Kerala Officially Renamed ‘Keralam’ As Union Government Approves Name Change; Know Its Ancient Roots Linked To The Chera Dynasty
Kerala has officially been renamed ‘Keralam’ after the Union Government approved the state’s long-pending proposal to change its name with effect from August 25 after the Union Home Ministry notified the new name of the southern state and brought the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act, 2026 into force. The notification comes just ahead of Onam, which is the traditional harvest festival of Kerala and…
The Union Government recently approved the renaming of Kerala to ‘Keralam’, which will take effect on August 25, 2026. This change is particularly significant as it coincides with the traditional harvest festival of Onam, one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the state. The move restores the state’s traditional Malayalam name, ‘Keralam’, which carries deep historical and cultural roots.
The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Act, 2026, was passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and later given assent by President Droupadi Murmu, turning it into law. The Gazette notification was issued on August 25, 2026, one day before Onam. The name ‘Keralam’ is believed to have links with the ancient Chera dynasty, one of the prominent ruling dynasties in ancient southern India.
The term ‘Kerala’ was first recorded in a 3rd-century BCE rock inscription by Mauryan emperor Ashoka. The move to adopt ‘Keralam’ is seen as an effort to recognize Kerala’s linguistic heritage and historical identity.
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