Shanmugam

Shanmugam is a common given name and surname in Tamil-speaking regions of India and Sri Lanka, as well as among the Tamil diaspora. The name is derived from the Hindu deity Murugan, who is also known by the name Shanmuganathan, meaning "lord of the six faces" or "six-faced one." This epithet refers to Murugan's divine birth, where his six divine mothers fostered him in six different locations. Therefore, Shanmugam is often interpreted as "one who is six-faced" or a devotee of the six-faced god.

As a given name, Shanmugam is predominantly masculine. It is frequently paired with other names to form compound given names, such as Shanmugam Pillai or Shanmugam Sundaram. As a surname, Shanmugam is widely adopted by individuals and families, indicating ancestral or familial connection to the deity or the tradition associated with the name. The popularity of the name reflects the significant cultural and religious importance of Lord Murugan in South India and beyond. Variations of the name can be found in different transliterations and phonetic spellings depending on regional dialects and individual preferences.