Bombays

Bombays is a historical and informal plural used to refer to residents of Bombay, the city now known as Mumbai. The term is largely found in older English-language sources and in some diaspora usage. Today, residents are more commonly identified as Mumbaikars, and the city is officially named Mumbai since 1995.

The English name Bombay is believed to derive from the Portuguese Bom Bahía, meaning “good bay,” though the exact origin is disputed. The city was renamed Mumbai in 1995 to reflect the Marathi name for the settlement and its local deity, Mumbā. In modern usage, Bombay remains common in historical references and in some institutional names, but official designations prefer Mumbai.

The term Bombays also appears in colonial contexts, including references to the Bombay Presidency, which at its height covered parts of present-day Maharashtra and Gujarat. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Bombay was a major port and commercial hub, and the name Bombay frequently served as a shorthand for the city’s global identity during British rule and in early post-colonial discourse.

Contemporary notes: While Bombays can be encountered in historical writing or among older residents, it is not a modern demonym. Mumbai today is a major metropolis with a diverse population and a global economic role, known for its financial district, port activity, and the Bollywood film industry. The shift from Bombay/Bombays to Mumbai/Mumbaikar reflects changes in linguistic and political naming in the region.