Chandran

Chandran is a masculine given name that is also encountered as a surname in parts of South Asia. In Tamil, Malayalam, and other Dravidian-language contexts, Chandran is derived from the Sanskrit Chandra, meaning the moon, with the suffix -an forming a masculine given name. The form is commonly used as a standalone first name, though in some naming traditions it may appear as a family name or as part of a longer name.

Usage is prevalent in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Sri Lanka, and among the Tamil diaspora in Malaysia and Singapore. The name is often chosen for its lunar associations and can be combined with other elements to form longer names in different linguistic communities, such as Chandranath or Chandranarayan in broader Indian contexts.

Variants and related names include Chandra and Chandrasekhar, which share the root meaning and appear in a wider Indian linguistic sphere. The feminine forms Chandra or Chandrika exist in various languages, reflecting the same lunar root.

Notable individuals with the name Chandran appear across fields such as cinema, academia, and public life in South Asia; the spelling and usage may vary by region and language. The name’s broad cultural reach and its association with the moon contribute to its continuing use in several communities.