembly elections. Earlier today, the Kerala Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Centre to officially change the state's name to 'Keralam'.

Keralam Meaning: What does it mean?

The word “Keralam” carries a direct link to the state’s landscape and identity. It is widely believed to come from the Malayalam words “Kera,” meaning coconut, and “Alam,” meaning land. Together, the term points to a “land of coconut trees”, a description that fits the region’s vast coconut groves and coastal terrain.

The state is one of India’s largest coconut producers and contributes nearly 45% of the country’s total output, strengthening the association between the name and the local economy.


Supporters of the change say “Keralam” reflects the original linguistic and cultural identity of the state. While “Kerala” is the commonly used English name, “Keralam” is what people across the state use in Malayalam speech and writing.

The proposal has come at a time when identity and language have become key talking points in state politics, giving the move both cultural and political weight ahead of elections.

Keralam: A look at the state’s naming history

The present-day state was formed after Independence through a series of political changes. The princely states of Travancore and Cochin merged in 1949 to form Travancore-Cochin. Later, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 reorganised regions along linguistic lines, and on November 1, 1956, the state was officially named Kerala.

The name “Kerala” has remained in the First Schedule of the Constitution since then, even though “Keralam” has been widely used in Malayalam for decades.

Keralam: Folklore, geography and identity

Beyond language, the name “Keralam” also appears in regional folklore. One popular belief connects the origin of the name to Lord Parasurama, who is said to have reclaimed land from the sea and named it “Cheranaalum”, which later evolved into “Keralam”.

The term also reflects the state’s unique geography, a narrow stretch of land between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, which has shaped its culture, economy and way of life.

The constitutional process of renaming Kerala to Keralam

Renaming a state requires a constitutional process. Under Article 3 of the Constitution, Parliament has the authority to change the name of a state. The proposal must be approved by Parliament and then receive the President’s assent.

The state Assembly’s view is taken during the process, but it is not binding. The final decision rests with Parliament and the President.

If the proposal receives full approval, the official name of the state will change to “Keralam” in all constitutional and government records. For residents, however, the shift may feel less dramatic, as the name has already been in everyday use for years.