Girl · Tamil
Kalaiselvi
கலைச்செல்விSay it kuh-lai-SEL-vi
- Meaning
- Kalai (arts, learning) joined with celvi (lady; daughter; Lakshmi) Tamil Lexicon, p. 786
- Say it
- kuh-lai-SEL-vi
- Written
- கலைச்செல்வி
- Other spellings
- Kalaichelvi
Kalaiselvi
Stays on your phone. A family name is never required.
Kalaiselvi meaning
Kalaiselvi (கலைச்செல்வி) is a Tamil girl's name.
Kalai (arts, learning) joined with celvi (lady; daughter; Lakshmi)
Kalaiselvi (கலைச்செல்வி) joins kalai and selvi. The Tamil Lexicon gives kalai, from Sanskrit kalā, as the arts and sciences, learning and erudition, and celvi as a prosperous woman, a lady of rank, a daughter, and a name of Lakshmi. Together they suggest a woman rich in the arts and learning. The masculine counterpart is Kalaiselvan. A well-known bearer is N. Kalaiselvi, the electrochemist who in 2022 became the first woman to head India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Source: Tamil Lexicon, University of Madras (1924–36), p. 786 · entry kalai⁴ (கலை) · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Tamil Lexicon, kalai (கலை), p. 786 · Tamil Lexicon, celvi (செல்வி), p. 1610 · Wikipedia, N. Kalaiselvi · Monier-Williams, kalā, p. 261
Famous namesakes
- N. Kalaiselvi, first woman Director General of CSIR
How the name is built
- Kalai கலை: the arts and sciences; learning
Tamil Lexicon 786 · Monier-Williams 261 - Selvi செல்வி: Lakshmi; a prosperous woman; a lady of rank; a daughter
Tamil Lexicon 1610
Spellings
Kalaiselvi · Kalaichelvi