velan

Velan is a term used in Tamil language and culture, principally as a masculine given name and as a surname. It is derived from vel, the Tamil word for spear, with the agentive suffix -an, producing a sense of "one who bears the spear." In Hindu devotional tradition, Vel is the divine spear of the god Murugan, and Velan can function as a devotional epithet or a name invoking Murugan.

The name is common among Tamil-speaking communities in India, Sri Lanka, and the global Tamil diaspora, including Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, and Western countries. Variants arise from transliteration, but Velan remains a frequent rendering in English-language contexts. In contemporary usage, Velan is used independently as a given name or as a family name.

Cultural references and reception: Velan appears in literature and media within Tamil-speaking regions, reflecting its status as a traditional name. The association with Murugan’s Vel can give the name auspicious or martial connotations, though its use today is largely secular and personal rather than exclusively religious.

See also: Vel, Murugan.