The ending "Amma" for men

[Srini Pichumani]

One of the S'rivaiSNavite AcAryas is actually called NaTatUr AmmAL .

-Srini.

S Krishna wrote:

>   In Southern India, the name "Amma" is normally used as an ending for
> the first names of women. However, one does see the ending "amma" for
> men also( examples I know mainly consist of the ending "kr*SNamA" as
> in the names kr*SNamA-cAri,( there is also the name kr*SNACAri, which
> makes me think that the name "kr*SNamAcAri is from kr*SNamA and not
> kr*SNa), gOpAlakr*SNamma, zivarAmakr*SNamma, EccamA( apparently a folk
> hero in the Rayalaseema area of Andhra Pradesh), LakshmA/Laxma( a fairly
> common name in Telangana as in Laxma Reddy/Laxma Goud) etc..
> I would like to know if
> 1. Any other male names ending in "Amma".
> 2. The reason for this i.e. why is it that some male names have an
> ending that is typically feminine? ( One reason that I heard some time
> ago( besides the obvious "mere coincidence") is that parents, who had
> hitherto lost male progeny, would take a vow to bring up a male child as
> a female IF he survived ; as a part of the process they would give the
> new born male a feminine name...This would be analogous to names like
> nAthUrAm( rAm with a "nath"i.e. nosering) in Northern India..In
> addition to this, is there any other reason?....
>
> Looking forward to your replies,
> Regards,
> Krishna
>
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