While the change from Kerala to Keralam may look like a single letter added at the end, the story behind it stretches back to more than 2000 years. The origin of the name Keralam is traced through two major historical theories.

The Chera dynasty theory, widely regarded as the most historically credible, suggests the region was originally known as Cheralam, meaning “land of the Cheras,” one of the three great ancient dynasties of South India. Over time, gradual phonetic changes are believed to have evolved Cheralam into Keralam. Historians point to compelling evidence from the 3rd century BCE, when Emperor Ashoka’s Rock Edict II mentions a southern ruler as “Keralaputra,” considered the earliest recorded reference to the name.

What Does ‘Keralam’ Mean?
The folk etymology theory proposes that the name is derived from kera (the Malayalam word for coconut tree) and alam (land), translating to “land of coconuts.” Although this explanation is widely popular, historians consider it a later folk interpretation rather than the true origin of the name.

The Colonial Connection: "Kerala" is essentially a colonial-era spelling that entered official records because the British could not comfortably pronounce names ending with m or n, and changed them for administrative convenience, according to reports. Kerala became the official name after the formation of the state of Kerala in 1956.

When the state was officially formed on November 1, 1956, under the States Reorganisation Act, the anglicised name “Kerala” was entered in the First Schedule of the Indian Constitution, even though locals continued to refer to it as Keralam in everyday life.

The push to officially restore the name Keralam has been decades in the making. In August 2023, the Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution, followed by another in June 2024, requesting the Centre to amend the Constitution under Article 3. The move was supported by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's ruling LDF, the Congress-led UDF opposition, and even the state BJP unit.

The Constitutional Process: Following Cabinet approval, the President of India will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the State Legislative Assembly for its views, after which the bill will be introduced in Parliament for final passage. After Parliament clears the bill will "Keralam" officially replace "Kerala" across all constitutional documents, maps, and government records.