Place names in India

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, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam, and Pune.

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
-garh - "fort, castle" - Hindi gaṛh
-nagar, -nagara, -nagaram - "town" - from Sanskrit nagara
-prayag, -prayaga - "confluence" - from Sanskrit prayāga
-pore, -pur, -pura, -puram - "city" - from Sanskrit pura Cognate with Ancient Greek πόλις f 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.

Suffix	Meaning	Etymology	Examples
-abad	city	Urdu آباد < Persian ـآباد/آباد < Middle Persian ʾp̄ʾt'. < Proto-Iranian āpāta-, < Proto-Indo-European peh₂-	Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Nizamabad
-bagh	town	Urdu باغ < Persian باغ‎ bâğ < Middle Persian ???‎ < Proto-Indo-Iranian bʰāgá- < Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂g-	Suryabagh, Nausena Baugh
-cherla	town	Telugu చర్ల	Macherla, Chengicherla
-guda/-gudem/-gudemu	village	Telugu గూడ < Telugu గూడెం గూడెము	Tadepalligudem, Galigudem, Dumbriguda
-kot/-kota	fort	Telugu కోట < Proto-South-Dravidian *kōṭṭay.	Samalkot, Kasimkota, Sriharikota
-nagar/-nagaram/-nagaru	town	Telugu నగర్, నగరం, నగరు < Proto-South-Dravidian *nakar.	Karimnagar, Mahabubnagar, Vizianagaram,
-ole/-olu	town	Anglicized Telugu -ole < Telugu ఓలు < Old Telugu ప్రోలు	Ongole, Nidadvolu
-ooru/-oor/-ore/-ur/-uru	village	Anglicized Telugu -ore < Telugu ఊరు < Proto-Dravidian *ūr	Guntur, Nellore, Chittoor, Eluru, Anantapur
-palem/-palemu/-palle/-pallem/-pallemu/-palli	village	Telugu పాలెం, పాలెము, పల్లె, పల్లెం, పల్లెము < Telugu పల్లి పల్లీ < Proto-Dravidian *paḷḷi	Maddilapalem, Peddapalli, Madanapalle, Nadimpalle
-patnam/-patnamu	port city	Telugu పట్నం	Vishakhapatnam, Machilipatnam, Krishnapatnam
-pedu			Yerpedu
-pudi	village	Telugu పుడి	Kuchipudi
-pur/-puram/-puramu/-puri	city	Telugu పూర్ పూరం పూరము పూరి < Sanskrit पुर < Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁-	Markapur, Hindpur, Atchutapuram
-put/-puttu	village	Telugu పుట్టు < Proto-Dravidian	Manchingiput, Jalaput,
-seema	region	Telugu సీమ < Sanskrit सीमा	Konaseema, Rayalaseema
-vada/-wada	area, place	Telugu వాడ	Vijayawada, Vemulawada
-vaka/-waka	town	Telugu వాక	Gajuwaka, Hanumanthavaka
-valasa	town	Telugu వలస	Thangarapuvalasa, Palavalasa

Arunachal Pradesh

Namdapha National park, Roing, Tezu, Sakteng Wildlife sanctuary, Namsai, Parsurum Kund, Bhairabkunda, Khonsa, Jairampur, Bhismaknagar, Changlang, Hawai, Nampong, Koloriang, etc.

Bihar

Bodh Gaya, Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Raxaul, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Pawapuri, Sasaram, Hajipur, Bihar Sharif, Kesaria, Sonpur, Munger and Bhagalpur Division.

Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Jagdalpur, Bilaspur, Durg, Kanger Ghati National Park, Bhilai, Sirpur, Ambikapur, Korba, Kawardha, Raigarh, Dongargarh, Tirarthgar, Atal Nagar, Mainpat, Indravati National Park, Ratanpur, Rajim, Chitrakoot, Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari, Kanker and Champa.

Delhi

New Delhi, Gurugram, Mehrauli, Karol Bagh, Delhi, Rohini, Chanakyapuri, Sonipat, Dwarka, Vasant Kunj, Pitam Pura, Bahadurgarh, Greater Kailash,
Delhi Cantonment, Shahpur Jat, Shahdara, Najafgarh, Badarpurh, Nangloi Jat, Saidul Ajaib and Bawana.

Goa

Panaji, Calangute, Palolem Beach, Anjuna, Baga, Old Goa, Candolim, Margao, Vagator, Colva, Dona Paula, Vasco Da Gama, Mandrem, Morjim,
Canacona, Mapusa, Arpora, Bogmalo Beach, Benaulim, Cavelossim, Ponda, Varca, Bardez, Majorda, Mobor, Dabolim, Agonda and Mormugao.

Jammu and Kashmir

Pangong Tso, Zanskar, Nyak Tso, Samba, Ramban, Khardong, Manikiala and Ranjit Sagar Dam Lake.

Jharkhand

Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Purulia, Deoghar, Dhanbad, Maithon, Hazaribagh, Netarhat, Bokaro Steel City, Ghatshila, Giridih, Rajmahal, Dumka,
Parasnath Hill, Rajrappa, Medininagar, Patratu, Chaibasa, Panchet, Betla, Deoghar, Sahebganj, Pakur, Kodarma and McCluskieganj, Gumla.

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, Hosapete
Nagara	town	Vijayanagara, 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 names
Ur	Shire	Nilambur, Tirur, Thrissur, Kannur, North Paravur.
Cheri/Shery	Street	Thalassery, Cherpulassery, Kalpakanchery, Manjeri, Thamarassery, Kozhenchery.
Nad	Village	Eranad, Kuttanad, Wayanad, Thondernad.
Kulam	Pond	Ernakulam, Kunnamkulam, Kayamkulam, Mararikulam, Mankulam, Unnikulam, Punnayurkulam, Muthukulam.
Angadi	Market Street	Parappanangadi, Tirurangadi, Pazhavangadi, Melangadi.-
Athani	Porter's rest	Athani, Puthanathani, Karinkallathani
Kad	Forest	Puthukkad, Purakkad, Thalakkad, Palakkad, Vadakkekad.
Kunnu	Hill	Kottakkunnu, Vallikkunnu, Konathukunnu, Kudappanakunnu, Pulinkunnoo.
Parambu/Paramba	Ground/Plot	Thaliparamba, Koothuparamba, Madathiparambu, Kizhuparamba, Thunchan Parambu.
Puzha	River	Alappuzha, 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
Gav - 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

Manipur

Imphal, Loktak Lake, Moreh, Moirang, Ukrhul, Andro, Bishnupur, Shirui, Kakching, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Thoubaul, Khangkhui, Jiribam, Leimaram, Khonghampat, Khongjom, Leimakhong, Tengnoupaul, Chandel, Kangpokpi, Senapati, Nambol, Nony, Jessami, Singda, Thanga and Khayang.

Mizoram

Aizawl, Lunglei, Champhai, Thenzawl, Murlen National Park, Serchhip, Murlen, Siaha, Khawzawl, Kolasib, Hmuifang, Vairengte, Hnahthial, Lawngtlai, Mamit, Saitual, Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary, Zokhawthar, Baktawng, Farkawn, Phulpui, Sialsuk, Khawnlung, Tlabung, Lengpui and Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary.

Orissa

In Odisha common suffixes are Pur, Garh, Gada.

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.

Tripura

Common suffix include -mura.

suffix	meaning	common places
assa		Ambassa, Bagbassa
bari	house	Churaibari, Jolaibari
chhara	stream	Laxmanchhara, 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".
Putrajaya in Malaysia, which means "victorious prince" or "victorious son".
Singapura, which means "lion city" named by prince Parameswara from Palembang, South Sumatra present Indonesia

Indonesia

Indonesia, as a hugely Sanskrit and Indic-influenced country, contains many Sanskrit-named cities and placements:

kota - "city", from Tamil kōṭṭam — e.g. Kota Pinang, Lima Puluh Kota Regency, Kotabumi, Kotabaru, Kotamobagu, Kotawaringin, etc.
negara - "state", from Sanskrit नगर means "country" in Indonesian. The word Nagari is also a term used in West Sumatra referring to "village".
pura - "town", from Sanskrit पुर — e.g. Jayapura, Siak Sri Indrapura, Amlapura, Sangkapura, Semarapura, etc. In Indonesia, pura also refers to a Hindu temple.

Malaysia

kota - "city", from Tamil kōṭṭam negeri - "state" or "country", from Sanskrit

Myanmar (Burma)

pura - "city", from Pali thamokdaya - "ocean", from Sanskrit thiri - "splendour", from Pali wadi - "endowed with," from Pali

Thailand

nakhon - "city"
buri - "town"
samut - "sea"
si - "lord"