Boy · Tamil
Muthiah
முத்தையாSay it MUTH-thai-yaa
- Meaning
- Muttu (pearl) joined with aiyā (sir, master, father) Tamil Lexicon, p. 3255
- Say it
- MUTH-thai-yaa
- Written
- முத்தையா
- Other spellings
- Muthaiah, Muttiah, Muthaiya
Muthiah
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Muthiah meaning
Muthiah (முத்தையா) is a Tamil boy's name.
Muttu (pearl) joined with aiyā (sir, master, father)
Muthiah (முத்தையா) joins muttu, the Tamil word for a pearl, with aiyā, a respectful ending. The Tamil Lexicon gives aiyā as the polite form of address "sir", and also as master and father, so the name is roughly "our pearl" said with affection and respect. It is a traditional name in Tamil Nadu, particularly among Chettiar families, and among Sri Lankan Tamils. Famous bearers include the cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan and the Carnatic composer Muthiah Bhagavatar.
Source: Tamil Lexicon, University of Madras (1924–36), p. 3255 · entry muttu² (முத்து) · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Tamil Lexicon, muttu (முத்து), p. 3255 · Tamil Lexicon, aiyā (ஐயா), p. 581 · Wikipedia, Muthiah (name)
Famous namesakes
- Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lankan cricketer
- Muthiah Bhagavatar, Carnatic composer
How the name is built
- Muthu முத்து: pearl; something excellent
Tamil Lexicon 3255 - Aiya ஐயா: sir; master; father (colloquial)
Tamil Lexicon 581
Spellings
Muthiah · Muthaiah · Muttiah · Muthaiya