Girl · Tamil, from Sanskrit tilaka · Tamil · Hindu
Thilagavathi
திலகவதிSay it thi-la-ga-VA-thi
- Meaning
- She who bears the tilaka; one who is an ornament, the best Tamil Lexicon, p. 1925
- Say it
- thi-la-ga-VA-thi
- Written
- திலகவதி
- Other spellings
- Thilakavathi, Tilakavati
Thilagavathi
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Thilagavathi meaning
Thilagavathi (திலகவதி) is a Tamil and Hindu girl's name.
She who bears the tilaka; one who is an ornament, the best
Thilagavathi (திலகவதி) is built on tilakam, Sanskrit tilaka, the round mark worn on the forehead. The Tamil Lexicon gives it as that mark and also as anything excellent or cherished, and Monier-Williams adds 'the ornament of anything'; the ending -vati means 'having', so the name reads 'she who bears the tilaka' or 'she who is the finest'. In Tamil Shaiva tradition Tilakavati was the elder sister of the poet-saint Appar, who raised him and drew him back to Shaivism. The police officer and writer G. Thilakavathi is a modern bearer.
Source: Tamil Lexicon, University of Madras (1924–36), p. 1925 · entry tilakam (திலகம்) · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Tamil Lexicon, tilakam (திலகம்), p. 1925 · Monier-Williams, tilaka, p. 448 · Wikipedia, Appar · Wikipedia, G. Thilakavathi
Famous namesakes
- Tilakavati, elder sister of the saint Appar
- G. Thilakavathi, police officer and writer
Spellings
Thilagavathi · Thilakavathi · Tilakavati